Critical Events in School Governance: Chair Succession

After a couple of days in Bretton Woods, NH, with ISANNE heads and board chairs talking about governance, I am reminded of how critically important board chair succession is for schools. At almost every turn, it seemed as if the conversation drifted back to how best to manage succession; in particular, how and when to identify a new chair.

Some best practices:

Identify well in advance--as much as three or four years ahead of time--one or two individuals who might make good chair candidates;

Put these individuals, with no guarantee that they will succeed the chair, onto a developmental course that includes NAIS and regional conference attendance, readings and other activities;

Designate a chair-elect one year from the point of succession such that he or she can shadow the retiring chair during that year; and

Refill the chair succession pipeline and start the process over again.

In short, chair succession should be thoughtful, planned well in advance, and a continuous concern of the committee on trustees.

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