Overview

Govern Differently presents Values-Based Governance (VBG), a practical framework for school board members seeking to move beyond political dysfunction and micromanagement toward effective, student-focused leadership. Drawing from over a decade of board service across three public education organizations in Colorado, author Aaron Salt provides a systematic approach to governance centered on three core tenets: Strategic Alignment (maintaining focus on mission and vision), Policy Development (embedding values into organizational operations), and Cultural Adaptation (sustaining meaningful change over time). The book addresses common challenges facing school boards, including managing competing stakeholder values, navigating ideological differences, avoiding organizational drift, and building productive relationships with superintendents and communities. Salt introduces practical tools, including the Decision Lens framework for decentralized decision-making, the 4As superintendent evaluation model, and the ABCD board self-assessment tool. Designed for both new and experienced board members, the book includes reflection questions, implementation timelines, and real-world examples from public education governance. The framework is presented as non-partisan and compatible with various policy governance models, emphasizing student outcomes over political positioning.

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Aaron Salt has served for over a decade on public boards in Colorado, including as founding board member and chair of a charter school, elected member and board president of a public school district, and appointed trustee and president of a public library district.Salt's professional background spans business consulting, software development, and educational operations. He holds a Master's degree in Social Work from Florida State University and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Auburn University.The Values-Based Governance framework presented in this book emerged from his experience leading organizations through challenging times. His governance philosophy centers on a principle he coined: ""Leadership is doing the right thing, especially when it's hard.""Salt lives in Colorado with his wife and four children.

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