Page 72 - EdViewptsSpring2020

Understanding the Role and

Responsibilities of a Board of Education:

A School Leader and Former Board of

Education Member’s Perspective

By Kathleen Koop, Principal, Madison School District

Approximately 12 years vice-president, chair of an education In a high achieving district
ago, I was approached committee, and I attended hours of dedicated to supporting student
professional development provided
progress, all stakeholders (Board of
by some people in my by the New Jersey School Boards Education, Superintendent, School
hometown community to Association. In addition, I wrote my Administrators, District Supervisors,
Teachers, Staff, Families) are
2019 dissertation about school board
run for the local school governance, trained other school board focused on working together in their
members, and presented at the New respective roles to support student
board. At the time, I was a new Jersey School Boards convention three achievement. However, their actions
principal in another school district times. My governance experiences and responsibilities associated with
with limited knowledge about the educated me not only about the role supporting student achievement
responsibilities of a school board of a school board in a district, but also may differ. To understand the role
member and the skillset required to how a school board should support of a school board in a district, it is
serve as an effective governance leader. student achievement. I believe that important to know how school board
Once elected, I made it my mission when all stakeholders understand work is related to accountability and
to learn as much as possible about the responsibilities of a school board what training board members receive
school board governance and what was compared to the responsibilities of the to sufficiently fulfill their governance
required to be a responsible member of educators in an educational community, responsibilities. The requirement of
a board of education. During my tenure the overall understanding will support mandated training for school board
as a governance leader for 12 years the progress and productivity of a school members was included in legislation
(four terms), I served as the president, district. passed approximately 13 years ago. In

Educational Viewpoints -70- Spring 2020