In-District Workshops

A transformative two-workshop series designed to empower school board members in navigating critical conversations about finding common ground and creating a strong sense of connection within their districts. This series provides a structured and collaborative platform for governance teams to engage in this important dialogue. Empower your school board with the tools to build a supportive and welcoming future.

Workshop 1: Building Awareness and Understanding In this session, participants will explore issues such as unconscious assumptions and the impact of student data. Through interactive discussions and real-world case studies, board members will gain a deeper awareness of the complexities surrounding connection, fostering a more understanding, empathetic and responsive perspective. This foundational knowledge will serve as a springboard for the subsequent workshop.

Workshop 2: Crafting Your Action Plan Building upon the insights gained in the first workshop, the second session will focus on practical strategies for implementing change. Participants will work collaboratively to identify impact areas within their districts, evaluating policies, practices, and procedures that may require adjustment. The workshop will culminate in the creation of a customized action plan tailored to each district's unique context. The action plan will be guided by a framework consisting of five critical system factors, ensuring a comprehensive approach to efforts to build a supportive school environment for all students.

This workshop, inspired by Richard E. Mayer's book How Not to Be a Terrible School Board Member, offers school board members practical advice on avoiding common pitfalls and fostering productive governance. Participants will learn how to navigate interpersonal dynamics, communicate effectively and focus on student-centered decision-making. Through real-life examples, case scenarios and engaging discussions, attendees will develop skills to build trust, collaborate with stakeholders, and contribute to a positive and effective board culture. From teamwork to public relations and personal style, each component is explored so that there is a more collective understanding and agreement on how to improve the board’s effectiveness.

Ideal for both new and experienced board members committed to improving their leadership impact and avoiding missteps that hinder progress.

This highly interactive workshop introduces school board members and district leaders to the principles and practices outlined in The Governance Core by Davis Campbell and Michael Fullan. Participants will explore how a commitment to a shared moral imperative and governance mindset can transform board leadership and enhance student outcomes. The session will explore four components: governance culture and behavior, coherence and systems thinking, resources and continuous learning, and roles for strategic intent. Each component provides tools and activities to build cohesive governance teams, foster trust and collaboration, and navigate complex educational challenges with clarity and focus. Leave equipped with actionable strategies to create a governance culture that sustains success and drives meaningful change in your schools.

Ideal for boards seeking to align their leadership with the core values of equity, excellence and community impact.

Based on the principles in Eight Keys to an Extraordinary Board-Superintendent Partnership by Doug Eadie, this workshop explores the essential elements of a strong and collaborative relationship between school boards and superintendents. Participants will learn how to build trust, define clear roles, establish shared goals, enrich the board experience and foster open communication. Through real-world examples, on-the-spot surveys and actionable strategies, this session equips boards and superintendents with tools to create a unified leadership team that drives student success and organizational excellence.

Ideal for teams seeking to elevate their partnership and enhance governance effectiveness.

Heated debates surrounding school policies and curriculum are increasingly common, creating tension between parents, administrators and board members.

This three-hour, interactive workshop provides practical tools for navigating these challenging conversations with civility and respect. Learn how to create the conditions for constructive conversations, the value of differing viewpoints, and how to apply newly learned skills to encourage more civil, constructive school board meetings and community forums.

This session guides school boards through the essential steps of conducting meaningful and effective evaluations. For those boards using the MASB Superintendent Evaluation Instrument, an MASB facilitator brings objectivity, expertise, and structure to the annual superintendent evaluation process, ensuring it is fair, productive and aligned with district goals.

By guiding discussions, clarifying expectations, and fostering open communication, a facilitator helps board members stay focused on meaningful feedback and continuous improvement. This approach strengthens the superintendent-board relationship, promotes transparency, and ensures the evaluation process drives positive outcomes for the district.

Ideal for boards seeking to ensure the evaluation process drives continuous improvement and supports district success.

A solid framework for board meetings can streamline your board’s operations and set the foundation for effective governance. This comprehensive workshop is designed to help school boards establish meeting agendas and processes, align their goals and roles, and mitigate an ad hoc approach to governance. The session provides practical tools, templates and resources to enhance the board’s decisionmaking process. Participants will learn strategies to establish a structured and cohesive governance approach, fostering success for students and the community.

A board self-assessment is a powerful tool for improving governance and fostering continuous growth. This workshop guides school boards through the benefits of evaluating their performance, recognizing strengths and addressing areas for improvement. Participants will learn how self-assessments enhance accountability, strengthen teamwork and align board practices with district goals. By reflecting on their effectiveness, boards can build a stronger foundation for decisionmaking and leadership.

Ideal for boards committed to excellence and a student-centered approach to governance.

There has been a superintendent transition—now what? This workshop guides the governance team through the critical post-transition phase to ensure a successful partnership and sustained progress. Participants will explore strategies for building trust, aligning goals, fostering open communication and supporting the superintendent’s integration into the district. Through practical tools and collaborative discussions, board members will learn how to navigate challenges, maintain a strong governance team and lay the groundwork for long-term success.

Ideal for boards aiming to strengthen their relationship with a new superintendent and drive positive outcomes for their district.

Every school board faces unique challenges, and this customized workshop is designed to address your board’s specific needs. Whether you’re navigating governance issues, improving teamwork or tackling district-specific goals, this engaging session delivers focused strategies and actionable resources to help your board succeed. Your facilitator will collaborate with district leadership to design the perfect mix of content and activities, ensuring the workshop meets your specific needs. This session fosters collaborative problem-solving and equips your board with solutions to drive positive change in your district.

Are you tired of attending meetings that end up being frustrating and unproductive? Imagine a meeting where everyone understands each other's behavioral strengths and weaknesses, appreciates different perspectives, and fosters efficient communication. Our facilitators use behavioral style analysis to empower your board with the tools for highly effective governance teams. By decoding behavioral styles, you can unlock the potential for innovation, better decision-making, and a positive governing body culture.

Discover the power of the DISC personality profile to enhance communication, collaboration and leadership within your school board. This workshop helps participants understand their own behavioral styles and those of their colleagues, fostering stronger relationships and more effective teamwork. Through engaging activities and personalized insights, board members will learn how to leverage their strengths, address challenges and create a governance team that works seamlessly together for the benefit of the district.

Ideal for boards seeking to improve communication and build a more cohesive, high-performing team.

Transform your district governance team – this engaging and interactive session sets the stage for thoughtful discussions on crucial topics such as teamwork, unity of purpose, roles and responsibilities, positive governing body culture (norms) and supportive structure and process (protocols). Designed for both new and experienced teams, this workshop provides the tools and insights needed to enhance effectiveness and drive positive change.

The evaluation of the superintendent is a required and core component of school board service. This workshop helps boards navigate the State of Michigan’s mandatory midyear evaluation progress report. Board members will be guided through the process of gauging superintendent performance from the preceding superintendent evaluation, establishment of performance goals for the remainder of the evaluation period and discussion of the appropriate next steps. Also included will be an overview of how to conduct the meeting while adhering to the requirements of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act.