Foundation of Great Schools: How Strategic Boards Create Educational Excellence

By Dr. Harry Bloom, Founder and President, Benchmarking for Good, Inc.

Picture this: Two Jewish day schools sit across town from each other. Both have passionate educators, engaged families, and beautiful facilities. Both spend hours debating curriculum choices and hiring decisions. But only one consistently produces students who thrive academically and develop deep Jewish learning.

What makes the difference?

The answer is both surprising and empowering. According to groundbreaking Board governance research involving nearly 100 Jewish day schools, the secret to educational excellence lies in something entirely within your control: how strategically your board thinks about the school's future.

The Empowering Discovery

Here's the uplifting finding that should energize every school board member: Schools whose boards excel at strategic planning – including long-range financial planning as part of that vision – are significantly more likely to have:

• Documented, coherent curricula in both Jewish and general studies

• Systems for giving teachers ongoing feedback throughout the year

• Regular evaluation processes that help faculty grow

• Overall stronger educational practices across the board

In statistical terms, strategic planning predicted educational quality with correlations as high as r=.37 (p<.01) – that's a relationship so strong it reveals the tremendous power boards have to shape student outcomes.

How Strategic Vision Becomes Educational Reality

When a board creates a thoughtful, multi-year strategic plan, they're doing something transformative. They're making a commitment to values that directly impact learning:

"We believe in investing in professional development for our teachers."

"We prioritize having the resources to document and improve our curricula."

"We're committed to systems that support both student and teacher growth."

Schools with strategic, forward-thinking boards create what researchers call an "environment where educational excellence can flourish."

The 25% Advantage

Here's perhaps the most exciting finding: The research reveals that by focusing on key governance practices, schools can account for 25% of the variance among Jewish day schools in positive educational outcomes. That's transformational! Imagine improving your educational practices by a quarter simply by elevating how your board operates.

The Winning Combination? Three specific practices that create educational success:

1. Strategic Planning with Long-Range Vision (The North Star)

This isn't about restrictions – it's about having the clarity to say, "In three years, we want to be the kind of school that transforms lives through excellent Jewish education" and then creating the roadmap to get there.

2. Crystal-Clear Role Definition (The Sweet Spot)

When board members know exactly where their responsibilities end and educators' begin, magic happens. Teachers can focus entirely on inspiring students instead of navigating governance confusion.

3. Commitment to Board Excellence (The Growth Engine)

Boards that invest in their own learning create cultures of continuous improvement that flow naturally into every classroom and conversation.

The Strategic Pathway to Excellence

The research reveals something crucial about sequencing. Rather than trying to improve everything simultaneously, the most successful schools follow a purposeful three-stage journey:

Stage 1: Establish Your Foundation Begin with strategic planning that includes long-term financial sustainability. Get crystal clear on your educational vision and the resources needed to achieve it.

Stage 2: Build Your Systems Develop strong committees – especially those focused on board development and head-of-school support – that can bring your strategic vision to life with excellence.

Stage 3: Cultivate Continuous Growth Implement ongoing board education, role clarification, and assessment practices that keep your governance culture thriving year after year.

The Ripple Effect of Great Governance

Schools that embrace this approach don't just see improved academic outcomes (though those consistently follow). They create something more profound: sustainable cultures of excellence. They become the schools where:

• Teachers feel supported and inspired to do their best work

• Families trust deeply with their children's futures

• Students develop both academic skills and strong Jewish identity

• Communities point with pride to their educational jewel

Your Opportunity Starts Now

If you're a board member reading this, here's your inspiring challenge: Look at your school's last strategic plan. Does it paint a compelling picture of educational excellence? Does it connect your deepest values to concrete actions? Does it inspire you to be part of something transformational?

If you're a head of school, consider this research a gift. Share it with your board as evidence of their incredible power to shape student futures through thoughtful governance.

The research spans Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and community day schools, proving that these principles transcend denominational lines. Because when it comes to educational excellence, strategic thinking is universal.

Your Next Strategic Move: Partner with Benchmarking for Good to Help Your School Achieve its Fullest Educational Potential

Our Fall/Winter 2025 no cost grants support research that can help your school perfect its governance systems and strengthen its ability to attract and motivate the strongest faculty possible.

To explore the fit between our grants and your school’s needs please take a few minutes to complete this grant inquiry form