Stop Reacting. Start Leading with Confidence.
Join the Board President Cohort: a 12-month program with monthly training, personal 1:1 coaching, and The President's Playbook—practical tools designed for the challenges you face at the dais.
The Challenge
As board president, you’re dealing with:
Meetings that spiral out of control — Despite your best efforts with Robert’s Rules, discussions go off-topic, board members talk over each other, and you’re not sure when to intervene.
Board members who don’t respect boundaries — Some treat you like their personal assistant. Others undermine your decisions or go rogue with the superintendent.
Legal and policy landmines — You’re terrified of making a procedural mistake that ends up in a lawsuit or a news headline.
Hostile public comment — What started as community input has become a battleground, and you don’t have the tools to manage it effectively.
Complicated superintendent relationships — It feels adversarial when it should be collaborative, or they’re running circles around you because you don’t know what you don’t know.
Constant overwhelm — You’re reacting to crises instead of leading strategically, and it’s exhausting.
You didn’t sign up to just survive this role. You signed up to make a difference.
The Benefits
Monthly Group Training
Interactive virtual meetings (45-60 minutes) focused on one critical topic each month. Learn with a small group of fellow presidents who understand exactly what you’re dealing with. Some sessions include expert guest speakers.
Cohort of Peers
You’ll build relationships with people navigating the same challenges, in real-time, throughout the year. This will build your network to help during tough times and late nights.
Personal 1:1 Calls
Bi-monthly coaching sessions to work through your specific challenges in real-time:
- That board member who won’t stay in their lane
- The agenda item you’re dreading
- The superintendent relationship that needs repair
- Whatever is keeping you up at night
The President's Playbook
A practical reference binder you can keep at the dais with:
- Quick-reference guides
- Meeting templates and checklists
- Response frameworks for tough moments
- Policy interpretation guides
- My Robert’s Rules cheatsheet
- Room for your own notes and district-specific adaptations
This isn’t something you’ll shelve—it’s something you’ll actually use during meetings.
The Curriculum
Starting in January 2026, this program will run for 12 months.
Note: Topics will be sequenced to match the natural rhythm of the school year and cohort needs. Here’s what we’ll tackle together:
January
Foundational Skills – Part 1
- Running effective board meetings
- Robert’s Rules as a strategic tool
- Agenda setting and why it matters
February
Foundational Skills – Part 2
- The role of board president
- Managing difficult board members
- Building productive board culture
- Why the district structure matters
March
Leadership & Relationships
- Building a strong superintendent relationship
- Superintendent evaluation and goal-setting
- Leading by example for your district and community
- New board member orientation processes
April
Communication & Crisis
- Strategic communication (internal and external)
- Navigating legal issues and lawsuits
- Speaking with the media
- Working with your district communications team
May
Annual Cycle & Calendar
- The board’s annual calendar and rhythms
- Planning ahead for predictable challenges
- Balancing urgent vs. important throughout the year
- Board retreats and planning sessions
June
Values-Based Governance
- Developing and deploying your Decision Lens
- The importance of shared board values
- Setting a direction for your district
- Implementing accountability measures
July
Policy & Governance
- Policy writing, review, and interpretation
- Fair and equal application of policy
- Strategic planning through Values-Based Governance
- State associations and available training resources
August
To Committee or Not To Committee
- The role committees play in education
- Do committees help?
- What authority do committees have in the district?
- Should you utilize them?
September
Board Evaluation & Development
- Conducting board self-evaluations
- Professional development planning for the board
- Creating a culture of continuous improvement
October
Driving Consensus & Decision-Making
- Building consensus when the board is divided
- Moving discussions toward decisions
- Managing the “endless discussion” problem
- Following through: Ensuring board priorities actually get implemented
November
Advanced Conflict Management
- Mediating conflict between board members
- Addressing board member behavior/performance directly
- Managing board-superintendent tension when you’re in the middle
- De-escalating situations before they explode
December
Sustainability & Succession
- Avoiding burnout while staying effective
- Preparing for transition
- Succession planning for the presidency
- Reflecting on your year and planning for continued impact
Foundational Skills
- The role of board president (vs. board member vs. superintendent)
- Running effective meetings with Robert’s Rules
- Agenda setting that keeps meetings focused on student outcomes
- Managing difficult board members and building productive board culture
Leadership & Relationships
- Building a strong superintendent relationship
- Superintendent evaluation and goal-setting
- Leading by example for your district and community
- New board member orientation processes
Communication & Crisis
- Managing public comments and community complaints
- Strategic communication (internal and external)
- Navigating legal issues and when to involve counsel
- Dealing with lawsuits and legal challenges
Policy & Governance
- Policy writing, review, and interpretation
- Fair and equal application of policy
- Strategic planning and Values-Based Governance
- State school board associations and available training resources
The Facilitator
Meet Aaron Salt
I’ve spent 7 years as a school board president across 3 different boards—I’ve lived what you’re going through. I’ve also served as COO/Assistant Superintendent and Interim Superintendent, giving me insight from both sides of the dais. I founded a charter school, and I’m currently finishing a book on effective board governance.
I’ve helped board members navigate hostile takeovers, superintendent transitions, community backlash, legal challenges, and dysfunctional board dynamics. I’ve learned what actually works—not in theory, but in real board rooms with real consequences.
My approach: Practical tools you can use immediately. No jargon, no fluff, no generic advice that doesn’t fit your situation. Just straight talk from someone who’s been in your seat and knows how hard it is.
Why this cohort is limited: Because of the dedicated 1:1 coaching component (6 personal sessions with each participant), I can only work with 12 presidents at a time. This ensures everyone gets the personalized attention they need.
The Decision
- This is designed for:
- Currently serving as board president (or will soon)
- Want practical solutions, not just theory
- Are willing to be honest about challenges
- Can commit to attending monthly sessions
- Want to lead theird boards effectively, not just survive
- This is NOT for:
- Board members who aren't in the president role
- Those looking for "magic bullets" or quick fixes
- People who aren't willing to do the work
The Investment
Why the discount?
This is the inaugural cohort, and I’m pricing it to make it accessible while I prove the model. Future cohorts will be priced significantly higher. If you’re on the fence, this is the time to join.
Payments must be made by check.
How to fund?
Many districts have PD (professional development) funds that are earmarked for board member use. POs will be accepted if your district is paying for this program. We provide documentation for reimbursement
Some states will allow for campaign funds to be used to pay for these types of board-related expenses, as this will help you fulfill your elected duty.
Board President Cohort
- 12 monthly group training
- 6 personal, 1:1 sessions
- The President's Playbook
- Practical solutions
The FAQ
Every district has different dynamics—that’s exactly why you get two 1:1 strategy sessions. We’ll work through your specific challenges directly and confidentially.
Each session will run 45-60 minutes. There will be a presentation during each call that will run around 30 minutes, and then there will be time for Q&A and a time for sharing information with your peers in the cohort.
The 1:1 calls will be teleconferences through Google Meet. Each one will last 30-40 minutes. These are tailored to you and your district’s needs. You can invite your superintendent or a fellow board member to join you, as appropriate.
These sessions are intended to be meaningful time to help you become a more effective board president in helping your students succeed. We can review agenda items, upcoming/ongoing controversies, superintendent evaluations, etc.
Each session will be recorded with links to the video sent out after the call. Although you won’t be able to participate in the conversation around the month’s topic, you’ll still get to see the session.
Note: Q&A and other conversations won’t be available during the replays. Sometimes these conversations can cover sensitive topics, and we want to protect that privileged information as much as possible.
State-level school board associations provide excellent foundational resources. This cohort is different: it’s intimate, ongoing over 12 months, includes personalized 1:1 support, and focuses on the practical political and strategic realities of your role.
Yes, your district can pay for this program.
Many districts will have board funds that are allocated for professional development, conferences, etc. This is a great use of those dollar, and your district will appreciate that you’re taking the initiative to serve your community better.
Other ways to pay for this would be from personal funds, grants, or campaign dollars.
We provide documentation for reimbursement
SBAE members and affiliates receive a standard discount. If you’d like to know more about SBAE or the discount, please email me: [email protected].
The Reality
You didn’t become board president to constantly put out fires, manage drama, or feel like you’re one mistake away from disaster.
You became president because you care about your district and want to make a real difference for students.
This cohort gives you the practical tools, personal support, and peer community to do exactly that.
Spots are limited to 12 presidents. Once they’re full, the next cohort won’t start until 2027—and at a significantly higher price.