Govern Differently: An Academics-Focused Governance Model and How to Use It for Good

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.