Vision Impact Goals
SchoolBoardPartnerssupportselectedleadersthrougha competitivefellowshipandteachesactionableskillsthroughanational communityofpractice,mentorship,andpolicysupport.SchoolBoard Partnershelpsourfellowsdeveloptheirskills,knowledge,andmindset todramaticallyimproveoutcomesforhistoricallyunderserved studentswhilebuildingtheircapacityandsupportingtheirself-care.
Empower 2,500leaders tochampionantiracist, student-centeredgovernance.
Transform 350 school systems, including the largest majority-minority districts.
Advance public understanding of what makes effective school board leadership and why it matters for students and communities
MESSAGE FROM CEO
Dear Friends and Partners,
This year, School Board Partners experienced a significant transition as we bid farewell to Carrie Douglass, SBP’s Co-Founder, whose leaders
impact Her tireless advocacy for inclusive, effective school boards has
I
deeply grateful for the foundation she helped build But as we look to the future, we are not content to rest on that foundation We are committed to pushing boundaries, breaking norms, and reimagining what is possible for school boards across the country
As I step into the role of CEO, my vision is clear: school boards must be powerful, bold forces for equity and excellence in education. We can no longer accept systems that fail to serve all children. The status quo is broken. It' s time to disrupt outdated structures and demand more from our education system more diversity, more inclusion, and more action.
Our progress this year proves what’s possible when school boards rise to the challenge Our largest and most diverse cohort of fellows is a testament to the growing recognition that effective boards are the backbone of a stronger education system SBP’s annual conference, 'Our Collective Power, '
brought together leaders who are pioneering new paths toward equity and innovation, sparking
collaboration that will reverberate across the nation. Through our Empowered Governance framework
and new partnerships, we are equipping districts to create tailored, actionable solutions for lasting
change. And through our collaboration with Colorado State University – Global Campus to launch the Certificate in Empowered School Board Governance (ESBG), we’re providing the knowledge and skills needed to drive meaningful reform within boards, addressing the systemic inequalities that have long held our schools back
This is just the beginning We’re proving that good governance leads to equitable outcomes, and I’m determined to ensure that School Board Partners continues to drive that transformation with urgency and courage.
I invite you to read this report to see the strides we’ ve made and the impact we’ ve had so far and to see where we’re headed next.
Ethan Ashley CEO and Co-Founder
School Board Partners
OUR TEAM
EthanAshley CEO&Co-Founder
EricaFreeman VicePresidentofImpact
ChristineStrickland DirectorofPrograms
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gregory Hatcher BoardPresident
Ed Williams BoardMember
Marisa B. Pérez-Díaz BoardMember
Jonathan Klein BoardMember
EXPANDING OUR REACH & IMPACT
OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS
we have trained schoolboardmembers andcandidates (includesfellowship andocp) 510 impacting over 7.7 M STUDENTS
president and vice-presidents
88
ofourfellowshaveservedina leadershiprole
our coaching has helped Fellows write or pass
We are growing our national
Ourfellowsandalumnirepresentdistrictsin communitiesallacrossthecountry TheSBPnetwork isspreadacross
Elected Fellows & Alumni
This year, 42 SBP members ran for re-election to their school boards, with 40 successfully securing their seats a remarkable 95.24% success rate.
Additionally, two of our fellows expanded their leadership influence by winning higher offices, securing two state House of Representatives seats
I
I’ve attended SBP programs and r noticed the difference it made in my and advocacy for the students in m
This feels like a family reunion!
Having this community has made all the difference.
FOCUS ON THE ISSUES
Restoring and Elevating Academic Performance
dout districts have demonstrated
remarkable success:
Tempe Union School District (Phoenix, AZ) Orleans Parish School Board (New Orleans, LA)
Both districts not only returned to pre-COVID academic performance levels but have exceeded those benchmarks, setting a new standard for academic excellence postpandemic Their achievements highlight the impact of strategic governance and evidence-based policies in overcoming pandemic-driven learning challenges.
Right-Sizing School Districts Amid Enrollment Declines
Declining student enrollment has posed unprecedented financial challenges for districts nationwide, often necessitating difficult decisions about school closures to ensure sustainability. SBP supported two districts that successfully navigated this process by passing and implementing school closure policies:
San Antonio Independent School District (San Antonio, TX)
Denver Public Schools (Denver, CO)
These districts addressed these challenges through thoughtful planning and equitable decision-making, ensuring that resources are better aligned with student needs and fiscal realities.
POLICY
Addressing the Literacy and Numeracy Crisis
CELEBRATING OUR POLICY WINS
STORIES OF SUCCESS
Rebuilding Culture & Centeri
Denver Public Schools
In January 2024, School Board Partners (“SBP”) facilitated a two-day retreat for the
Denver Public Schools (“DPS”) Board of
Education With three newly elected
members and a recent history of conflict
that had eroded public confidence in the board’s ability to govern, this was a pivotal opportunity to reset the governance culture
and support the new board to become more
productive and student focused. During the
retreat, SBP focused on building relational
and tactical competencies of the board,
which helped to create a new relational
culture and skills focused on advancing
student focused outcomes The facilitation
included powerful reflections on past
practices of the board, including targeted
review of video clips of past meetings, and
supported the board to commit to better
aligning its governance
policies and ideals. The retreat was highly
rated by participants, with 100% ranking
the experience an 8 / 10 or higher, and
average overall satisfaction rating of 9.4 /
10. One board member commented “thank
you for being awesome facilitators Your
vulnerability and willingness to push us is
very appreciated. ”
The success of the retreat catalyzed the
launch of long-term governance coaching
and policy development support from SBP.
As a result of SBP’s unique approach –featuring tailored coaching, consistent support, and a focus on equity – the Denver
Board made significant strides over the last year
STORIES OF SUCCESS (Cont.)
Key Policy Reforms implemented by the Denver School Board in 2024:
Board Community Engagement Policy (June 2024): Requires annual plans for community
townhalls and feedback monitoring.
School Consolidation and Closure Policy (June 2024): Guardrails for closures; prioritizes
student enrollment into choice schools
Public Comment Policy (First Reading Oct. 2024): Clear procedures, translation
services, and virtual access for public comments.
Board Budget Policy (Second Reading Oct 2024): Financial transparency and
professional development for board members
Transforming Governance and Student Outcomes in Tempe Union High School District
In April 2023, Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD) began implementing the
Empowered Governance model with guidance from School Board Partners (SBP). Over the next 18 months, SBP facilitated a full-day board retreat, virtual study sessions, and
personalized 1:1 coaching, leading to transformative reforms and measurable outcomes
Key accomplishments include:
Revised governance policies aligned with Empowered Governance principles
A district-wide performance data audit to identify key improvement areas
Board-adopted annual goals prioritizing the progress of historically marginalized
student groups.
A revised superintendent evaluation process tied to student outcomes
A data monitoring calendar for continuous performance oversight.
An annual board self-evaluation to refine governance practices.
By the end of the 2023-24 school year, TUHSD achieved an unprecedented milestone every school in the district earned an “A” rating from the state, marking the first time in
district history.
COHORT6 HIGHLIGHT
District Representation
TypeofDistrict Generation
42 (43%) are districts where SBP has alumni presence
56 (57%) are new districts to SBP
16 districts have 2+ members in Cohort 6
37% of Cohort 6 is in the fellowship with a board colleague
Demographics
Racial Identity (Average Age 42)
80% are People of Color
EMPOWERED GOVERNANCE
Literacy:
This policy provides minimum guidelines that ensure best practices in literacy instruction are
implemented across the district,
and provides accountability structures for ensuring all students
are on the path to strong literacy outcomes
If you’re interested in one of these new policies or learning more about the Empowered Governance Toolkit, reach out to us here!
High Quality
Instructional Material:
This policy seeks to reinforce
alignment of district practices with
research-based best practices regarding selection and
implementation of instructional materials.
This policy stipulates the Board’s minimum expectations regarding collective bargaining agreements
and processes as they pertain to potential impacts on students, especially those who have been
historically marginalized
New in 2025:
CSUGraduateCertificate:
ThroughacollaborationwithSchool BoardPartnersandColoradoState University–GlobalCampus,the CertificateinEmpoweredSchool BoardGovernance(ESBG)trains participantswiththefoundational knowledgeandtransferableskillsto guidelocaladvocates,community members,districtleadersand governmentofficialsonhowto advocateforandimplement meaningfulreformwithinschool boards
ar
series will be focused on the key policies we ' ve developed in collaboration with our fellows and leading experts in the field
Our Collective Power
190 attendees
85% of attendees were school board members
33% have served in a board leadership role
29 states represented 91.6 NPS Score
4 M Students
$62B in public education funds managed
95% of attendees rated their overall experience as a 9 or 10
Increased the number of sessions, networking, and self-care opportunities
OCP 2025 will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona from July 11-13.
Hear from OCP attendees:
“Thenetworkbuildingdoneandtobedonewithyouallis inspiring. Youallaresendingmebackhome,readytodouble downanddiginbecauseourbabiesdeserveeverythingandthey deserveitNOW. ThankyouOCP.”
“Myspiritwasfed,mysoulwasfilled,mymindwas stimulated,myheartisfull,andmypoliticalwillwas challenged. TheperfectfoundationforMORE.”
“ThenetworkingisbeyondanythingIhaveseeninmylife.Love connectingwithlikemindedfolksanddreamingabouthowwecan dobetterforkids.“
IN CLOSING
A Vision for the Future
AswestepintoanewchapteratSchoolBoardPartners,Iamfilledwithoptimismand determination Thechallengeswefaceinpubliceducationaresignificant,yettheypresentan opportunityfortransformation.Ourworkthisyearhaslaidthefoundationforafuturewhere schoolboardsareequippedtoleadwithpurpose,equity,andinnovation,whichisvitalata timeofgrowingthreatstodemocracyandpubliceducation
SBP’smissionhasneverbeenmorecriticalbecauseweknowthatgovernance whendone right canbethemostpowerfultoolforequityandexcellence.Acrossthecountry,school boardscommittedtogoodgovernance,andsupportedwiththenecessarytraining, coaching,andresources,areshowinguswhat’spossible.Theyareprovingthatwhenboards focusonequity,students,especiallythosefrommarginalizedcommunities,thrive.
That’swhy,inthefaceofsomanychallenges,wearefocusedonexpandingourimpactby embracingastate-basedorganizingmodelthatwillallowustobuildstrongerconnections withlocalcommunitiesandschoolboards.Lookingahead,wearecommittedtogrowthand sustainabilitythroughthefollowingkeyinitiatives:
ExpandReach:Ourstateandregionalorganizingapproachwillallowusto deepencommunityengagement,enhancethequalityofourservices,and streamlinerecruitmentforournationalfellowshipandgovernance certificationprograms Thiswillensurethatmoreschoolboardmembers arepreparedtoleadeffectivelyandwithpurpose.
Self-Sufficiency:Byenhancingouroperationalefficienciesand expandingourconsultingservices,wewillbebetterpositionedtoserve schoolboardsnationwide.Thiswillallowustoincreaseourcapacity,while ensuringthatourimpactisbothfar-reachingandsustainable.
ShowcaseOurImpact:WewillhighlighttheinfluenceofSBPthrough impactvideos,webinars,casestudies,reports,andpotentiallya governancebook Thesetoolswillhelpusshareoursuccessstories, documentourprogress,andcontinuetorefineourapproachto governancereform.
StrategicPartnerships:Wearefocusedonformingnew partnershipsthatbringadditionalresources,visibility,andfunding toourmission.Byaligningwithorganizationsandfunderswho shareourvision,wewillbeabletoexpandourreachanddeepen theimpactofourwork.
Thisisourmomenttoscaleandmakereal,lastingchangebecausewecannot affordtowait.Toomanyyoungpeoplearebeingfailedbyasystemthat doesn’tprioritizethem.Weknowthatwhenschoolboardstakeboldaction, theycantransformnotonlyindividualdistrictsbutentireregions.Theycanturn arounddistrictsplaguedbysystemicinequality,buildtrustwhereithasbeen shattered,andensurethatarelentlessfocusonstudentsuccessdrivesevery decisionmadeattheboardtable andSBPplanstobethereeverystepofthe way.
Ourgoalistobecometheleadinggovernancetraininganddevelopment organizationforschoolboardsintheU.S.Weenvisionthatourworkwillnotonly addresstheneedsoftodaybutalsosetthestageforafuturewhereschool boardsactasbridges,welcomingandscalinginnovativepolicies,resource allocation,andprogramsthatserveallstudents.Wearecommittedtoensuring thatschoolboardsareenablersofprogress,creatingenvironmentswhere everydecisionisrootedinfairness,accountability,andopportunityforall.
Together,wewillcreateapubliceducationsystemthatworksforallstudents, withschoolboardsleadingthechargeforequityandinnovation.SBPisready totakethenextstep.Joinusasweempowerschoolboardstobuildabetter futureforourstudentsandourcommunities
Incommunity, Ethan
“It
was affirming to be in rooms with other elected people who are doing this work for the right reasons; to know that, as hard as this work is, I have mentorship and support.”
Thankyoutoourfunderswhosesupporthelpsusrealizethisimpact.
