NAIS Trustees' Guide

Understand the Big Picture

For any board of an independent school to be effective, it must first understand the essence of the school and why it exists, what its main purpose is, and whom it serves.

Master Oversight

One of the most important duties of an independent school board is to provide oversight for the school and how it functions. But what exactly constitutes proper oversight? 

Lead Strategically

One of the most important duties of an independent school board is to hold the school in trust not only for this generation of students but also for future ones. Thus, an independent school board leads by focusing on long-range strategy.

Ensure Financial Health and Sustainability

Understanding the financial context in which a school functions and how to successfully navigate within it is a vital board responsibility.

Create the Right Board Structures and Practices

Thoughtful governance structures and practices serve as the foundation for high-performing independent school boards.

Recruit, Train, and Engage Strong Board Members

High-performing independent school boards work hard to stay effective. And given the numerous vital roles they must play to ensure their school’s success, they should, first and foremost, have the right people around the table.

Partner with the Head of School

In many ways, the most important work of the board is to identify, recruit, hire, support, and evaluate a strong and effective head of the school.

Governance Case Studies

This collection of case studies features scenarios that are based on real-life situations that have occurred in multiple schools over time. The names of schools and individuals named herein are intended to be fictional.