Governing the Small School

The issues facing small independent schools are complex and challenging. The need for effective board governance has never been so critical, yet often small school boards are left to navigate those challenges on their own. Until now. Governing the Small School: Strategies for Boards offers current thinking, effective strategies, and best practices in board governance for small independent schools, highlighting the unique strengths and challenges small school boards and leaders face. It provides strategies for fulfilling governance roles and responsibilities, along with skill-building activities for board members. This book is an important resource for any small school-it provides concrete and immediately applicable resources to help board members implement governance practices that will lead their school to sustainability and success. 

"While Brooke Carroll has written for the small independent school board, this book is a much needed resource for any school leader, board chair, or board member of a school of any size. In the aftermath of the pandemic and the emerging realities of a VUCA world, small school boards and their leaders require clarity and understanding of their duties in order to be strategic and forward-thinking. Clear and straightforward, Governing the Small School is balanced with anecdotes and research. My book has many dogged ear pages that I will turn to time and time again."

-Angela Garcia, head of school, Friends Community School

"There is no more critical topic than governance for an institution's success, and no one knows small schools better than Brooke Carroll. Through lively prose and relatable stories, Governing the Small School provides the framework and support for heads, administrators, and trustees to build a bright future for schools and nonprofits of all sizes and types."

-Chris Wilson, head of schools, Sora Schools, and head of school, Peoria Academy

"In Governing The Small School, Dr. Brooke Carroll lays out a blueprint uniquely applicable to

boards of small independent schools. This is the kind of resource small schools are always in

search of, and it is equally valuable to the newest board member and the most tenured. I look

forward to reading it with our whole board of trustees this summer."

-George Zeleznik, head o...