If you’re thinking of running for a spot on your local school board, WSSDA offers free virtual candidate workshops around June of an election year. Current school directors and superintendents are also invited.

The workshops usually happen on more than one day and typically cover:

  • What school boards do and what they don’t do
  • Responsibilities of individual school directors
  • Leadership while serving as part of an effective team
  • Preparing yourself to serve
  • Live Q&A

2025 Workshop Recording

Here are the presentation slides used in the webinar below.

Here are the video chapters:

  • 00:00 Introductions
  • 06:22 WSSDA overview
  • 07:51 Washington’s school governance system
  • 11:05 What it’s like to serve on your local board
  • 22:34 Do’s and don’ts
  • 27:25 Board’s role in curriculum
  • 29:26 Board’s role in financial oversight
  • 38:20 Working as an effective board team
  • 01:01:26 Logistics of being a school board member
  • 01:17:15 Guidebook & Valuable Resources

Questions?

Heather Curl
Director of Leadership Development
360-890-5781