Using Appreciative Inquiry at the Board Table

In my research on school board governance, I’ve found that some boards are using a powerful, exciting new tools : “Appreciative Inquiry” (AI).  As I was designing a board evaluation session, intended to encourage boards to evaluate their governance methods, I started to include AI methods in the session.

I’m using some ideas from two school boards who have used AI. Here are some links to their webpages:

Harmony Union Schools uses AI

Appreciative Inquiry as a Process for Leading School Improvement

AI Summit for a Charter School and its Board of Trustees

Carver Model

In my work with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, I’ve learned about a model that many school boards and other non-profits have adopted for guiding board governance–The Carver Model.

Below are some links to various websites that will help fill you in on this model.

One of the questions I have is, “What effect does this model have on school performance?” I think a whole area of inquiry might be, “What is the relationship between how a school board governs itself and the achievement of the students in the school district?” Is there a relationship? If there isn’t a relationship, then does any model of board governance really matter?

I’ve heard some interesting statements made by various folks involved in board governance about the role of the school board in improving student performance and school district performance in general. Some folks think the board’s job is just to pass policies. The superintendent’s job is to address student performance.

Wow! If it’s not the school board’s job to improve student performance, I’d like to know who’s job is it? The fundamental mission of the school district is to provide quality educational opportunities for its students, and to improve student performance. That’s the mission for the whole school district….not just the superintendent or the board or the parents or the teachers or the administrators. It’s a unifying mission for the whole district.

In your opinion, and through the benefit of your experience, what role does the model a school board uses for its governance play in improving student performance?

Here are those links to the Carver Model:

The Carver Model

Guides for learning more about The Carver Model

Universalist Unitarian Association (Florida District) Conference Material on Carver Model

Testimony from Minneapolis, MN about the effectiveness of the Carver Model

Ontario Literacy Association Website on Carver Model

Iowa Adopts HPT Methods

I had the privilege of visiting the Iowa State Support Team several times last fall (2008), and see the excellent work they were doing there.

The exciting part of their work to us practitioners in Human Performance Technology is the fact that they have adopted explicitly the language of HPT.

Here are some links to some of the resources they post on their webpages:

Main webpage Iowa State Support Team

Take a look at the Phases the Support Teams work through….the language will look very familiar to HPT professionals:

Phases of ISST School Improvement Process