Trustee Development & Support

Bold Leadership Driving Student Success

Great school board trustees reimagine policy, practice, and resources to ensure that every child has the support they need to achieve their boldest dreams. Leadership ISD equips school board trustees and trustee candidates to govern effectively and make decisions that benefit every child by building supportive relationships, providing staff expertise, and sharing partner resources.

Why It Matters

Local school boards establish policies and practices that have an incredible effect on student outcomes and student experience. It is critical that trustees understand the root issues facing our public schools and their role as a trustee in resolving these problems. However, overseeing a school district is not an easy job and there are unique facets of the role for which many new (and some sitting) trustees are ill-prepared. We provide the training and coaching to help trustees better serve students.

"If you want to take this seriously, you have to be willing to do the work. Ready to Lead is an effective way to get prepared for the challenges you will face as a trustee. Ready to Lead taught me about board governance before I sat in the seat and it opened up a good network of resources that I would need as a trustee.”

 — Rachel McGowan (Ready to Lead '22), Richardson ISD Trustee District 5

Ready to Lead Academy

Leadership ISD’s Ready to Lead Academy prepares prospective school board trustees to run for office and govern effectively on their local school boards. 

Learning Objectives

Through this academy, participants will learn how to: 

  • Understand the role of school boards, the role of superintendents, and their role as a trustee in moving the needle for students.

  • Use data to identify inequities along lines of race, language, socioeconomic status, and ability.

  • Understand how to leverage effective school board governance to close achievement gaps and improve outcomes for all students.

  • Be a transparent and effective steward of taxpayer dollars while leveraging the budget approval process to properly resource policies and practices that will improve student outcomes.

  • Understand their role in evaluating the superintendent.

  • Examine strategies to foster a positive, inclusive, transparent working relationship with their communities.

Course Deliverables

Through this academy, participants will: 

  • Craft a compelling personal narrative to communicate their “why” to voters.

  • Develop their own policy platform to improve student outcomes.

  • Create an action plan of next steps, important contacts, and connections for kicking off their campaign.

2023 Session Topics and Dates

Representing the Vision and Values of Your District

October 7, 2023, 9 am - 4 pm (in-person)

Using Policy and Practice to Improve Student Outcomes

October 25, 2023, 6 - 9 pm (virtual)

Aligning Budget and Resources to Goals

November 14, 2023, 6 - 9 pm (virtual)

Working with the Superintendent and Community

December 12, 2023, 6 - 9 pm (in-person)

Please Note: This academy has a hybrid format, meeting both in-person and virtually to help accommodate participants' busy schedules.

Program Tuition

Program tuition is $350. However, we recognize campaigns can be expensive and do not want the cost to become a barrier for anyone. Please let us know and we can work with you to ensure you are able to participate in this program.

Questions?

If you are an aspiring or current trustee and would like to learn more about our Ready to Lead Academy, please email info@leadershipisd.org. 

One-On-One Coaching

Once elected, the real work begins. We aim to cultivate the next generation of student-centered trustees by supporting aspiring, newly-elected, and tenured school board members. Our team is available to provide trustees and trustee candidates with occasional or ongoing coaching, depending on their need, to help them better understand their role as a trustee, stay in tune with issues community members care about, and discuss best policies and practices that are creating a more equitable environment and better student outcomes in other districts. 

If you are an aspiring or current trustee and would like to meet with one of our team members for coaching, role support, or community perspective, please reach out to us at info@leadershipisd.org.