Welcome!
Board andexecutive assistants are essential partners in Washington school districts. This page is dedicated to supporting your important work — because when you succeed, boards succeed, and that helps students thrive.
Your Role in School Board Governance
Assistants help boards fulfill a wide range of responsibilities and ensure regular business meetings run smoothly while complying with OPMA. They serve as the bridge between the superintendent and the board, between the district and the public, and between governance policy and day-to-day operations.
This role sits at the intersection of relationships and information. Success depends on cultivating trust with the superintendent, supporting the board effectively, and ensuring critical materials reach the right people at the right time.
What Supporting the Board Includes
- Calendaring & Planning — Managing the annual board calendar — from meeting dates and policy review cycles to recognition events and reporting deadlines — keeps governance on track throughout the year.
- Board Meetings & Procedure — Preparing agendas, understanding Robert’s Rules of Order, and navigating the Open Public Meetings Act are foundational skills that support effective, legally sound board meetings.
- Onboarding New Board Members — Welcoming new school directors and guiding them through their first weeks and months is one of the most impactful things an executive assistant does, setting the tone for a productive term.
- Policy Management — Tracking policy updates from WSSDA, supporting annual reviews, and keeping the board informed about changes to state law and model policies are critical governance responsibilities often supported by EAs.
Onboarding for New Director Success
When new school directors join the board, the board/executive assistant often becomes their first guide. A thorough and welcoming onboarding experience makes a lasting difference — not only for the individual director, but also for the board’s cohesion and effectiveness.
Key Tasks
- Confirm their contact information, set up their district email and communications.
- Orient new members to your district’s board meeting platform (BoardDocs, etc).
- Review the Open Public Meetings Act and Robert’s Rules of Order, if used in your district.
- Complete required legal filings — including the Oath of Office, Public Disclosure Commission paperwork, and county certification.
- Update the district website with the member’s bio, photo, and term information.
- Order name plates and other materials for meetings and public spaces.
- Schedule introductory meetings with cabinet members.
- Give them a new member orientation notebook with meeting schedules, board policies, the strategic plan, and key contacts.
- Introduce them to A Guide for Effective School Board Members, a comprehensive overview of their role.
Help Your Board Know WSSDA
Evidence-based governance practices are at the heart of everything we provide. The Washington School Board Standards, the free board self-assessment survey, and WSSDA’s workshops and training are mutually reinforcing, built on research, and informed by feedback from school directors.
For a quick glance at the breadth and depth of our offerings:
- Everything you Need to Lead
An overview of WSSDA resources, supports, opportunities for networking, and more. - Year at a Glance
A bird’seye view of networking, learning, and other WSSDA events that recur each year.
Finally, please add your board members to our contacts so they can access resources, like Policy & Legal News, model policy, or subscribe to email lists that interest them.