Board Stability & Institutional Knowledge Series: The Risks of Head Evaluation
Lunch and Learn
Join Us Virtually
The Risks of Head Evaluation:
Good, Bad and Very Bad Practices
Conduct appropriate, constructive, substantive, and safe head evaluation protocols that will provide boards with important feedback but not undercut the head’s ability to make sound, wise and sometimes challenging decisions. What does best practice look like?
Board Stability & Institutional Knowledge Series Overview
Presented by John Littleford for Trustees and Heads of Schools, this series explores the strong link between the tenure of board members and the stability of school leadership. Three key components work together to strengthen schools and extend the tenure of Heads:
- Experienced, long-serving board members who provide continuity and wisdom.
- Stable board chair leadership that ensures consistent governance and communication.
- Enduring head of school tenures that allow for long-term vision, cultural stewardship, and institutional growth.
Frequent board and chair turnover leads to a loss of institutional memory, leaving Heads without trusted partners who understand their history, context, or early achievements.
This 3-part Lunch & Learn series explores how longer board and chair tenures, strong governance structures, and intentional succession planning help schools retain high-performing heads and build long-term momentum.
What You’ll Learn:
- How board continuity and institutional memory support Head of School longevity
- Why common term limits and weak board protocols often undermine leadership
- What the Committee on Trustees must do to sustain a healthy, stable board
Session Breakdown:
- Session 1 – The Role of the Committee on Trustees
- Session 2 – What Makes a Great Board Chair (and How to Find Them)
- Session 3 – Head Evaluation: Encouraging vs. Undermining Tenure
About the Presenter:
John Littleford served as teacher, trustee, and head of school in his 25 year independent school career. Since 1994 he has been a full-time consultant to over 3,000 independent and international schools as well as corporations, foundations, universities, and a range of medical and arts oriented non-profit organizations. As Senior Partner of Littleford & Associates, John's expertise includes: governance, strategic planning, executive and faculty compensation and evaluation, executive searches, marketing, fund raising, managing change, crisis management, school climate, organizational review, institutional and financial audits, and team building. John has been a speaker, presenter, workshop leader and keynote on several continents and is the author of a highly popular book on faculty salary systems in independent schools. His firm's newsletter goes out five times a year to 25,000 trustees and school leaders and is circulated and read worldwide.
Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 12:00-1:00 PM
The Important Power of the Governance Committee and Its Chair
Build a stronger Governance Committee (COT) with eight essential principles for cultivating, screening, inviting, orienting, training, evaluating, and, if needed, removing board members. It all starts with a strong COT chair. How do we identify the right leader for this pivotal role and ensure lasting stability?
Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 12:00-1:00 PM
The Head/Chair Partnership but Which Chair?
Choose and develop stronger board chairs who understand the need to be the head’s biggest public advocate and most honest private critic. What are the qualities that we should be looking for? (They are not ones that one might think are most important.) How can we ensure that the chair’s relationship to the head and to the rest of the board is strategic and successful?
Select and develop strong board chairs who serve as the head’s most honest private critic and strongest public advocate. What qualities should we seek? (They may not be the ones you expect.) How can we ensure the chair’s relationships with the head and board are both strategic and successful?
PROGRAM FEES
HOW IT WORKS
Once registered, you will have access to all three 60-minute webinars, recordings, and their resources through your
Member Compass until June 30, 2026.
Act 48 Credits Available
• You may request credit up to 7 days after the event.
• Per the PA Department of Education,
ADVIS is required to report your successful completion of Act 48 evaluation within 30 days of the event.
• Contact Candyce Wilson for more information.
ACCESSIBILITY
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please feel free to request an accommodation on the registration form.
For inquiries about accessibility, please contact Membership and Outreach Manager Candyce Wilson. At least two weeks' advance notice will help us to provide seamless access.
EVENT CONTACT
Dena Torino, Director of Programming