Board Governance: Developing Leadership Motivation and Capacity Through Delegation and Accountability

• In Event: Roundtable Session 28
  In Roundtable Session: Charter School Governance, Leadership, and Mentoring

Abstract

Charter schools are, by design, an innovation in school governance. However, decentralization involved in this reform creates challenges concerning roles and responsibility for decision-making limiting the effectiveness of leaders in the organization. This qualitative case study sought to gain an in-depth understanding of a newly adopted governance structure, Policy Governance, on leadership capacity and motivation in an independent school district. Findings suggest that clearly defined roles, delegation of autonomous authority to key administrators, and specific performance expectations of administrators and board enhance a culture of professionalism, creativity and collaboration resulting in a "trickle down" effect through all levels of the organization. Evidence of effective governance models is an important contribution to sustainability of choice schools in increasingly complex environments.

Authors

• Katherine A. Curry, Oklahoma State University

• Alexandra Jane Holter, Oklahoma State University

• Tania Benoiton, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater

• Sean Kinder, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater