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Episode #42 Making sense of board committees with Mike Mizzoni, Chief Governance Officer at BoardOnTrack
SHOW NOTES
3 min read
SHOW NOTES
GUEST INFO
Episode Guests:
Carrie Irvin, Senior Adviser at Bellwether
John Troy, Founder & CEO of WorkTogether
Websites:
https://worktogethertalent.com/
EPISODE SUMMARY
Is your charter school board stuck in operational weeds instead of leading with vision? In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli speaks with Carrie Irvin of Bellwether and John Troy of WorkTogether, two national experts in board development and executive leadership.
Together, they explore how charter school executives can revitalize underperforming boards, build stronger governance cultures, and create true strategic partnerships between leadership and the board.
You’ll learn how to shift your board’s focus from micromanagement to mission-driven leadership, why curiosity and trust are essential for board engagement, and how to address dysfunction using tools like board retreats, coaching, and honest conversations.
If you're navigating a stagnant board, facing board turnover, or stepping into a new leadership role, this episode offers clear takeaways and expert guidance to help you get your board unstuck—and unlock your school’s full potential.
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EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
- Reframe your board’s role: Learn why many charter school boards operate at the wrong “altitude” and how to realign them with your school’s long-term strategy.
- Build a culture of trust and curiosity: Discover how school leaders and board members can foster mutual respect, open dialogue, and psychological safety to improve decision-making.
- Partner with your board chair: Unlock the power of the executive–board chair relationship to influence board culture and drive results.
- Diagnose board dysfunction: Use practical tools—like board culture assessments, executive coaching, and targeted retreats—to identify and address what’s holding your board back.
- Turn your board into a strategic asset: Walk away with clear next steps to shift your board from operational micromanagement to mission-driven leadership.
RESOURCES
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Bellwether : A national nonprofit helping education organizations accelerate impact through strategy, talent, and board development.
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WorkTogether: A leadership consulting firm focused on helping mission-driven organizations strengthen executive teams and boards through coaching and facilitation.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Understanding Board Governance in Charter Schools
05:29 Challenges in Charter School Board Recruitment
11:35 The Role and Responsibilities of Charter School Boards
13:56 The Role of Charter School Boards
16:16 Building a Diverse and Effective Board
21:57 Assessing Board Effectiveness
35:01 Talent and Board Composition
39:20 Connecting with the Community and Future Steps
ABOUT OUR GUESTS
John Troy
Founder of WorkTogether Talent Consulting (formerly WorkMonger). We are a talent advisor and workforce solutions firm that empowers education organizations by igniting growth, cultivating equity, and connecting you with mission-driven leaders. Explore our tailored solutions and connect with us today to build a customized plan that propels your educational mission forward. Let's WorkTogether!
Results-oriented leader with demonstrated leadership, strategic planning, project management, communication, analytical, and fundraising skills in the corporate, non-profit, and religious sectors.
Specialties: Social Entrepreneurship, Human Capital, Non-Profit Management, Fundraising, Finance, Strategy, Operations.
Carrie Irvin
Carrie Chimerine Irvin is a senior adviser and Governance leader with Bellwether in the Strategic Advising practice area.
Carrie’s career has focused on improving quality and equity in public education. In 2010, she co-founded Charter Board Partners (later known as Education Board Partners, or EBP), the only national nonprofit focused on strengthening the boards of public charter schools and education nonprofits. The organization recruited, trained, and supported hundreds of board members and school leaders across the country. In 2023, EBP became part of Bellwether; Carrie leads Bellwether’s Governance practice, working with staff and clients to continue to raise awareness of the importance of effective boards and provide support to education boards nationwide.
Carrie’s work has been featured in Education Week, The Washington Post, and Education Next. She also delivered a TEDx talk about her innovative work to improve the quality of public education through improving governance. Earlier in her career, she analyzed federal education policy, shaped innovative school design programs, and taught 8th-grade social studies.
Carrie chaired the Board of Trustees of the National Child Research Center, and served on the founding boards of School Board Partners and the Georgetown University Child and Adolescent Mental Health Advisory Council.
Carrie holds a master’s degree in education policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. She is a Pahara-Aspen Institute Education Fellow and member of the inaugural cohort of the Joyful Impact Accelerator. An avid runner, enthusiastic baker, and proud mom of two grown daughters and one high-strung dog, Carrie lives in the Washington, D.C. area.
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...
