BOARD BULLETIN: Strengthening the Board-Head Partnership

By Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS President

One of the most important factors in a school’s long-term success is the strength of the partnership between the board of trustees and the head of school. When this relationship is grounded in trust, clarity, and mutual respect, it creates the foundation for effective governance and thriving school communities. But when roles blur or communication falters, even the best-intentioned leaders can unintentionally sow confusion and weaken the school’s ability to respond to challenges.

At SAIS, we call this Collaborative Leadership — a governance competency that ensures a clear delineation between governance and management, aligns resources and policies, and upholds the school’s mission and vision. This type of partnership enables boards to focus on strategy and oversight while empowering heads to lead operations with confidence.

Why It Matters

Imagine a scenario where a difficult student incident becomes public. The head of school communicates quickly with parents and faculty, but some trustees, feeling left out of the loop, begin responding directly to parent concerns. Mixed messages emerge, tensions rise, and trust between the board and head begins to fray.

This example highlights why role clarity and strong communication protocols are essential. Trustees serve the school best when they act collectively through the board, not as individual problem-solvers. And heads need the visible support of a unified board, especially during times of crisis.

Reflection for Your Board

To strengthen collaborative leadership practices, consider discussing these questions at your next board meeting:

• Are board and head roles clearly defined and mutually respected?
• How transparent and effective is our communication with each other?
• Do our meeting agendas balance necessary oversight with forward-looking strategic dialogue?
• How are we preparing and supporting our board chair and committee leaders to model ethical governance?

A Call to Lead Together

When boards and heads lean into collaborative leadership, they move beyond simply reacting to challenges. Instead, they shape a future where strategy, resources, and purpose are fully aligned in service of the school’s mission. By nurturing this partnership, trustees not only strengthen the present, but also lay the groundwork for a thriving, mission-driven legacy that will benefit generations of students to come.

SAIS Governance Tools & Instruments

• Governance Health Index
• Board Self-Evaluation Instrument
• Head Evaluation Instrument
• Board Evaluation of Executive Committee Instrument

Leadership Resources

• Better Together: Three Ways to Boost Board-CEO Collaboration, McKinsey & Company
• Can You Identify Your Organization’s Leadership Culture?, Center for Creative Leadership
• How Board Members Can Use Cross-Team Collaboration to Fuel Breakthroughs, Aaron Hall Attorney
• The Adaptive Board: Governance and Learning in a New Era, Greenwich Leadership Partners
• The Altitude Problem: Why Smart Boards and Heads Still Talk Past Each Other, Explo Elevate
• The Trust Model for Modern Leaders, Justin Hills

September 11, 2025