The Great on Their Behalf framework gives school boards a clear, evidence-based picture of their governance — and a measurable path to getting better.
Take the Free Self-Assessment10 minutes · Free · Instant results across all five practice areas
Most school boards are composed of well-meaning people who chose to serve because they care about kids. That's not the problem. The problem is that caring is necessary but insufficient because good intentions alone don't close achievement gaps.
Governing well on behalf of students is specific. It means the board's time, attention, and resources are consistently pointed at student outcomes — not adult comfort, operational turf, or institutional inertia. That's harder than it sounds, and it's measurable.
"The most effective boards I've worked with aren't necessarily the ones with the most experienced trustees. They're the ones who've gotten specific about what it means to govern for students — and who hold that discipline even when it's uncomfortable."
— AJ Crabill, Great on Their Behalf
The Great on Their Behalf framework measures board governance across five evidence-based practices. Together, they define what it means to lead a district on behalf of students.
The board keeps its attention on student outcomes — not adult interests, operational details, or institutional politics. Every meeting, every vote, every conversation runs through the same filter: what creates the conditions for improving student outcomes?
The board sets specific, measurable goals tied to student learning — and holds those goals firm. Not 14 strategic priorities. Not aspirational language. Clear targets the district is accountable to.
The board tracks whether goals are being achieved with real data, not anecdotes. It asks the right questions, pushes for honest answers, and acts when the data demands it.
The board directs money, time, and attention toward its stated priorities — not toward everything at once. Budget decisions and policy decisions connect back to the goals the board has set.
The board is transparent with its community about what's working, what isn't, and why. Governance in the open builds trust. Governance behind closed doors erodes it.
Any board member can take the Great on Their Behalf Self-Assessment in about ten minutes. You'll get an instant score across all five practice areas and a clear readout of where your board's governance gaps are.
The Self-Assessment is indicative, not clinically validated — it's self-scored and unmoderated. Every screen says so. But it's built on the same five-practice rubric as the validated Certified Assessment, and it gives you something real to work with.
Take the free self-assessment →The Certified Great on Their Behalf Practitioner credential is the gold standard for governance coaching. Certified Practitioners administer the validated Certified Assessment — nationally benchmarked and scored through ESB's proprietary platform — and receive inbound leads through the ESB network.
Practitioners pay tuition to join and a royalty on engagements. In exchange, they carry a credential built on a nationally recognized framework and a scalable practice that doesn't depend on their own visibility.
Learn about certification →20 questions · about 10 minutes · your results are personal and private
Great on Their Behalf by AJ Crabill is the foundational text for this framework. Board members, superintendents, and governance coaches have used it to change how school boards operate — and how they think about their role. Available wherever books are sold.