Episode #29 -  Why succession planning is a mess with Mollie Mitchell

GUEST

Episode Guest:

Websites:

https://www.k12searchgroup.com/

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this conversation, Daniel Casselli interviews Mollie Mitchell about succession planning in the executive search business for charter schools. They discuss the challenges and benefits of hiring outside candidates, as well as the scenarios that lead to the need for succession planning. Mollie emphasizes the importance of boards understanding the talent pool internally and externally, and the need for effective governance in the hiring process. They also touch on the instability that can arise during a CEO search and the difficulty of onboarding new leaders. Succession planning for leadership positions in education organizations is crucial for ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining stability. Boards should have an honest conversation with the current leader about their long-term plans and goals. Emergency succession plans should be in place to determine who will take charge if the leader is unable to fulfill their duties. Boards should hold the leader accountable for succession planning in their annual review. It is important to invest in potential successors and provide them with opportunities for development. Transparency and inclusivity in the succession process are key to building trust among stakeholders.

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

• Redefine the CEO’s Role Regularly: 
  It’s important for the CEO to rewrite their job description annually. This practice not only clarifies the CEO’s evolving responsibilities but also aligns the board’s expectations with the current needs of the organization.
• Invest in Potential Successors: 
  Succession planning isn’t just about finding a replacement; it’s about cultivating leadership at every level. Boards can actively engage with department heads to identify and nurture potential future leaders.
• Build Trust and Transparency: 
  For a smooth leadership transition, transparency is key. All stakeholders—teachers, staff, parents, and the community—should be involved in the succession process. A well-structured, inclusive search process not only finds the best candidate but also builds trust across the organization.
• Leverage External Expertise: 
  Having board members with diverse skill sets is crucial. Bringing in leaders from outside the education sector to serve on boards ensures a well-rounded perspective on what good leadership looks like.
• Embrace Modern Succession Practices: 
  A successful succession plan starts years in advance, with intentional exposure and development of the chosen successor. This proactive approach minimizes disruptions and ensures continuity in leadership.

RESOURCES

Article: Mitchell: Education Nonprofits and Charter Schools Are Bad at Creating Their Own CEOs From Within. Here Are 4 Ways to Fix That

BridgeSpan Resources: Explore BridgeSpan’s nonprofit succession planning resources for more research-based guidance on effective leadership transitions.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
03:50 Navigating Succession Planning in Charter Schools
06:11 The Catalyst for Succession Planning
09:43 The Preference for Outside Candidates
13:47 The Positives of Hiring Outside Candidates
17:18 The Challenges of Hiring Outside Candidates
20:29 Effective Governance and Onboarding
20:39 Process Fatigue and the Need for Honest Conversations
23:56 Starting Succession Planning and Emergency Succession Plans
25:53 Holding Leaders Accountable for Succession Planning
28:53 Investing in Potential Successors
38:04 Promoting Transparency and Inclusivity in the Succession Process

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Mollie Mitchell is the President and Founder of The K12 Search Group. She is passionate about equity in public education and has been recruiting in the K-12 sector since 2001, longer than any of her direct competitors.  Since founding The K12 Search Group in 2007, Mollie has worked with many high-performing charter school operators and K-12 education nonprofits around the country to help them recruit senior-level talent into their organizations. 
 
Prior to founding The K12 Search Group, Mollie served for more than five years as Senior Director of Recruitment at The Broad Center for the Management of School Systems, a nonprofit organization created by businessman and philanthropist Eli Broad to recruit talented leaders into senior level positions in urban school systems. Mollie was the first full-time staff member hired to oversee all recruiting activities for the Center’s two leadership development programs: The Broad Superintendents Academy, a ten-month competitive fellowship to prepare professionals to run large urban school systems, and The Broad Residency, a two-year placement program for up and coming leaders in a large urban school system or CMO.  She designed and managed the entire annual selection and admissions process for both programs.
 
Mollie has lived in Washington, DC, Denver, Los Angeles and Austin. She has served on the boards of two charter schools and is currently a trustee at Great Minds, the creator of high quality curricula, Eureka Math and Wit & Wisdom. She spends most of her time in Santa Fe, where she enjoys hiking daily with her two golden retrievers. She also takes full advantage of everything Santa Fe has to offer, most importantly, the delicious southwestern cuisine.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Daniel Casselli is a life-long learner whose passion for education has driven his professional endeavors. He is a former classroom teacher and youth ministry director whose entrepreneurial spirit landed him in the world of education technology. At EVERFI Inc., Daniel helped run the business development efforts for EVERFI’s Financial Education Program and the company was eventually sold to Blackbaud for $750M in 2021. Shortly before EVERFI’s acquisition, Daniel joined Class Technologies as one of the earliest sales hires and went on to lead K12 Enterprise Sales and helped the company land its first 100+ K12 customers across public, charter, and private schools. Daniel brings his unique experiences to BuyQ where he is focused on growth, operational excellence, business strategy, and client satisfaction. He is a graduate of Grove City College where he studied Religion and History. 

You can listen to Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators on your favorite podcasting platform...

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