Creating a Positive Culture of Governance

Good governance is like culture--the example is set at the top, and it is felt throughout the school.  Join Facilitators Tim Carr and Sheena Nabholz in exploring the principles for establishing clarity of roles and responsibilities as you gain strategies for building an atmosphere of trust, candor, and transparency that leads to a positive culture of governance.

This impact course acknowledges the human side of the relationship between the Head and Board members. In approaching the work from this perspective, the Head enhances the possibility of a sustainable and effective working relationship with the Board. 

Week 1 explores the role of the Board and the Head of school and the challenges inherent in the division of duties and decision-making authority. 

Week 2 dives into the importance of the Board-Head and Chair-Head relationships, the different structures to support an effective working partnership, and the challenges of navigating their respective roles. 

In Week 3 we introduce the Governance as Leadership Model with a particular emphasis on strategic goal setting and the use of data in decision making.  

Week 4 will focus on the fundamentals of proactive and reactive crisis management, which pressure-tests the strength of the governance culture already established in the school.  

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Sheena Nabholz

Sheena's career as an international school educator began after a 10-year tenure teaching high school mathematics, when she and her husband took their first positions overseas. Her passion for best practices in governance grew out of her headship experiences and the challenges that inevitably arise.

After returning to North America, Sheena joined Search Associates as the Director of School Relations, gaining valuable global insights into diverse educational contexts. Her experience in leadership ignited a strong interest in governance, leading her to serve on the boards of the Educational Collaborative of International Schools (ECIS) as Treasurer, and the Academy for International School Heads (AISH).

Sheena has been co-facilitating AISH’s course entitled "Cultivating a Positive Culture of School Governance" for several years and has served as a board governance trainer. Now, as Deputy CEO of AISH, she partners with Jeff to drive strategic initiatives, focusing on community engagement, program enhancement, financial stewardship, and operational excellence.



Tim Carr

Having served as Head of a few of the iconic international schools in the world for 20+ years, Tim Carr has been on a quest to discover and share some of the keys to transformational learning. With an eye towards the future of schools in preparing cadres of students and educators for the unknown, Tim focuses on building and nurturing learning communities with vivid and motivating visions. 

Since returning to his passport country after 25 years overseas, Tim joined Avenues The World School as Director of Research and Development. Tim helped launch Avenues Mastery Academies, was Head of the Avenues Online campus during the pandemic, and served as Senior Advisor to all Avenues campuses. 

In March 2024, Tim launched a consultancy, supporting international school leaders and boards. He presents workshops, speaks, and writes, primarily about leadership and governance for the future of education. Tim has served on several international school boards, including AISH, NEASC, Global Online Academy, EARCOS, and Tri- Association, and now locally at the Pine Cobble School and the Williamstown Conservation Commission in Massachusetts.