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HGSE Unbound

School Board Governance

A 5-Part Series on Strengthening Governance, Strategy, and Collaboration in K–12 Districts
Limited Time Offer: Enroll in Session One at No Cost
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Session 1 Details

Session 1 Date: April 8
Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Format: Live, online 60 minute webinar with interactive lecture and Q&A
Session 1 Fee: $0 (limited-time offer, enroll by February 1, 2026)
Intended Audience: School Board Members, Superintendents, and Other Senior District Leaders

Full Program Overview

School boards play a pivotal role in governing our public school systems. Yet the learning curve to become an effective board member or district leader is steep. Today’s education landscape demands both a strong grasp of governance, finance, policy, and curriculum, and advanced leadership skills in collaboration, conflict management, and community engagement.

Superintendents and senior district administrators who work with boards must navigate complex political dynamics, high‑stakes decisions, and intense public scrutiny. To lead effectively, they need:

  • A clear understanding of the board’s role
  • Strong, strategic communication with board members and the community
  • Practical tools for aligning governance with student‑centered outcomes

This five-part School Board Governance series is designed for school board members, superintendents, and other senior district leaders who want to strengthen board effectiveness, deepen trust and collaboration, and keep student learning at the center of every decision.

Format and Requirements

  • 5 live, online webinars (1 hour each)
  • Interactive learning through lectures, case discussions, and facilitated group dialogue
  • Required readings and brief assignments before each session
  • Approximate time investment: 10 hours total for the full series

Program Topics

  • Navigating Conflict, Politics, and Crises
  • How School Boards Fit in the Governance Ecosystem
  • Building Trust, a Positive District Climate, and Managing Relationships
  • Accountability and Financial Oversight
  • Board-Driven Systemic Change and Governance Best Practices

Exclusive Benefit for Session 1 Participants
Participants who complete Session 1 will receive early access to enroll in the full five‑session module series and a discounted rate on the full-series program fee (standard fee: $450 USD).

For Session 1 (Current Offering):

  • Early Bird Enrollment for Session 1 is now open.
  • Please complete the Session 1 enrollment form in full.
  • Enrollment is limited and offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis.

After Session 1:

  • Confirmed participants will receive early notification when the full series opens for enrollment. They will also receive a discounted rate to enroll in the full five‑session module series.

Session 1 Fee: $0 (limited‑time offer)

Session 1 Date and Time: April 8, 1:00–2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

For the Full Series:

  • Standard Full‑Series Program Fee: $450 USD
  • Details about the discounted full‑series fee and the dates for Sessions 2–5 will be provided after Session 1.

Session 1 (Current Offering)

  • Live, online 60‑minute webinars
  • Interactive lecture and Q&A
  • Brief required pre‑work
  • Approximate time commitment: 2 hours per webinar

Participants in the full series will:

  • Engage in real‑time conversations with faculty and peers
  • Analyze authentic board‑level dilemmas from diverse district contexts
  • Practice applying frameworks and tools to their own district’s governance challenges

This offering is designed for:

  • Current and newly elected School Board Members seeking to deepen their understanding of effective governance and their role in driving district improvement.
  • Superintendents and Assistant/Deputy Superintendents who work closely with boards and want to strengthen partnership, role clarity, and strategic alignment.
  • Other Senior District Leaders who regularly engage with the board on finance, instruction, staffing, or community issues.

Faculty 

 

Scott Levy

Scott Levy

Scott Levy is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has been elected four times to a local public school board in Westchester County, NY. He has served as president of a regional school boards association, chairman of a children's hospital, and Executive Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. He spent two decades as an investment banker advising corporate boards and senior executives. 

His recent book Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of American Education and Democracy (MIT Press, 2025), explores the critical role of school boards in sustaining both effective public education and a healthy democracy. 


Martin West

Martin West

Martin West is the academic dean and Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. He is also editor-in-chief of Education Next, a journal of research and opinion on education policy, and deputy director of the Program on Education Policy and Governance at the Harvard Kennedy School. West is currently a member of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and of the National Assessment Governing Board. His research focuses on the politics of K-12 education in the United States and how education policies affect student learning and non-cognitive development. In 2013-14, West worked as senior education policy advisor to the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. He previously taught at Brown University and was a research fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he is now a nonresident senior fellow.

 

Enrollment for Session 1 is Now Open

The deadline to enroll in Session 1 at no cost is February 1, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time (UTC-5)

Enroll Now