From the Field
So Many Hats and Only One Head: The Life of a School Board Member
By Natalie Williams-McMahonJournal | July/August 2024
As a school board member in Illinois, there are many hats to wear: parent, community member, professional roles, friend, leader of a district, and more.
How do we separate and balance them all?
This summer, we at IASB encourage you to practice the balancing act of the many hats you wear.
Before you became a board member, you were a leader in many other aspects, yet when you became a board member for your district, you realized the importance of this role and you must indeed learn to compartmentalize your life. This is often discussed in meetings; typically this discussion comes up in IASB’s “Starting Right” workshop, where boards learn their roles and responsibilities and how to separate them from other roles – and the many hats we wear.
You may ask yourself
- “How do I show up as just Mom/Dad vs. as a school board member?”
- “How do I not cross the line in my dual role as a leader and/or educator in one of your district’s schools, while being on the Board?”
- “How do I express my concerns as a community member vs. being on the board that represents all children?”
According to educator J.D. Copeland, the hats that leaders of school districts wear are prioritized by these categories: Manage, Plan, Listen, Communicate, and Community Involvement. Therefore, it is essential to utilize these aspects for whichever hat you wear. Here are some helpful tips on how you can balance the many hats you wear.
Manage
Prioritize by consciously choosing the top three things that need to be done as a parent, during your role on your job, as a community member, as a board member. This will allow you to set standards and boundaries between the hats that you wear. In addition, it will allow you to manage daily duties under each hat. For example:
- Parent: Create time blocks for meals, homework, and activities.
- Board Member: Create time blocks for reading packets, listing questions to the superintendent, and visiting a school in your district.
Plan
Plan for those top three things for the sake of time and schedules. This will allow you to not only compartmentalize but also to be present and fully engaged as you change from hat to hat. For example:
- Professional Role: Plan your work duties according to importance (due dates, project completion, etc.) during work hours.
- Board Member: Cross-check personal and professional schedules to make sure they don’t conflict with board meetings planned school visits, or board workshops.
Listen
Take note and listen to those around you as you wear the hat of a parent, community member, board member, etc. This skill is important because it will allow you to lead as a board member; making sure that you are listening to all at the table as you plan with your fellow board members to make decisions wholeheartedly, for the benefit of the people whom you govern in your district. For example:
- Community Member: Listen to trends around topics that your community is facing in which you will be a part of the decision-making process.
- Board Member: If on your board’s agenda, Discuss the topic with fellow board members and listen to other perspectives, research, and data that will help you make the best decision/vote.
Communicate
Communication is one of the most important skills to utilize on any team, wearing any hat. It allows opportunities to learn, collaborate, and team build. Practicing aligned communication styles helps the opportunity to ask questions and gain clarity, therefore allowing the execution and completion of goals. For example:
- Superintendent: Communicate goals, plans, and data. Communicate needs and recommendations, and why they are important to help the students in your district.
- Board Member: Communicate with your fellow board members the knowledge you have or the knowledge you are seeking to help make the best decisions when you are to vote on a Superintendent’s recommendation.
Community Involvement
Maintain your community involvement and connections, even with your different roles. For example:
- Teacher: Try to be a part of your schools’ universal teams, complete surveys, and collaborate across content, teams, and other schools.
- Board Member: Observe and listen to all voices in your community, note trends, and discuss with your board team. This will allow your board team to make the best decisions based on the needs of your community.
Natalie Williams-McMahon, Ed.D. is IASB Field Services Director for the South Cook, Three Rivers, and West Cook divisions. Resources associated with this column can be accessed via iasb.com/Journal.