Advisory · Board Development
Boards deserve the same intentionality as the classroom.
Board Development builds governance capacity from the inside, not through generic nonprofit board training, but through Montessori-specific formation that treats governance as organizational infrastructure.
The Pattern We See
Most Montessori boards were never designed to govern.
Most Montessori school boards are composed of parents who care deeply about the school and have no training in governance, fiduciary responsibility, or the specific dynamics of leading a mission-driven organization. Board members rotate. Institutional memory disappears. The relationship between the board and the head of school is often undefined or defined by precedent rather than design.
The result is governance that reacts rather than leads, and heads of school who carry weight the board should be sharing. That pattern is not a character flaw. It is a structural problem, and structural problems have structural solutions.
Scope
What we work on together.
Board role clarity and expectations setting
Board and head of school relationship architecture
Governance vs. management boundary definition
New board member orientation and onboarding
Board self-assessment and evaluation
Strategic planning facilitation for boards
Annual board retreat design and facilitation
Bylaws and governance document review (structural, not legal)
Committee structure and effectiveness
Succession planning at the governance level
Who It's For
Schools where governance is the missing layer.
Boards without formal governance training or structure
Schools preparing for or recovering from leadership transitions
Heads of school who need their board to function as a strategic partner, not an oversight body
Schools where board and head dynamics are a source of friction rather than strength
New boards forming for startup or charter schools
Engagement Formats
From a single retreat to year-round partnership.
Single Engagement
Board Retreat
A facilitated half-day or full-day retreat for the full board. Used to reset expectations, clarify roles, align on governance fundamentals, or begin strategic planning.
Multi-Session
Board Formation Series
4 to 6 sessions over 3 to 6 months building governance infrastructure from the ground up. Designed for boards that have inherited structure without ever examined it.
Retained
Ongoing Board Advisory
Quarterly facilitation, annual retreat, and on-call advisory support. For boards committed to governance as a continuous practice rather than a periodic intervention.
Connected Work
Board Development doesn't exist in isolation.
Advisory
Leadership Transition Support
Board governance is often the critical variable in whether a transition holds.
Explore →Advisory
Strategic Partnerships
Retained advisory engagements frequently include board facilitation as part of the work.
Explore →Institute
Leadership Formation
Board members and governance leaders benefit from the Institute's applied seminars.
Explore →Resource
Toolbox
The Board Alignment Toolkit is a complementary resource for boards beginning this work.
Explore →Strong boards don't happen by accident.
Board Development is available as a single engagement or a sustained partnership. Either is a valid starting point.