A superintendent can be an exceptional educational leader and still struggle-or even lose the confidence of the board-if the superintendent doesn't understand how to work effectively with the people responsible for governing the district. Confessions of a School Board Member: What Every Superintendent Needs to Know takes you to the other side of the board table.

Drawing on research, real-world experiences, and decades of working with school boards and superintendents, former school board member Phil Gore reveals what board members need from their superintendent, what causes these critical relationships to break down, and what successful superintendents do differently.

Discover practical insights for:
· Building and maintaining trust with your board
· Clarifying expectations, roles, and boundaries
· Understanding the difference between governance and micromanagement
· Communicating effectively-even when tensions are high
· Recognizing and responding to the will of the board
· Making superintendent evaluation meaningful
· Navigating politics, conflict, and community expectations
· Keeping the board-superintendent team focused on student success

Whether you're an experienced superintendent, new or aspiring superintendent, or school board member, Confessions of a School Board Member provides an insider's perspective on one of the most important-and most challenging-relationships in public education. You know how to lead a school system. Now learn what your board needs from you.

Phil Gore served as a school board member in the Seattle area. He resigned from his board to begin working in leadership and school board development in 2007.

Phil completed a master's and PhD in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Washington in Seattle. His master's thesis discusses the importance of balance between local and centralized control of public education, and his dissertation explores the factors and sources of information school boards consider when evaluating a superintendent. He co-edited Improving School Board Effectiveness: A Balanced Governance Approach, Harvard Education Press, 2015.

Phil has worked for the National School Boards Association and state school boards associations in Idaho, Vermont, Texas, and Washington. He has led or contributed to development of school board standards in each of those states.

Phil provides keynotes and consulting services nationally. His topics and consulting include strategic planning, good governance, organizational development, executive coaching, shared leadership, trust, and community engagement.