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Episode #22 - Partnering with your board with Dr. Garland L. Thomas-McDavid
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2 min read
SHOW NOTES
GUEST INFO
Episode Guest:
Mike Mizzoni, Chief Governance Officer at BoardOnTrack
Website:
EPISODE SUMMARY
Charter school boards are responsible for overseeing multimillion-dollar organizations, yet most only meet for 20 hours a year. So how do the best boards ensure effective governance? The answer: committees. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast welcomes Mike Mizzoni, Chief Governance Officer at BoardOnTrack, to break down the key role committees play in school leadership. Mike shares practical strategies to move beyond “paper committees” and establish high-functioning teams that drive real impact. From finance and governance to CEO support, we explore the committees every charter school needs—and how to make them work.
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
- Why committees are essential—Effective governance requires more than just monthly board meetings.
- The five must-have committees—Finance, governance, development, CEO support, and academic excellence.
- Warning signs of ineffective committees—Is your board truly working, or just meeting?
- Building accountability—How to set expectations and structure committees for success.
- Real-world impact—How committees have transformed school boards nationwide.
RESOURCES
Charter school governance tools and coaching: BoardOnTrack & BoardSavvy
Book: Board Meetings: A Guide for Charter Schools
Book: Board Structure: A Guide to Bylaws, Officers and More!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Board Committees
00:52 The Importance of Committees in Governance
01:54 Effective vs. Ineffective Committees
03:30 Identifying Paper Committees
05:08 The Role of Committees in Charter Schools
06:24 Essential Committees for Charter Schools
08:16 Characteristics of a High-Functioning Finance Committee
09:55 Committee Activities and Leadership Relationships
12:03 Real-World Examples of Effective Committees
13:52 Navigating Board Relationships
15:32 Unique Committees for Unique Challenges
17:05 Structuring Committees for Success
19:34 Resources for Effective Governance
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Mike Mizzoni brings a wealth of experience to his role as BoardOnTrack’s Chief Governance Officer. Prior to joining the BoardOnTrack team 5 years ago, Mike worked for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, where he served as the Director of Trustee and Community Relations and formerly as Deputy General Counsel. Mike began his career as a Legislative Aide at the Massachusetts State House while attending law school full-time. In addition to his professional experience, Mike volunteers for a variety of organizations. He has served as the Vice-Chair of the Town of Littleton School Committee, on the Board of Directors of the Freedom Summer Collegiate, an education non-profit that he co-founded, and as an active member of the UMass Lowell Young Alumni Council.
Mike currently lives in Littleton, Massachusetts and is a proud graduate of both the University of Massachusetts Lowell and New England Law Boston. While not working, Mike enjoys playing soccer, volleyball, traveling, and spending time outside with his French Bulldog, Charlie!
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...
