How Not to Be a Terrible School Board Member

Lessons for School Administrators and Board Members
Richard E. Mayer - University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
How Not to Be a Terrible School Board Member
July 2011 | 160 pages | Corwin
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eBook
ISBN: 9781452237138
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781412997935
Available from January 0001

Description

Build a successful board by knowing where the land mines are

Veteran school board member, Richard E. Mayer, takes a humorous but substantive approach to the serious relationship between school administrators and board members. While the overwhelming majority of school board members have good motives, even people who mean well can make bad moves. This book shows how to prevent good intentions from creating bad outcomes. Each chapter presents a negative school board scenario, offers alternatives, and provides win-win solutions. Key features include

  • 28 brief case studies
  • Lessons learned for board members
  • Lessons learned for administrators

In addition to highlighting typical traps, the case studies light the path to positive collaboration and shared decision making between superintendents and school boards. Whether you are a school board member or an administrator who is trying to figure out what goes on in school board members' heads, How Not to Be a Terrible School Board Member provides clear direction in a realistic and memorable way.

Contents

Preface

Preface

About the Author

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

I. Terrible District teamwork

  • 1. Humiliate a District Employee in Public
  • 2. Negotiate in Public
  • 3. Attack the Administration in Print
  • 4. Micromanage the Superintendent
  • 5. Never Question the Administration
  • 6. Solicit Complaints from Teachers and Staff
  • 7. Ask for Special Treatment

II. Terrible Board Teamwork

  • 8. Disrespect a Fellow Board Member
  • 9. Speak for the Board
  • 10. Build Coalitions
  • 11. Abstain on Tough Votes
  • 12. Be Decisive, Don't Compromise
  • 13. Come Unprepared to a Board Meeting
  • 14. Do Too Much Homework

III. Terrible Public Relations

  • 15. Represent Your Supporters
  • 16. Minimize Public Input
  • 17. Run Your Own District Survey
  • 18. Argue with a Hostile Speaker
  • 19. Confide in a Reporter
  • 20. Garner Public Support
  • 21. Sign a Petition

IV. Terrible Personal Style

  • 22. Ignore Minor Conflicts of Interest
  • 23. Take Political Stands
  • 24. Use the District's Credit Card
  • 25. Remember Your Political Party
  • 26. Do a Favor
  • 27. Accept Gifts
  • 28. Radiate Negative Energy

Epilogue

Epilogue

Description

Build a successful board by knowing where the land mines are

Veteran school board member, Richard E. Mayer, takes a humorous but substantive approach to the serious relationship between school administrators and board members. While the overwhelming majority of school board members have good motives, even people who mean well can make bad moves. This book shows how to prevent good intentions from creating bad outcomes. Each chapter presents a negative school board scenario, offers alternatives, and provides win-win solutions. Key features include

  • 28 brief case studies
  • Lessons learned for board members
  • Lessons learned for administrators

In addition to highlighting typical traps, the case studies light the path to positive collaboration and shared decision making between superintendents and school boards. Whether you are a school board member or an administrator who is trying to figure out what goes on in school board members' heads, How Not to Be a Terrible School Board Member provides clear direction in a realistic and memorable way.

Contents

Preface

Preface

About the Author

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

I. Terrible District teamwork

  • 1. Humiliate a District Employee in Public
  • 2. Negotiate in Public
  • 3. Attack the Administration in Print
  • 4. Micromanage the Superintendent
  • 5. Never Question the Administration
  • 6. Solicit Complaints from Teachers and Staff
  • 7. Ask for Special Treatment

II. Terrible Board Teamwork

  • 8. Disrespect a Fellow Board Member
  • 9. Speak for the Board
  • 10. Build Coalitions
  • 11. Abstain on Tough Votes
  • 12. Be Decisive, Don't Compromise
  • 13. Come Unprepared to a Board Meeting
  • 14. Do Too Much Homework

III. Terrible Public Relations

  • 15. Represent Your Supporters
  • 16. Minimize Public Input
  • 17. Run Your Own District Survey
  • 18. Argue with a Hostile Speaker
  • 19. Confide in a Reporter
  • 20. Garner Public Support
  • 21. Sign a Petition

IV. Terrible Personal Style

  • 22. Ignore Minor Conflicts of Interest
  • 23. Take Political Stands
  • 24. Use the District's Credit Card
  • 25. Remember Your Political Party
  • 26. Do a Favor
  • 27. Accept Gifts
  • 28. Radiate Negative Energy

Epilogue

Epilogue

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How Not to Be a Terrible School Board Member

Lessons for School Administrators and Board Members

Richard E. Mayer
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July 2011 | 160 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781412997935 $37.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781452237138 $35.00

Build a successful board by knowing where the land mines are

Veteran school board member, Richard E. Mayer, takes a humorous but substantive approach to the serious relationship between school administrators and board members. While the overwhelming majority of school board members have good motives, even people who mean well can make bad moves. This book shows how to prevent good intentions from creating bad outcomes. Each chapter presents a negative school board scenario, offers alternatives, and provides win-win solutions. Key features include

  • 28 brief case studies
  • Lessons learned for board members
  • Lessons learned for administrators

In addition to highlighting typical traps, the case studies light the path to positive collaboration and shared decision making between superintendents and school boards. Whether you are a school board member or an administrator who is trying to figure out what goes on in school board members' heads, How Not to Be a Terrible School Board Member provides clear direction in a realistic and memorable way.


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • About the Author
  • Acknowledgments
  • I. Terrible District teamwork
  • 1. Humiliate a District Employee in Public
  • 2. Negotiate in Public
  • 3. Attack the Administration in Print
  • 4. Micromanage the Superintendent
  • 5. Never Question the Administration
  • 6. Solicit Complaints from Teachers and Staff
  • 7. Ask for Special Treatment
  • II. Terrible Board Teamwork
  • 8. Disrespect a Fellow Board Member
  • 9. Speak for the Board
  • 10. Build Coalitions
  • 11. Abstain on Tough Votes
  • 12. Be Decisive, Don't Compromise
  • 13. Come Unprepared to a Board Meeting
  • 14. Do Too Much Homework
  • III. Terrible Public Relations
  • 15. Represent Your Supporters
  • 16. Minimize Public Input
  • 17. Run Your Own District Survey
  • 18. Argue with a Hostile Speaker
  • 19. Confide in a Reporter
  • 20. Garner Public Support
  • 21. Sign a Petition
  • IV. Terrible Personal Style
  • 22. Ignore Minor Conflicts of Interest
  • 23. Take Political Stands
  • 24. Use the District's Credit Card
  • 25. Remember Your Political Party
  • 26. Do a Favor
  • 27. Accept Gifts
  • 28. Radiate Negative Energy
  • Epilogue

Recent Product Reviews:

“The author presents powerful vignettes that successfully describe the range of behaviors, decision making, language, thinking, and actions that often consciously and unconsciously undermine the superintendent, other school officials and employees, but worst of all other board members and the important work of the board members."
Douglas Gordon Hesbol, Superintendent, Laraway CCSD 70C, Joliet, IL
“All board members volunteer to serve because they want to be effective in providing students the best education the school district can provide. Richard Mayer addresses the broad range of mistakes he has seen made by board members during his years as a board member. This is a useful resource that board members and superintendents can use to ensure the successful governance of their school districts.”
Glen Ishiwata, Superintendent, Moreland School District, San Jose, CA
“I know of no other book that addresses this particular issue at this level of specificity and breadth. District and school administrators, as well as board members, will see it as useful.”
Robert Marzano, CEO, Marzano Research Laboratory, Englewood, CO
“I think the approach is brilliant. It’s a grabber that every insightful board member or administrator can identify with.”
Rene Townsend, Former Superintendent, Encinitas, CA
“Mayer writes in an authentic and respectful manner that provides the reader with a clear understanding of what it means to be an effective board member. This is a must-read for anyone who is a current board member, aspiring to become one, or an administrator who wants to develop solid professional relationships with their board members.”
Bonnie Tryon, Past President, School Administrators Association of New York, Cobleskill, NY

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