Advisory Boards are Individuals as well as a Collective Group - Farimah Schuerman

Advisory Boards are Individuals as well as a Collective Group

You’ve built your advisory board and it’s been running a year now. What’s next? It’s time to evaluate the current composition. Who have your stars been? Who hasn’t contributed much? Who are the subject area stars on the horizon? What functions aren’t fully addressed yet? How do you weed out those who aren’t helping and replace them with others who might contribute in a different, more useful way?

If you haven’t already set a “term” for your advisors, this might be the time to do so, but remember that can cut both ways. If the term of service is one year, though, you can always ask some to stay for a second term. Or, you might shift them to another type of advisory role. There are many tactful ways to rotate someone out of this position, for example, you might be showing respect for their time and other responsibilities. Usually, if an advisor has been inactive, providing a graceful exit is not a problem; it hasn’t worked for them either and they may be relieved to find an easy out. But the gems on your board may be long-term keepers.

When it Works Like a Charm

Sometimes a member of an advisory board who feels committed to your company can be a godsend. And a handful can work like a team of angels. In one case I know of, the Advisor has been involved for years and continues to be passionate. A great choice by the company, this advisor has made countless introductions, and because of his leadership qualities, often has the ear of very high level educators. The innovation he’s shown in his own, otherwise unknown, district has garnered much attention for its successes. He’s created models of implementation that have been studies for their applicability in other districts by both technologists and state-level educational administrators. The resulting visibility has lead to strategic partnerships, state-level attention for the company, expanded business, and new business and product ideas. But don’t think this was a one-way relationship. The Advisor got to build his vision with the support of the company, he derived a lot of visibility by having the company include him in their market-facing events, provided all the support he needed to advance his ideas and to try out his vision. Their relationship continues to flourish, growing both the Company and the Advisor’s success.

How does this happen? Is it a fluke, or just dumb luck? Hardly. What’s notable about this relationship, and others that this same company enjoys, it a willingness by the management to pick up the phone and chat with such advisors. What new projects are they working on? What challenges or objectives might the company be facing that the Advisor might shed light on? What’s on the drafting board that might jumpstart some ideas? This keeps the Advisor thinking about the company, and feeling included, because he is included. The Advisory piece isn’t only a twice-a-month meeting or phone call, but is interwoven into how the company does business. I must admit I didn’t really understand it four or five years ago when I first encountered it, but now I understand the mutual benefit, the sense of involvement, the personal relationships and mutual commitment that have made this, and similar one-to-one use of advisors work. In populating the Advisory Board with a handful of such partners, this company has mined the Advisor’s expertise both individually and collectively, and has benefited as a result.

21st Century Education - Sue Collins

Many of you have been with me through numerous swings of the education pendulum. Depending upon which decades you can remember, we have sought to change to the metric system (not the 70’s best idea), and, currently to ensuring that every student can read and do grade level mathematics (a very good idea).

All of these swings have led us to the present: we need to provide a 21^st century education to every student. After decades of change, we educators and industry members may be a little hardened to these new challenges. Still, it’s very clear to me that it is absolutely right to ensure that every child is ready to live in the 21^st century.

Most of today’s schools are the same as the ones you and I remember attending. Times however have changed. Global economies and competition have put our educational efforts into the limelight. The result -- we need to transform our schools to prepare students to be successful in the current century -- to make them deliverers of a 21^st century education. My article in the Experts’ Guide is my attempt to persuade readers that a 21^st century education is a very real, measurable goal. A goal we cannot fail to meet.

One of the most interesting facets of this latest swing of the pendulum (the development of a 21^st century education system) is that it is a goal shared by educators AND businesses. US business leaders have been very vocal about the need for a different kind of education; and, they have been very supportive of schools moving in this direction. More and more, educators are ready and willing to make the changes needed to complete this transformation. Now is the time for all of us to work together respectfully to achieve this goal.

Many resources are available to support schools in making this transformation and provide assistance to help businesses do their share. My Expert’s Guide article outlines what a 21^st century education looks like and what skills students need to have. Many other resources, chief among them the 21^st Century Partnership are available to help.

I invite you to join in the dialog, either here or in some other venue, about how to contribute to this shared goal. Share your resources with us (post a comment) and others. If you can help a school, a district or a state, give them a call. If you have a business strategy to help, reach out to company. If we all take action, we will be able to look around in a few years and celebrate our shared success.

A View from Washington - Mark Schneiderman

A View from Washington
By Mark Schneiderman, SIIA director of education policy

I am pleased to launch the authors’ blog with this “View from Washington.” While accounting for only about 8% of total K-12 education spending, we know that U.S. Department of Education programs and regulations have a disproportionate impact on the market, including in the area of technology (not even including the E-Rate and other federal programs). How do these federal initiatives work? What is most relevant? What does it mean for your company, products and market?

For starters, my Experts’ Guide article of the same name serves largely as a how-to primer about the programs and organizations that populate the DC Beltway, and how those serving education can best leverage the federal education scene.

Those looking to go beyond the basics are encouraged to participate in SIIA’s annual Ed Tech Government Forum, held in Washington, DC. Our March 2008 event featured leading policy wonks and national education leaders, including from NEA, NGA, IRA, CCSSO and Capitol Hill. Topics covered included Early Childhood, After School, High School Reform, State of the States, NCLB, and Research, among others. If you missed it, you can view session summaries on our website.

Of course, the ETGF included the two most prominent sports in Washington, DC education circles: Who will be the next education president? and (When) Will NCLB be reauthorized?

As an update on the former, representatives from the McCain and Obama campaigns spoke before a room of education publishers and lobbyists last week to outline their education platforms. As expected, this attendee, and apparently others, learned little new. The spokespersons presented candidate positions in a manner that seemed to fit my perception and expectations. With some marginal exceptions, McCain’s positions appeared largely consistent with that of President Bush, while Obama’s camp sought to distance him from the specifics of NCLB programs, and instead talked, in part, around broader themes of change. On technology in education, it seems that a President Obama would be more likely a champion of the investment, while both seem to endorse the vision, though specifics were short.

On the latter – if and when NCLB will be reauthorized – the over/under is 2010. The 2008 legislative window ended months ago in light of election politics, and many pundits view the 2009 agenda as likely too crowded to allow completion early in the next Administration. Until then, with the exception of some rules changes being pushed by Secretary Spellings, the current law will remain the law. Unfortunately, Senator Kennedy’s health status only adds to the uncertainty in light of his critical leadership. SIIA believes we, and our education and industry partners, have set the ground work for an enhanced federal technology agenda moving forward, though we are frustrated that these changes may be years from reality in light of the NCLB limbo.

Finally, SIIA members are encouraged to participate in SIIA’s Education & Workforce Development Policy Committee (join by e-mailing me), review SIIA resources and positions, and taking advantage of SIIA’s expertise by contacting me for company-specific advise and information.