The Board and Management: Clarifying Roles for Effective Leadership
Governance breakdowns rarely start with bad intentions, they start with blurry lines. This practical, legally grounded session clarifies the distinct roles and responsibilities of charter school boards and staff and explains why getting this right matters. The presenters will identify the most common governance pitfalls — role confusion, overreach in both directions, lack of trust between board and management, unhealthy alliances, and uncertainty about what decisions require board approval versus what management can and should handle. The presenters (experienced charter school governance and labor and employment attorneys) will offer concrete strategies for maintaining appropriate oversight while preserving administrative autonomy.
Presented by
Kevin Davis Partner Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP
I help charter schools build and restructure their organizations, navigate complex compliance regulations, and negotiate for private and Prop. 39 facilities.
Wendy Tucker Partner Procopio
Wendy Tucker, a Partner in Procopio's Labor & Employment Practice, focuses her practice on advising charter schools on all aspects of the employment relationship, serving as a trusted legal and strategic advisor to school leaders and governing boards. Wendy provides comprehensive counsel on employment agreements, handbooks and workplace policies, performance management, discipline and termination, leaves of absence and disability accommodations, wage and hour compliance, workplace investigations, and labor relations matters. Drawing on extensive experience in the education sector, she delivers practical, proactive guidance that helps charter schools navigate complex employment issues, minimize risk, and support their educational missions.
Jason Watts Chief Executive Officer Scholarship Prep
Jason Watts is Co-Founder and CEO of Scholarship Prep, a network of trauma-informed, university-inspired TK–8 public charter schools serving students experiencing homelessness and in the foster care system across South Bay (Wilmington), Santa Ana, Oceanside, Riverside, and Upland. Since co-founding Scholarship Prep in 2015, Jason has led the organization through significant governance evolution as they have expanded to serve students in five counties. He brings firsthand experience navigating the board-management relationship through charter renewal, executive transitions, and organizational growth. He has been in charter leadership roles since 2008.
