[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6027191,"mediaKeyId","5723989-4651ed2015d668cbda48d5b69d9cd9d1","parentId",5723989,"title","Board retreat: facilitator leads session on values, \"daring\" leadership and tough conversations","audioSeconds",5126,"startMs",72000,"endMs",5198000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5723989-4651ed2015d668cbda48d5b69d9cd9d1&start=72&end=5198","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5723989-4651ed2015d668cbda48d5b69d9cd9d1/thumbnail_72000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6027191/Washington/Board-retreat-facilitator-leads-session-on-values-daring-leadership-and-tough-conversations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6027191-ba362be9e5aa355763e5843f9db5f7f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583981&Signature=YsBehVe-QBU~ri~e8oBdR-4zP1oUFSh8ruHU6~AxUflGdLSrU934fpc4CcCrF5-ZL09H63etoELJ9rxulpruu3Ulty~7XfUjUCMmHJRig9DJgLimw8xYThj2UReq6QKv2hn8McsziZscdjJrxs9Kg7t7qSpFyuHvoDg84SyacXgdDDCJHjzbF4LF9Od1SgMnjNo9EM7Zo1NWkY8MEsRDTmX17KlsuKh-3EAgWXtQG7zPSEbsSn7fzwYIuOcWJskBgu2JQ2E9fomUM8-b1Bb0ceB8LHB4EEbjA5Lx79BLnBLFHoLn35Loro3iek4fvkDtboNfvHOXwSvfyeAZUbEdUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Olympia School District, WA","date","2025-01-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Olympia School District winter retreat opened with a facilitated session on leadership values, courageous conversations and the ‘‘armored versus daring’’ framework drawn from Brene Brown’s research.

Jolene Laughlin, the retreat facilitator, asked directors and staff to identify core personal values and to practice a set of community agreements for constructive conversation. The session emphasized ‘‘choosing courage over comfort’’ and encouraged participants to ‘‘stay in the messy middle’’ — that is, to tolerate uncertainty long enough to explore multiple perspectives rather than immediately seeking quick fixes.

Participants worked through guided exercises, including a self‑assessment of leadership habits (moving away, moving toward, moving against — Brown’s ‘‘shame shields’’) and a values exercise in which each person shared one or two values they wished to emphasize in leadership. Values that appeared frequently in discussion were curiosity, integrity, love, loyalty and risk‑taking. Several participants connected those values to specific board behaviors, such as the tension between responding quickly to constituent concerns and the need to preserve a coherent, district‑level approach to policy.

Board members and staff discussed the implications of these leadership practices for governance: how to hold tough conversations constructively, how to solicit high‑quality feedback from the community, and how to balance individual directors’ community ties with the collective stewardship role of the board. The facilitator also introduced a short, adapted assessment derived from Brown’s work to help directors identify armor‑related behaviors and where to focus development.

The session included a closing gratitude exercise (postcards to staff and teachers) and participants agreed to reconvene after lunch for policy governance work. The morning’s work was framed as professional development rather than a policymaking session; there were no votes or formal decisions resulting directly from the leadership exercises.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Olympia School District Board Meeting 01/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Facilitator Jolene Laughlin led a morning session on values, Brene Brown’s research on courageous leadership, and the differences between ‘‘armored’’ and ‘‘daring’’ leadership. Directors and staff shared personal values and discussed how those values shape board behavior and decision‑making.","taxTitle","Olympia School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",70511,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6027195,"Student representatives outline Slack activities, propose ASB retreat and broader recruitment",2226,7924000,10150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5723989-4651ed2015d668cbda48d5b69d9cd9d1&start=7924&end=10150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5723989-4651ed2015d668cbda48d5b69d9cd9d1/thumbnail_7924000.jpg","/articles/6027195/Washington/Student-representatives-outline-Slack-activities-propose-ASB-retreat-and-broader-recruitment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6027195-c759005c09c2878c1336122b58262922/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583981&Signature=R72IkpaSw9HRO5hPHQpW5uuXgiqfKhIO3CJXCl9QgnCFCu6V8WRmD0IhvatqoEv~9i3jpT7GMDTtgll~1~2c9GmyHYs5YbxEwp8NdSRVgsZvfvG1X4ahPvfNDreOutEUia75k98Gb7bKG0B5Iv2yZ92DK-kZ6Vi4CZ8jG5l5RU7ccFlnrih6lm72tRKoJ7wDe1-ufg2vox6AvrF7AWbTLsR7WQEipzgaCSR2VZyTFr56w8EYAGMAteT1wElG9ZG0ujI8ITm~7YCLZUCFurcMFO7KFiEua~dgSqVrgohWCYm39v1w~XT3l8cbZOyMI3iqEbAWvOY7p97PvZhh0StnVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Student representatives told the Olympia School District Board of Directors that their Slack advisory group has expanded district‑level student input and proposed a student leadership (ASB) retreat to strengthen school governments and recruit future student leaders.

\"We're really excited to be here today and appreciate you giving us the time to share what we've been up to,\" student representatives said as they opened a detailed presentation that covered committee work, policy reviews, ongoing Slack meetings, and plans for an ASB retreat.

The students described recent activities: participation in the policy Citizens Advisory Committee (policy CAC), edits to the student handbook, a small project to install washing and drying machines for families at a Garfield Elementary site, discussions about school safety, and a standing Slack forum used to collect student feedback on district policies (for example, phone rules and bathroom practices).

Students asked the board to support several practical items: a modest allocation or authorization for Slack printing, access to a district printer code to manage materials for meetings, logistical support for the proposed ASB retreat (venue, transportation, and food), and an annual opportunity for student reps to give a brief report at a board meeting. They also proposed clearer onboarding materials so future student reps can sustain Slack’s work.

The proposed ASB retreat would bring student leaders from middle and high schools together for goal setting, skills training and cross‑school collaboration. The students suggested inviting speaker James Laymon (a facilitator they met at a WASA event) and recommended that schools send delegations if overall attendance is large.

Student presenters said Slack currently includes roughly 25–30 students at meetings and that a broader recruitment effort — earlier publicity, in‑school visits and clearer application/onboarding materials — would produce a more diverse pool.

Directors praised the group and signaled practical support; trustees noted Slack can act as a standing student advisory body that the district can consult when officials need quick, student‑grounded input. The board did not take formal votes but staff indicated they would help with logistics and suggested appointing students to shadow events and plan next steps with district staff.

Student reps asked that the board notify Slack when student input is needed and said specific, actionable requests produce the most useful feedback. The group concluded with a request to establish clearer procedures for printing, meeting facilitation and a possible student‑rep annual report to the board.

","Student board representatives presented the district’s Slack student advisory work, recent policy input and a proposed ASB leadership retreat; they asked the board for logistical support, modest funds for printing/transportation and earlier outreach for next year’s recruitment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6027200,"Olympia board discusses adopting policy-governance model, directs staff to research options",2576,5326000,7902000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5723989-4651ed2015d668cbda48d5b69d9cd9d1&start=5326&end=7902","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5723989-4651ed2015d668cbda48d5b69d9cd9d1/thumbnail_5326000.jpg","/articles/6027200/Washington/Olympia-board-discusses-adopting-policy-governance-model-directs-staff-to-research-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6027200-3c043a7639007ec6590d54f085821b19/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583981&Signature=oGplEFDboPsIeX2TmEE9cLdI6PRCEe1vBlwRUcqt9F0mLRmC~l-YbNa1MGjPxxo5CFisaqVqulCu-UZqPrNr-2kyqAZzvQ6LS9g9gE3d3FdTxWtc2EDxruplStOEOjj3PPBSE1fAsnlCdcg5gzbvvTcNeXwZ7QXeCkQRfZ0yDP3NLeoScNnbdD11wBPEctEequNt5jkcgRcTPD6EEnEonh56Gt6D95AZZGTKXRKCS0WIuminkLSjGvd~kctv46EvHVenqHc4Ktkd-rYhQwQ6vIqii9RH5bMHrDEH9fgSaCvOwSlzJMwVwY1Fb2~NLy0HKyW6n2aEzsQ4210cLh2ioA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Olympia School District Board of Directors spent an extended segment of its winter retreat exploring whether to adopt a formal policy‑governance model for board work and superintendent oversight.

Policy governance is a board‑management approach that frames board work around explicit “ends” (outcomes) and written limitations for the superintendent. Board members and staff discussed how shifting to that model could change the board’s role from occasional operational interventions to a focus on broad outcomes and monitoring reports.

Board members said policy governance could provide clearer expectations for the superintendent and make board‑level decision making more consistent. ‘‘I thought it was freeing,’’ Director Patrick Murphy said of the model he experienced in a previous district, adding that it helped keep boards out of operational micromanagement while preserving community access through defined processes.

The discussion reviewed common concerns: whether a strict Carver‑style model is too technical for the community, how to preserve responsiveness to individual school issues, and how to keep elected members meaningfully engaged without micromanaging. Directors and staff noted that many U.S. districts operate hybrid versions of policy governance rather than a single rigid model.

Participants emphasized two areas they want clarified before any formal adoption: (1) how the district would convert current district goals and the district improvement plan into ends‑style policies linked to superintendent evaluation; and (2) which limitations (for example, fiscal or community‑input requirements) the board would write as binding constraints for administration.

Board members agreed on a next step of information gathering rather than an immediate policy change. Vice President Perna Palumbo and Director Murphy discussed a short, focused research process: a small working group (described in the meeting as a “5 by 5” — five people meeting five times) that would include cabinet staff and board members, gather examples of successful implementations in comparable districts, and return recommendations on feasible options for Olympia.

The board asked staff to surface districts that have adopted policy governance (or strong hybrids), provide plain‑language explanations of monitoring and reporting practices, and outline what would need to change in the district’s current administrative policy structure to adopt such a model. No formal vote or ordinance was taken; the board scheduled follow‑up work and said it would bring the topic back at a future meeting for further deliberation.

Looking ahead, directors said they want the policy governance exploration to clearly identify what the board would stop doing under a new model (limitations), how the superintendent’s evaluation would be aligned to district ends, and what community engagement processes would be retained or added so residents still feel heard.

If the board moves forward, staff and the working group will draft sample ends and limitation policies and options for phased adoption; any formal adoption would come back to the board for deliberation and a public vote.

","Board members spent the afternoon reviewing the policy‑governance approach (Carver model) and agreed to further study how a tailored version could fit the district, asking staff and a small board‑staff working group to gather examples and recommendations for a future meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Board retreat: facilitator leads session on values, "daring" leadership and tough conversations

Student representatives outline Slack activities, propose ASB retreat and broader recruitment

Olympia board discusses adopting policy-governance model, directs staff to research options