SAIS Governance Health Index

Strengthening Schools in a Changing Landscape

Designed as a framework to strengthen organizational health in a changing educational landscape, the Governance Health Index (GHI) was developed by SAIS in response to the rising complexity and evolving demands of independent school governance. It identifies six core competencies essential to organizational health.

Core Competencies

Collaborative Leadership

The partnership that ensures clear governance delineation, aligns resources and policies, and maintains operational coherence to support the school’s mission, vision, and long-term sustainability.

Community Engagement

The cultivation of meaningful relationships with internal community members and external partners, strengthening the school’s mission and advancing strategic priorities.

Strategic Direction

The ability to design, communicate, and coalesce community around the school’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities to ensure cohesive goal-setting, planning, execution, and oversight.

Talent Cultivation

The process of recruiting and developing high-performing professionals that align with the school’s mission, vision, and values.

Shared Accountability

Shared Accountability – An interdependent relationship where the head and board collectively uphold responsibilities, monitor performance, and ensure progress toward strategic targets.

Adaptive Innovation

A commitment to ongoing learning, goal setting, and planning to innovate and adapt to an evolving educational landscape.

Competency Rating Scale

At risk – Governance is fragmented, leadership lacks cohesions, and alignment with mission and strategy is weak. Immediate action needed.
Developing – Some structures exist, but inconsistencies in leadership, accountability, and strategic direction limit effectiveness.
Proficient – Governance is strong, roles are well-defined, and leadership is aligned with strategic goals, though areas for improvement remain.
High-Performing – Governance operates at an optimal level, with strong leadership, accountability, innovation, and a mission-aligned strategy driving success.

GHI Instruments

The Governance Health Index includes three instruments that may be used together or separately.

Board Self-Evaluation

The Board Self-Evaluation is designed as a reflective tool for trustees to assess their collective effectiveness across the core competencies. This instrument provides a growth-oriented framework to help boards identify strengths, surface opportunities, and align governance practices with the school’s mission and strategic priorities.
Note: Generally completed by all trustees including the head of school.

Executive Committee Evaluation

The Executive Committee Evaluation assesses how the committee models core competencies, supports the head of school, cultivates board effectiveness, and guides strategic decisions. It promotes continuous improvement and ensures the committee leads with clarity, integrity, and alignment with the school’s mission and vision.
Note: Generally completed by all trustees including the head of school.

Head of School Evaluation

The Head of School Evaluation provides a mission-aligned framework for boards to assess the head’s leadership and foster shared clarity. It is not a performance rating, but a reflective tool that reinforces alignment with the school’s mission, promotes continuous development, and assesses how the head and board collaborate with purpose, adaptability, and long-term vision.
Note: Generally completed by either the executive committee or by all trustees.

Registration & Deployment

Schools will receive a survey link to distribute to their board. Plan to have the survey open for 10-14 days.

All responses are submitted anonymously. All demographic data collected are reported in aggregate only and not linked to individual responses, ensuring anonymity and confidentiality.

Member Pricing
You may choose to use one, two, or all three evaluation instruments.

Board Self-Evaluation
Board Evaluation of the Executive Committee
Board Evaluation of the Head

-SAIS Members: one evaluation instrument $250, two $350, all three $500
-Non-member flat fee: $1,000
-An optional, virtual debrief of the results with an SAIS staff member is available for $500.

Getting Started

To learn more about how the SAIS Governance Health Index can benefit your school, contact SAIS Director of Resources Sheri Burkeen.

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