Hello:
I’m eagerly waiting for my new Dell desktop to arrive today. I’m moving from 2 GB RAM to 12 GB and hoping to appreciate the 23 inch monitor that comes with it. While I’m waiting for my new computer (come on UPS), Vancouver is being pounded by ridiculous rain and wind storms (I’m keeping an eye out my window for Dorothy and Toto). That being said, I enjoy going down to my cabin in Pt. Roberts and watching the big storms and surf pound the beaches, while taking in the sounds and scents of the ocean. A few years back I would be out there in my Hobby Cat or wind surfer catching the big winds…
Today I want to share some final thoughts in the eNewsletter on effective board governance.
One important element to consider is the development, implementation, and monitoring of your organization’s mission. I was online and found a fantastic video on how NOT to develop your school’s mission statement. Please click here to view the video.
Too many times boards write a mission statement that is like a novel; they throw everything into it but the kitchen sink and end up with a bunch of words that mean nothing to the organization. My challenge is that it should be one sentence, able to fit onto the front of a t-shirt, and every member of your community should be able to memorize and recite it. Can you do that at your school?
Read on to find out more about writing a great mission statement.
To your success,
Doug Halladay
President
Halladay Education Group Inc.
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P.S. Don’t forget to go to our secure Online Store for our Strategic Planning or School Start-Up Toolkits.
IN THIS ISSUE
1. In The News
2. Focus On Our Key Services
3. Can You Recite Your School's Mission Statement?
4. Products At Our Online Store
1. IN THE NEWS
>> RESEARCHERS PROBE PAY INCENTIVES FOR TEACHERS
While much of the national debate over performance incentives for teachers has centered on bonuses based on student test scores, a new book suggests that such incentives come in all shapes and sizes, and offers some new research on little-studied aspects of those strategies.
2. FOCUS ON OUR KEY SERVICES
Starting a school can be challenging and you never have a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. That’s why you need a firm with experience starting schools in USA, Canada, and Internationally.
We can lead the development of your school’s Strategic Plan, which will build consensus, motivate donors, and define critical priorities for your Board and Administration for school improvement.
(C) BOARD GOVERNANCE WORKSHOPS
Do you want your school to have the best board possible? Our full-day governance workshop (in combination with our informative online self-assessment survey) will fine-tune your board’s performance and focus priorities.
A school review is critical to knowing if you’re heading in the right direction. As a board member, are you sure your school is doing the best it can? Get the whole picture with our “In-Depth School Performance Review and Action Plan.” Click on the following link for more info:
(E) BUYING AND SELLING SCHOOLS
HEG and our certified Brokerage Associates assist buyers/sellers with the purchase and sale of for-profit Private K-12 Schools, Post Secondary Institutions, and Career Colleges in Canada, United States, and Internationally. HEG and our Licensed Brokers are experienced in acquisitions, mergers, and advising established schools.
3. CAN YOU RECITE YOUR SCHOOL'S MISSION STATEMENT?
Effective boards are missions focused. Great boards uphold and articulate a compelling mission-vision, and ensure congruence between strategy, values, and operations of the school. Competent directors focus on being:
- Aspirational and inspirational having a mission provides call to action that motivates staff and board and guides decisions
- Decisions are based on a clear understanding of your needs and you don’t operate in a vacuum
- As custodians of the mission, you’ve courage to refocus mission when needed
- You articulate your organization’s values and can translate them into action, and inspire staff by serving as role models
Your mission statement should answer the following questions:
- WHO you serve
- WHAT you provide, and
- HOW you serve them.
On the other hand, your vision statement should do the following:
- Compelling image of the desired future that describes what the school should look like as it successfully implements the plan & achieves its potential
Your vision is the product and the mission is the process.
My litmus test for a mission statement is the following checklist:
- Does it state the purpose of your organization?
- Is it broad enough that everyone can see how they can contribute?
- Is it rarely changing?
- Can it survive leadership changes?
- Will it make sense to the average citizen who sees it displayed on your walls?
How did you score? Your mission has to inspire your staff and board, and direct your purpose for existing. Don’t treat it like some sort of cliché; take it serious and you’ll have a better board and school.
To help your board move from good to great, we can provide our one-day board governance workshop with your school’s trustees. Our thoughtful workshop provides feedback to analyze and develop a clear set of strategies to guide your school’s leadership with the ongoing development of your school and governance.
The Board Governance Workshop and Survey refocuses Trustees on the Critical Elements of Effective Board Performance. This includes a comprehensive 360° online “Board Performance Self-Assessment Survey” based on years of research that assesses your board’s performance and a one day workshop to identify and resolve critical governance issues, review best practices, and focus areas for board development. This includes:
- Participation in hands-on case scenarios that highlight effective board practices.
- Building a profile of your board’s performance gap based on confidential responses to the online survey and identifying areas that need immediate improvement (the survey is implemented as part of the school evaluation process).
- Facilitation of a one-day workshop that assists the board in developing strategies and action plans to close your performance gap for the governance of leadership of the school.
- As part of the process, the Board members candidly discuss and reach consensus on issues surrounding the performance of your board and lay the groundwork for long-term improvement.
You receive a follow-up “Summative Board Performance Report” providing a comprehensive overview of the board’s survey results, issues, and a plan of action for improvement.
Please click on the following here for more info.
To find out more about our firm’s board governance workshops, or learn more about how we can help provide you solutions, please email HEG at info@halladayeducationgroup.com to discuss your needs in more detail.
4. ONLINE STORE
Here are 2 popular Toolkits to help you to either start your own school or develop your own strategic plan, step-by-step.
(1). STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOLKIT (#1 BEST SELLER)
Learn how to develop your own Strategic Plan with step-by-step instructions contained in our detailed Workbook and Manual, along with $500 worth of bonus CD’s. It’s all here to help you develop your own plan.
(2). START-A-SCHOOL TOOLKIT (#2 BEST SELLER)
Are you still struggling with starting your school? Four experienced school leaders share how they started their own school from the ground up. You’ll also receive our bonus CD on developing your strategic plan.
To your success,
Douglas Halladay
President
alladay Education group is Best for all, now and always.
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