Full Board Professional Development

Get a brief overview of the school board governance loop, the School Code’s main powers and responsibilities, and the importance of the Team of 10. The session will briefly highlight the roles of policy and the difference between governance and management. For a more in-depth and customized program on roles and responsibilities, see Customized Workshops. PSBA recommends 60-75 minutes for this presentation.

Review an outline of the law, timeline and best practices for the annual superintendent evaluation process. Key resources will be provided as takeaways for the board to use in future meetings and discussions. PSBA recommends 45-60 minutes for this presentation.

What is equity and why it is important for district practice? In this presentation explore these questions and related topics, including achievement and opportunity gaps, equity principles, and the equity-focused services and programs PSBA offers. This presentation will also provide an introduction to the PSBA’s Equity Toolkit – a set of frameworks that help districts practice equity and incorporate it in their education practice. The toolkit includes the equity lens approach, equity systems continuum and equity action plan. To preview the toolkit, click here or download the full toolkit in myPSBA.org, Resources. PSBA recommends 60-75 minutes for this presentation.

Do you have several newly elected or appointed members? Does your board struggle to focus on the major governance tasks within the limited time of your public board meetings? Is there tension between the board and district administration because of miscommunication or misunderstandings? This fast-paced, dynamic workshop covers the many ethical and governance responsibilities of the board. It incorporates facilitated discussions on the challenges of community engagement, board deliberation and governance vs. management responsibilities. PSBA recommends a minimum of two hours for this workshop.

Collective governance is challenging — even more so in an environment where individuals view their role from different lenses. But effective boards must embrace healthy conflict, set common  expectations, and learn how to communicate clearly to govern effectively. How can boards adjust when new members or new leadership seem to change the existing dynamic? This workshop has various modules that can be facilitated based on the professional development needs of your Team of 10. PSBA recommends a minimum of two hours for this workshop.

This workshop facilitates a process for the Team of 10 to identify priorities and challenges, discuss realistic solutions and set collective goals for the board. An experienced facilitator will guide discussions, ensuring everyone can contribute. Once goals are drafted, reviewed and revised, the  board will begin drafting objectives or strategies for how to accomplish those goals. If the Introduction to Board Goals workshop was not a pre-requisite, PSBA trainers will send out materials  for review in advance of the training to prepare school directors to align their board goals to the district’s mission, vision and values. PSBA recommends a minimum of three hours for this  workshop.

As elected leaders, the media and community will scrutinize school director’s communication from public comments and conversations overheard by the public to emails and social media posts. This workshop explains best practices for navigating both digital and traditional channels of  communication, offering learning through scenario-based facilitated discussions. PSBA recommends a minimum of 90 minutes for this workshop.

The Principles for Governance and Leadership, under Lead Responsibly, encourage school directors to prepare for, attend and actively participate in board meetings. The focus of this workshop is to help directors put their best foot forward when stepping into the “sunshine” at a public meeting. Common topics covered include agenda development, expectations of director conduct, sunshine act requirements, public comment period, and proper use of parliamentary procedure. A fast-paced, dynamic workshop led by an experienced facilitator, this training offers boards the opportunity to take a step back, reflect and discuss how they publicly present themselves to the school community at board meetings. PSBA recommends a minimum of two hours for this workshop.

This workshop sets the foundation for understanding equity in educational systems by focusing on the following questions: What is equity? How is it different from equality? PSBA’s trainer will comprehensively define equity and address the problems with an approach focused only on equality. Going further, this workshop will provide context to systemic inequities in educational systems like systemic discrimination, inequitable funding, and a lack of cultural diversity and inclusion. Participating in this foundational training is the first step to moving district leadership toward effective and impactful equity practice. PSBA recommends a minimum of two hours for this training and encourages districts to combine this workshop with the next for a board retreat.

This workshop focuses on exploring demographic shifts, achievement, and opportunity gaps, as well as equity focused policy and practice. Building on the “What is Equity?” workshop, this training digs deeper into the ways equity intersects with PA public educational systems impacting students, professional and support staff, administration, and school boards. It builds a common language around equity and inclusion terms among district leadership. PSBA recommends a minimum of two  hours for this training and encourages districts to combine this workshop with the previous for a board retreat.