Advisory board development, steve finocchio

2010 Institute for Staff Development

NATIONAL ACADEMY FOUNDATION
NATIONAL ACADEMY FOUNDATION
July 2010
July 2010
Advisory Board Development:
Recruiting & Strategies for Success

Stephen Finocchio
Stephen Finocchio
Board Chair
Board Chair
Brook Farm Academy
Brook Farm Academy

1


> Welcome

> Today’s Discussion Topics

– Developing Board Infrastructure
– The Importance of the School-Board Relationship
– Establishing Manageable Short Term Plans and Long Range Goals
– Creating Board Member Commitment
– Continuous Strategic Recruiting
– Developing Lasting Partnerships

> Questions, Thoughts, Comments, Observations

2


What Every Board Needs in order to Operate Effectively
> Understanding of its role in the constituent's process

> Correct Structure, Manageable Size, Expected Engagement

> Good Information- Are you getting it?

> Inclusive Culture
– Chemistry and mutual trust
– Equal voice…but also equal contribution
– Climate of freedom to ask challenging questions

> The Right People

> Communication, Communication, Communication!

3


Serving on an Advisory Board may be one of the
more altruistic things you (or your Board
member) will ever do. No one is going to tell
you that you have to do something.

4


Brook Farm Business & Service Career Academy (BFA)
> Brook Farm was established as part of Boston Public Schools’ small learning
communities initiative in September 2005 and became affiliated with the National
Academy Foundation in September 2006.

> Brook Farm has a student population of approximately 340 students made up of
predominantly Hispanic (49%) and Black (35%) students.

> For the 2009-2010 academic year, the BFA Advisory Board consisted of
approximately 17 Board members (including ex-officio school representatives),
and was represented by members from the following institutions (among others):
– State Street Corporation
– UBS Financial Services , Inc
– Citizens Bank, NA
– Boston Firefighters Credit Union
– Third Vision Productions
– Bank of America
– Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development
– University of Massachusetts, Boston
– BNY Mellon (retired member)
– New England College of Finance (retired member)
5



Developing Board Infrastructure
Developing Board Infrastructure

6


Board Infrastructure: Role of NAF Advisory Boards
> Advocacy

> Professional expertise

> Professional development and technical assistance for teachers

> Mentoring and industry access for students

> Internship opportunities & support

> Fundraising & support

> Ongoing tracking of student progress, outcomes & success

Check out the NAF’s Advisory Board Manual for more details!

7


Board Infrastructure: Critical Early Steps
> Remain patient!

> Create and maintain your by-laws

– They should be reviewed at least once per year, but...
– Broad enough to last for several years…details go in the appendix
– Don’t go committee crazy...but do establish an Executive Committee

> Establish goals and stick to them

– Every school’s model is different: understand what population of
students you will serve
– Don’t over extend the expectations of the Board
– More on this later
8


Board Infrastructure: Critical Early Steps
> Establish a reasonable (and convenient!) meeting schedule

– Get into the habit of an Annual Planning Meeting (full day)
– Meetings should be in a convenient location and time
– Make a dial-in available whenever possible
– Encourage most activity at the committee level (its easier to get
small groups together)
– Don’t turn meetings into kum ba yah sessions: Have agendas, be
efficient, make decisions
– Soldier on even when the quorum is light

> Establish a private group on the NAF Collaboration Website for
your Board Members to access all critical Board information and
output

9



The Importance of the School-Board
The Importance of the School-Board
Relationship
Relationship

10


The School/Board Relationship
> Remember that you are in an advisory capacity

– Respect the priorities of the administration at the school
– Align your goals with their goals, not the other way around
– Understand the school’s constraints: federal, state and district
– Try to stay out of the politics as much as possible

> Create an atmosphere of trust between the Board and the school

> But Establish boundaries

– All Board candidates should come through the Board process
– The Administration should not dictate deliverables that the Board
cannot meet

11


The School/Board Relationship
> Be firm with the school regarding Board expectations

– They must communicate budgetary issues
– They must communicate change going on at the school
– The Headmaster/Principal must be a regular part of the process, not
just the Academy Director (and district people when necessary)

> Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.

– Your Board communication with the school should be formal
– Your relationship with the Director, the Administration and teachers
should be informal and frequent

12



Establishing A Manageable Short Term Plan
Establishing A Manageable Short Term Plan
& Long Range Goals
& Long Range Goals

13


Establish A Short Term Plan (1 Year)
> # 1 priority is always to Engage with the students!

– Speaking engagement at a morning assembly
– Classroom visits/ matter expert course participation
– Job Shadow Day, Corporate Field Trips
– INTERNSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS

> Engage with the educators

– Build a direct relationship as early as possible
– Offer to review course curriculum
– Create a professional development visit for teachers

14


Establish A Short Term Plan (1 Year)

> Establish a manageable short term success that can be achieved
in one year

---CREATE A MENTORING PROGRAM---

> Committees should prioritize one project at a time

15


Create a 3 to 5 Year Action Plan
> Map Board Engagement along a student development path

> Establish Long Range Aspirational Goals

– Establish fundraising goals and how to achieve them
– Develop a pathway to success for students from 9th through 12th
– Create grade level development points, certificates, and “on the
spot” awards

> Measure Student Academic Achievement

– Board engagement should not occur in a vacuum
– Are at-risk students being served?
– Graduation & matriculation (and retention) rates, drop-out rates

16



Creating Board Member Commitment
Creating Board Member Commitment

17


Creating Commitment: Before They Commit…
Can your potential Board Member answer the following questions?

> Do you understand the mission and goals of the Advisory Board?

> Do you know how you can contribute to that mission and those goals?

> Do you understand the needs of the school, its teachers and students?

> Why is now the right time for you to join this Advisory Board?

> Can you commit adequate time?

> Are you ready to engage for 2-3 years or more?

> Do you feel you will fit with the culture of the Board?

18


Creating Commitment: Provide the Full Picture
> NAF’s Mission: The mission of the National Academy Foundation is to sustain a national network of
career academies to support the development of America’s youth toward personal and professional success in
high school, in higher education, and throughout their careers.

> NAF Academy Features
– A Small Learning Community: A typical Academy takes the form of a personalized, small learning
community within a larger high school. In BFA’s case, Brook Farm resides in the larger West Roxbury Education
complex.
– College Preparatory Curriculum with a Career Theme: The Academy focuses on providing students with
the skills and experience necessary to attain entry-level jobs in the career field, as well as academic preparation
for post-secondary education.
– Partnerships with Employers, Communities, and Higher Education: NAF Academies function as
dynamic partnerships and collaborations between schools, teachers, administrators, business volunteers, and an
active Advisory Board led by industry professionals.

> National Academy Foundation
> NAF Collaboration Network
> NAF Collaboration Groups (must be logged into NAF Collaboration Website)
> NAF Videos (must be logged into NAF Collaboration website)

Do not assume potential Board Members have a full understanding of the mission and affiliations of
the Advisory Board. Do not assume they have time to research it. Serve it to them!

19


Creating Commitment: Expectations of Board Members
Commitment Hrs
Annual Planning Meeting 8
Advisory Board Meetings (5 @ 1-2HRS) 6
Committee Assignment (1 HR per month, 10 months) 10
Off- Line Committee Work 4-10
Supporting Development Work 4-10
Supporting Fundraising Work 4-10
School Visit/Speaking Event 4-6
Pilot Mentoring Program (1 HR per month + miscellaneous time and support) 10-15
TOTAL Estimated Annual Commitment: 50-75

> The Commitment is Real!- This works out to approximately 1 to 1.5 hrs per week

> Other commitments might include: acting as Committee Chair, being a matter
expert for a particular course, hosting a teacher for a day at your company, hosting
students for a career tour or job shadow day at your company, working with your
company, business associates or friends to provide internships to students

> The SKY’S THE LIMIT!!
20


Creating Commitment: A Roadmap for Board Members
Sign up for the NAF Collaboration Network

Join the BFAAB Work Group on NAF Collaboration Network

Join a committee and work with the chair to establish a monthly
meeting schedule

Schedule time to speak at a morning assembly and visit a classroom

Work with the Academy Director and become a mentor (teacher or
student)

Donate and work with your organizations to support the Academy

21



Continuous Strategic Recruiting
Continuous Strategic Recruiting

22


Strategic Recruiting: Sourcing Board Members
> GOALS…then People

> Seek 3 Kinds of Board Members

– Connectors: People that can open doors around town
– Leaders: People that will chair committees and lead the charge
– Doers: The “worker bees”- young professionals that will roll up
their sleeves and carry out the mission

> Don’t get desperate!

– A small, hardworking Board is better than a large uninterested one
– Be strategic: Accept new members that can fill the roles you need

23



> Maximise the use of non-board “Friends” to your advantage

– This goes back to Board Structure: Consider adding a board Layer with titles
such as: “Friends of the School”, “Overseers”, “Trustees”

> Don’t burn bridges with departing board members! Ever!

– Encourage less effective Board members to pass their position on to someone
else in their organization that has more time

24



> Young Professional Leadership Programs (#1 in my book!)

– UMASS Boston Emerging Leaders Program (Greater Boston)
– The Partnership (Boston)
– The Boston Club (part of the InterOrganization Network (ION))
– Emerging Leaders Executive Development Program (Columbia U.)
– National Hispana Leadership Institute (ALL-IN Program)
– Bush Foundation Leadership Program (Minn, N & S Dakota)
– Rockwood Leadership Institute
– Boston Future Leaders Program- Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
– LEAD San Diego
– Leadership Philadelphia
– Etc, Etc, Etc

25



> Young Professional Networking Groups
– United Way Emerging Leaders Networks (National)
– Orlando Young Professional Network

> Minority Owned Businesses, Professional Groups & Societies
– Association of Latino Professionals in Finance & Accounting (ALPFA)
– Next Street Financial (Boston Area)
– Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce (HACC- Boston)

> Community Outreach Groups
– Hispanic Office of Planning & Evaluation (HOPE- Mass)
– Corporate Foundation Departments- often have internal non-profit fairs

26



> Non-Profit Board Development Organizations
– Board Source
– The Board Bank: United Way
– BridgeStar
– The Foundation Center

> Community Foundations and other Foundations

> Mayor’s Office/Governor’s Office
– Department of Labor and Workforce Development

27



Developing Lasting Partnerships
Developing Lasting Partnerships

28


Lasting Partnerships
Create a Student Development Path that involves partners year after year

29



Questions, Thoughts, Comments, Observations
Questions, Thoughts, Comments, Observations

30

Advisory board development, steve finocchio

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Ähnlich wie Advisory board development, steve finocchio

Ähnlich wie Advisory board development, steve finocchio (20)

Mehr von NAFCareerAcads

Mehr von NAFCareerAcads (20)

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

Advisory board development, steve finocchio