I help school boards govern like the kids in their care are counting on them.
I've been the frustrated board member, the superintendent on the hot seat, and everyone in between. That's where the framework in my book came from — and now I spend my time helping other boards get there faster: aligned, focused, and governing by the values their community actually shares.
I've watched good boards get stuck.
Not because the people were bad — because nobody handed them a framework.
Meetings that go nowhere
Long agendas, stalled decisions, public conflict — and student outcomes never make the docket.
Overwhelmed and unfocused
Board members ran to serve kids. Instead they're refereeing disputes and drowning in material no one prioritized.
Kids deserve better
Every kid deserves the best possible education — not just the ones whose families can buy an alternative.
This isn't theory I read somewhere.
Every principle I teach, I've tested from the inside — as a founder building something from nothing, as a board member arguing my case at the dais, and as an administrator on the receiving end of a board's decisions. Govern Differently is where I wrote it all down.
Read my full bio →Values-Based Governance, in three moves.
The framework behind the book, the consulting, and every talk I give.
Strategic Alignment
Define your mission, vision, and core values — so every decision has a north star.
Policy Development
Embed those values into district policy — so they outlast any one board or superintendent.
Cultural Adaptation
Live those values daily — through staff trust, accountability, and consistent practice.
One night, a community group demanded the board pursue something against state law. Instead of arguing, I asked the room one question:
“Who would rather see their taxpayer dollars fund teacher salaries and help students improve — rather than fighting lawsuits?”
Every hand in the room went up. Including mine.
A real moment from my time on the board — not a composite, not a dramatization.
Without alignment
- Meetings consumed by conflict instead of kids
- Taxpayer dollars spent on disputes, not classrooms
- Superintendent churn and eroding community trust
- Good board members burn out and walk away
With Values-Based Governance
- An aligned board with a shared north star
- Shorter, focused meetings centered on outcomes
- Policy that reflects your community's values
- Restored trust — between board, staff, and public
I speak at board retreats, conferences, and association events.
Superintendent evaluations, Values-Based Governance principles, and full-day workshops — see what fits your group.
More ways to work together.
Work with ChalkForge
Consulting, workshops, and retreats built on the same framework — for your actual board.
Visit chalkforge.com →School Board Boot Camp
Seven free video modules for new and aspiring board members — built from the book.
Visit schoolboardbootcamp.com →