2025-2026 Edvance Leadership Trend #4: The Leader-Board Relationship

By Tim Bentum  |  March 23rd

Issue in Brief: The leader-board relationship continues to be one of, if not the most important relationships in a Christian school community. Most leaders and boards across the Edvance network appear to be working well together: data from the Edvance Leaders’ Survey in May 2025 showed that 71% (27/38) of respondents noted only ‘minor concern’ regarding tensions between the leader and the board. This is something that is certainly worth celebrating. However, there are also some signs of unease.

Onboarding Questions – In the Edvance Leaders’ Survey, 95% (36/38) of respondents noted that identifying or onboarding new board members was either a ‘moderate’ or ‘major’ concern. This may at times involve situations, albeit rare, where community members are perceived to be lobbying for board positions in order to advance a particular interest they feel is not being adequately addressed via other channels. Boards and leaders would do well to discuss this issue proactively. Clarity about the identification and onboarding process for board members, in alignment with school bylaws, is essential.

Governance Leadership - On a separate question in the Edvance Leaders’ Survey, 60% (23/38) of school leaders noted that they were either ‘somewhat involved’ or had ‘little involvement’ in the identification and onboarding of new board members. We recommend that school leaders be involved in the identification and onboarding of new board members because the principal typically knows the school community best. Board members often serve three or four-year terms (although structures may vary). With ongoing board turnover, the school leader often becomes the primary point of continuity between past decisions and current realities, where historical context is key.

This doesn’t mean that the school leader should unilaterally identify and appoint new board members. This would not even be permitted by the school’s bylaws. Ultimately, the decision to appoint new board members is made by the board of directors and membership. But every school should have a robust board member identification and onboarding process that takes into consideration recommendations from the person who knows the organization best, namely the principal. This is one of many governance areas that requires open, transparent, trusting collaboration between the school leader, who in many respects is helping lead the board, while also reporting to it. 

Practical Steps to Consider:

1. Is the school leader integral to new board member orientation? This is a core question that boards and school leaders would do well to discuss ahead of your next board member orientation session. School leaders could and should speak to new board members about the school’s mission and vision, educational direction, brief history, broad financial overview, and perhaps most importantly: what they are excited about for the school’s future. Principals should always have a clear, compelling answer for these three questions: Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we going?
2. School leader as a key resource to the board – The principal has an important role of supporting the board to ensure effective meetings and decision making. In many cases, the principal is the person sitting around the board table who has the most continuity and context across the school, the board’s previous decisions, and the wider school community. Because of this, they are well positioned to help inform board discussions, provide relevant context, and support strong decision-making. This does not shift decision-making authority away from the board; rather, it ensures the board is equipped with the insight it needs to govern well.
3. Attend an Edvance board-governance regional training – Each fall, Edvance offers board governance training for school leaders and board members. These governance training sessions are strong starting points into valuable and timely discussions that leaders and boards need to have about governance excellence in your school. If you would like more information about these governance-training sessions, please visit the Edvance website.