Let’s Talk – Conversations on Civility
Yet despite the public’s overwhelming desire for more civility, it seems to be eluding us as a nation. When I took the lead on NJSBA’s Civility Starts with Us initiative, I began having conversations with various people about civility in...
Few Follow a Title
It’s 8:40 on a Wednesday night. Your board just wrapped up a heated discussion followed by a contentious vote. The room feels tense. Board members are deliberately not making eye contact with each other. Members of the audience are hastily...
Carole Larsen Award Continues to Inspire Excellence in Board Governance
When the New Jersey School Boards Association created the Carole E. Larsen Master Board Certification in 2007, it sought to honor a dedicated staff member whose hands-on approach to training improved the way school boards operate throughout the state. Nearly...
Non-Partisan Governance: Thoughts from the Field
We live in hyper-partisan times. Beyond politics, much of modern life is curated specifically to our personal tastes—from the media we consume to the algorithms that feed our preferences. While celebrating individuality is a cornerstone of American culture, I am...
The North Star Belief System: Sharing A Leadership Vision and Unified Voice
There is great uncertainty, unrest and dissonance within our country today. Regardless of where one falls along the political divide, the daily uncertainty is evident in how issues are viewed, interpreted and acknowledged across all forms of wider communication. This...
Managing Board of Education Conflict Before It Leads to Dysfunction
Conflict on a board of education is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong. Members bring different experiences, perspectives and priorities to the table, so there will likely be disagreements from time to time. It can even be a...
Quantity Over Quality: A Review of School Ethics Commission Filings
Of late, there has been no shortage of ethics complaints filed against board of education members by members of the public, school district administrators and most commonly, by their board colleagues. Based on a review of the agendas posted by...
More Than a Meeting
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role with the New Jersey School Boards Association is watching board members from different districts come together at county association meetings. They arrive representing communities of different sizes, demographics and priorities. Some...
More Than a Meeting
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role with the New Jersey School Boards Association is watching board members from different districts come together at county association meetings. They arrive representing communities of different sizes, demographics and priorities. Some...