
The School Board Member's Guidebook
Making A Positive Difference Through School Governance
Routledge (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 29. September 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
124 pages
978-1-041-01211-5 (ISBN)
Description
Every student deserves a high-impact, well-qualified, and governance-driven school board. In this helpful book, best-selling authors Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker show you as a school board member how to make smart, worthwhile decisions that will lead to positive change in your district.
The School Board Member's Guidebook addresses the challenges of making realistic choices that will truly benefit the school and have a lasting impact. Topics include:
how to work and communicate effectively with the superintendent during the year
how to rise above contentious issues, while still showing you care about people's viewpoints
how to represent the interests and needs of the community at large
how to keep your constituencies focused and informed through strategic planning and structured committee participation
how to host constructive and cordial school board meetings
Each chapter offers strategies, tips, and sample scenarios. In addition, this timely second edition features a new chapter on the roles and challenges of the board president. With the resources and the practical advice throughout the book, you'll be able to make a lasting difference in the lives of every student in your district.
The School Board Member's Guidebook addresses the challenges of making realistic choices that will truly benefit the school and have a lasting impact. Topics include:
how to work and communicate effectively with the superintendent during the year
how to rise above contentious issues, while still showing you care about people's viewpoints
how to represent the interests and needs of the community at large
how to keep your constituencies focused and informed through strategic planning and structured committee participation
how to host constructive and cordial school board meetings
Each chapter offers strategies, tips, and sample scenarios. In addition, this timely second edition features a new chapter on the roles and challenges of the board president. With the resources and the practical advice throughout the book, you'll be able to make a lasting difference in the lives of every student in your district.
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development
Illustrations
3 s/w Abbildungen, 2 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 1 s/w Zeichnung
1 Line drawings, black and white; 2 Halftones, black and white; 3 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight
209 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-041-01211-5 (9781041012115)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Ryan Donlan | Todd Whitaker
The School Board Member's Guidebook
Making A Positive Difference Through School Governance
E-Book
09/2025
2nd Edition
Routledge
€35.49
Available for download

Ryan Donlan | Todd Whitaker
The School Board Member's Guidebook
Making A Positive Difference Through School Governance
E-Book
09/2025
2nd Edition
Routledge
€35.49
Available for download

Ryan Donlan | Todd Whitaker
The School Board Member's Guidebook
Making A Positive Difference Through School Governance
Book
09/2025
2nd Edition
Routledge
€206.90
Shipment within 15-20 days
Previous edition

Ryan Donlan | Todd Whitaker
The School Board Member's Guidebook
Becoming a Difference Maker for Your District
Book
07/2018
1st Edition
Routledge
€26.50
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Ryan Donlan is a Professor of Educational Leadership at Indiana State University and specializes in helping schools with leadership, governance, and performance improvement. He has authored books on governance, leadership, and teaching, including Uncommon Sense for New Teachers: A Good Beginning is Half the Work.
Todd Whitaker is a Research Professor at the University of Missouri. He is a leading presenter in the field of education and has written 65 books, including the national best seller, What Great Teachers Do Differently.
Todd Whitaker is a Research Professor at the University of Missouri. He is a leading presenter in the field of education and has written 65 books, including the national best seller, What Great Teachers Do Differently.
Content
1. The Difference Maker 2. How to Find Common Ground 3. How to Maximize Constituencies 4. How to Communicate with and Manage Constituencies 5. What Boards of Education Are Really About 6. How Boards Can Govern More Effectively 7. The Superintendent as Your Shield 8. The Care and Feeding of Community Members 9. Holding Board Meetings 10. Between Board Meetings 11. The Board President: Neither Fish nor Fowl, or is it BOTH Fish and Fowl? 12. Community Caricatures 13. Governing Best: Advancing by Retreating 14. Starting Undefeated