Description
As the 2025-2026 school year begins, new opportunities to improve student outcomes through excellence in leadership abound.
We are delighted to host two outstanding speakers who will share their insights and expert opinions on the importance and impact of school board leadership, governance and relationships. Our goal is to provide hundreds of dedicated local leaders with an inspiring morning of great information, new connections, and practical guidance to serve and lead well.
Brunch refreshments and materials are included.
Invite a fellow board member and come with your success stories, challenges, questions and curiosity!
AGENDA
8:30 am Check-In and Continental Brunch
9:00 am Welcome - Cristine Trooien, Executive Director of Minnesota Partnership for Achievement
9:15 am Making the Most Out of Your School Board: Connecting Governance to Outcomes - Michael Ford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Administration, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and Director of the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research
Michael Ford is currently the Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue at the Universities of Wisconsin. He is also on leave as the EAA C.R. Meyer Endowed Professor of Public Administration at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) and the Director of the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research. He has published over 40 peer reviewed articles on public and nonprofit governance, and one peer reviewed book on education policy. In addition to his roles at UWO, he serves on the Oshkosh Area School District School Board and previously served two terms on the Oshkosh Common Council. He also writes monthly columns for the Public Administration Times and the Oshkosh Herald. His work on school board governance has been featured in a variety of media, including the Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Associated Press, and Wisconsin Public Radio.
Prior to joining Academia Ford served as a Research Associate and Vice President of Operations for School Choice Wisconsin (2004 – 2011), and Research Director for the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (2011 – 2013). He holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Marquette University, a Masters of Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Ph.D. in Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
10:15 am Networking Break
10:30 am Board Superintendent Relationship Management - William Hughes, Ph.D., Principle at Hughes Strategic Consulting
Bill Hughes supports leaders and improves organizations to accelerate student achievement, engagement, strategy, and targeted philanthropy. He brings results, leadership, and a vibrant network to create informed, strategic solutions that last in k-12 education, foundations and non-profits. Bill works with schools, boards of education, foundations, government, non-profits, school districts and networks, to improve achievement, strategy, engagement, talent development, targeted philanthropy, advocacy, student achievement, and financial analysis.
From 1996 to 2012, Hughes was Superintendent of Greendale Schools, a district recognized repeatedly as one of the highest performing and efficient districts in Wisconsin. From 2012 – 2015, he served as Managing Director of Leadership with Schools That Can Milwaukee while redesigning principal training and master’s degree program at Alverno College to focus on preparing school leaders to serve in urban schools.
Active in Wisconsin and National education policy since 2005, his current focus is on school board governance, improving student literacy abilities, educator pipeline, and parent advocacy and voice for high achieving fiscally responsible schools cross sector. He is a member or chair of governing or advisory boards with government, non-profits, foundations, and associations. He is married to an educational entrepreneur in technology, father of three children and grandfather to five. A hiker, gardener, amateur photographer and fly fisherman who serves on his local library board.
11:30 am Leadership Network Spotlight and Closing Remarks - Featured Local Leaders and Cristine Trooien
Date & Time
Sat, Sep 27, 2025 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Venue Details
Edina Country Club
Edina, Minnesota