Designed for busy board members, parents, and concerned citizens, this training is available on demand so that you can learn at your own pace and at your convenience. The following 14 training videos are categorized by topic for your ease-of-use and to provide immediate answers to the most urgent questions on your minds as newly elected board members and active citizens.
Peruse all 14 training videos available or click on the topic links below to head straight to your area of interest. Be sure to review our esteemed faculty here.
- Getting Started as a New School Board Member
- School Board Finance
- Parental Rights Hot Topics
- Maximize Your Influence as a School Board Member
- School Safety
- Scenario Planning
For Heritage School Board Training veterans, please see our just-released NEW CONTENT so you can begin learning brand new material right away!
Getting Started as a New School Board Member
NEW CONTENT Getting Started Training #1: New to the Board? What you Need to Hit the Ground Running Moderated by Heritage’s Senior Research Fellow in Education Policy Jonathan Butcher, this session should be the first stop for new board members. Experts Tiffany Justice of Moms for Liberty; Arizona State Board of Education member Jenny Clark; and South Carolina’s Stephen G. Reel of Mitchell Road Christian Academy provide expertise on these topics:
- The roles and responsibilities of school boards
- Get up to speed quickly as a new board member
- How to avoid “rookie mistakes”
Getting Started Training #2: Understanding Your Purpose, Mission, and Operating Environment Jonathan Butcher, Heritage’s Senior Research Fellow in Education Policy, and Florida’s Laura Zorc, Director of Education Reform at FreedomWorks, explain the purpose and mission of school boards along with an analysis of key governing laws. Moderated by Heritage’s Lindsey Burke, this session covers:
- What a school board must do and who it serves
- Key governing laws and rules that affect school boards
- Answers to frequently asked questions by new school board members
School Board Finance
School Board Finance Training #1: Introduction to Funding Resources and Spending This session is a perfect first stop for new board members in search of fast answers to education finance issues. Heritage’s Lindsey Burke moderates this discussion on the fundamentals of school board finance. Former Florida school board member and Director of Education Reform at FreedomWorks, Laura Zorc, is the featured speaker. This session covers:
- How to read a budget
- Funding resources
- The importance of knowing your state’s budgeting formula for spending and taxes
NEW CONTENT School Board Finance Training #2: How to be a Good Steward of District Finances Led by moderator Jonathan Butcher from The Heritage Foundation, this session provides an insightful journey into the topic of stewardship. With contributors Benjamin Scafidi, Senior Fellow with the Georgia Public Policy Foundation; Andy Smarick, Former President of the Maryland State Board of Education; and Penny Schwinn, Former Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education, this session provides the following:
- Overview of local, state, and federal funding resources
- Examination of ways to increase financial accountability, including financial audits
- Understand the importance of audits and what to do if there are findings
Hot Topics & Parental Rights
Hot Topics Video #1: Ideological Roots of Critical Race Theory and Gender Ideology Moderated by Heritage’s Lindsey Burke, this session introduces school board members to the dangers of Critical Race Theory and Gender Ideology. Heritage colleagues Jonathan Butcher, Senior Research Fellow in Education Policy, and Jay W. Richards, Director of the DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family, provide cutting edge insight on the following:
- Ideological roots of CRT and Gender Ideology along with practical examples of how they show up in K-12 classrooms
- Practical actions that school boards can take to protect teachers and students from discrimination
- Guidelines to increase curriculum transparency
NEW CONTENT Hot Topics Training Video #2: Parental Rights in Jeopardy—Gender Ideology, DEI, and Data Privacy Led by Heritage’s Lindsey Burke, this session continues our discussion of Gender Ideology while introducing the topics of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Student Data Privacy. This all-Heritage lineup features legal scholar Sarah Parshall Perry; tech policy expert Kara Frederick; Jay W. Richards, Director of the Devos Center; and Senior Research Fellow in Education Policy Jonathan Butcher. This team provides insights on the following salient topics:
- Status of gender ideology and DEI in schools
- Current threats to student data privacy and actions boards can take to protect their district
- The value of a Parent Bill of Rights
Hot Topics Training Video #3: Parental Rights and Sex Education—History and Legal Ramifications Moderator Jonathan Butcher from Heritage leads panelists William A. Estrada, President of the Parental Rights Foundation, and Emilie Kao, Vice President and Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, in a discussion of the history and legal ramifications of parental rights in sex education. Panelists also discuss:
- The history of parental rights in schools with updates on relevant court battles
- How to increase curriculum transparency
- Current examples of what's taught in sex education
- Policies that empower parents to make decisions about their children's education
NEW CONTENT Hot Topics Training Video #4: Schools, Culture, and Protecting Parents’ Rights - CRT, “Gender,” SEL, and School Libraries Heritage’s Lindsey Burke moderates as experts Mike Gonzales, Heritage Senior Fellow; Jonathan Butcher, Senior Research Fellow in Education Policy; and Erika Sanzi, Director of Outreach for Parents Defending Freedom, discuss:
- Critical Race Theory (CRT), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and school library controversies
- Ideological roots of CRT and gender ideology
- Pushing back against harmful content by employing and championing model school board policies in your district
Maximize Your Influence as a School Board Member
Maximize Your Influence Training #1: Shape the Agenda and Implement Change The Heritage Foundation’s Lindsey Burke moderates this highly practical discussion of school board influence with Jonathan Butcher, Senior Research Fellow in Education Policy at Heritage. These two education experts unlock barriers to influence by discussing the following vital topics:
- Use your authority effectively to get meaningful information from your district
- Know the model of governance your board is using and the authority it provides you
- Techniques for increasing accountability and transparency in board proceedings
NEW CONTENT Maximize Your Influence Training #2: How to be a Positive Change Agent on Your Board Along with moderator, Lindsey Burke of Heritage, panelists Jonathan Butcher, Heritage Senior Research Fellow in Education; Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana Superintendent of Schools; and Katherine Haley, Vice President of the Arizona State Board of Education, discuss the keys to both effective boards and board members:
- Defining characteristics of excellent boards
- Strategies for overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and barriers to progress
- Techniques for collaboration and overcoming ideological differences
NEW CONTENT Maximize Your Influence Training #3: The Superintendent’s Perspective on School Boards and School Leaders Working Together Heritage’s Lindsey Burke leads this all-star panel in a robust discussion on the vital importance of cooperation between school boards and school leaders. William Booker, former School Superintendent of Gaston County Schools in North Carolina; Chris Neeley, Superintendent of South Carolina Public Charter School District; Stephen G. Reel, Head of School, Mitchell Road Christian Academy; and Mark Stout, Head of School, Gaston Christian School, discuss the following practices for more effective boards and board members:
- Key qualities that a board should seek from their employee, the superintendent
- Best practices for achieving cooperation and clear communication between the board and the superintendent
- Real-life examples of what can be accomplished on behalf of students when school leaders and the board collaborate
School Safety
School Safety Training #1: Understanding Threats and Actions to Mitigate Risk Moderator Jonathan Butcher from Heritage leads panelists Amy Swearer, Heritage Senior Legal Fellow; Steve Bucci, Heritage Visiting Fellow and former Army Special Forces officer; and Ryan Petty, Founder of WalkUp Foundation, in an exploration of these crucial topics on school safety:
- The nature of threats that students face at school
- Five key questions you should ask regarding the school safety in your district
- Explore actions that school boards can take to mitigate the risk of dangerous incidents happening on campus
NEW CONTENT School Safety Training #2: Sound Discipline and Safety Policies The Heritage Foundation’s Lindsey Burke leads this second round of discussions on the critical issue of school safety. With panelists Amy Swearer, Senior Legal Fellow at Heritage; Jonathan Butcher, Senior Research Fellow in Education at Heritage; and Max Eden, Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute, Lindsey facilitates discussion on the following school safety topics:
- The nature of threats students face at school
- Misguided school discipline policies
- Resources to find sound school safety policy ideas
Scenario Planning
What Should I Do If...? Our scenario planning training provides answers to common questions that challenge board members and hinder effectiveness. Heritage’s Jonathan Butcher moderates this discussion with guest Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, on common scenarios faced by board members such as the following:
- How do I navigate my school board when I hold the minority view?
- What should I do if I’m personally attacked or censured? What rights do I have?
- What can I do if I feel our board attorney isn’t giving us sound advice?
