172. Aligning Board Behaviors with Student Outcomes with AJ Crabill

Education Evolution

English - July 25, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MB
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Previous Episode: 171. Creating What Our Kids Need with Tanya Sheckley

Next Episode: 173. Parent Choice Leads to Empowerment for All with Tyson Junkers

Explore the crucial role of school boards in driving student success and effective governance in our latest podcast episode with AJ Crabill. In this week’s episode, AJ offers valuable insights into the key struggles faced by school boards and the importance of shifting the focus away from adult inputs and toward student outcomes. He shares the behaviors and actions that set successful boards apart, including how they spend their time and prioritize the growth of children.

Creating a continuous improvement cycle within school boards is so important, and AJ emphasizes the need to clarify priorities, monitor progress, align resources, and communicate results to the community. And he tells us why a student outcomes focus is paramount and how it impacts decision-making and resource allocation.

Furthermore, AJ highlights the significant role of parent involvement in school boards, as they represent the vision and values of the community within the education system. Find out how parents can actively engage in the school board, regardless of their educational background, by focusing on implementing the community's vision and values.

Don't miss this enlightening conversation that empowers education leaders, teachers, principals, and decision-makers to prioritize student outcomes and foster effective governance within school boards. Tune in now to gain valuable insights and actionable strategies.

About AJ Crabill:

Improving student outcomes is AJ Crabill’s focus. He serves as conservator at DeSoto, Texas ISD. During his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings. He’s also faculty at Leadership Institute of Nevada and director of governance at the Council of the City Great Schools. He served as deputy commissioner at the Texas Education Agency and spearheaded reforms as board chair of Kansas City Schools that doubled the percentage of students who are literate and numerate. Crabill is a recipient of the Education Commission of the State’s James Bryant Conant Award.

Jump in the Conversation:

[1:41] - Where AJ’s passion for school excellence came from

[3:01] - Key struggles that school boards face

[6:01] - What healthy board behaviors look like

[7:40] - What successful boards do differently

[9:02] - Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail

[10:56] - Five steps of a continuous improvement cycle

[12:18] - The only reason schools exist

[14:46] - Understanding what it means to have a student outcomes focus

[21:35] - Where to find support for school boards

[22:28] - The importance of parent involvement

[25:07] - How parents can go about getting involved in the school board