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VVS Board of Trustees

The Verde Valley School Board of Trustees is the governing body of the school. The diverse group comes from a broad cross-section of the country and is comprised of former students, parents, faculty, local Sedona residents and people from across the country who have skills and values aligned to the school’s vision.

At Verde Valley School we welcome individuals willing to serve on the Board of Trustees, in particulars those who possess a specific skill set, such as financial, business, legal, or fundraising skills.

VVS GOVERNANCE

The Board of Trustees is composed of not less than nine nor more than eighteen members. Board members serve a term of three years, beginning July 1. Board members are limited to three consecutive terms of three years (except the immediate past president, who serves no less than one year past the end of her or his term). Board members must attend eight telephonic board meetings per year and two on campus meetings. On campus meetings are held in January and June. The Board of Trustees works closely with the Head of School, and the relationship should be one of trust and transparent communications. It is not the role of the Board to be involved in the day to day operations of the school, such as specific management, personnel, or curricular issues.

Current Board Members

The Role of the Verde Valley School Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the School. Its role is to perform the following duties:

Policy development and approval
Hiring and regularly evaluating the head of school
Approving an annual budget
Developing and implementing a strategic plan
Overseeing financial accountability
Ensuring that in broad terms the school is fulfilling its mission
Fundraising and promoting the image of the school
Ensuring the school is following good governance models
Responsibility for filling board positions and ensuring those individuals are committed to the mission of the school
Ensure all actions are transparent, observe appropriate confidentiality, and are in furtherance of the best interests of the school

The obligations of a VVS Board of Trustees Member include:

Regularly attend board and committee meetings.
Actively serve on at least one, preferably two, board committees.
Donate time and expertise to the school.
Financially support the school in an amount that trustee can afford and help with fundraising. 100 percent board financial support is required.
Understand the duties of a board member:
- Policy development and approval
- Hiring the head of school
- Approving an annual budget
- Developing a strategic plan
- Overseeing financial accountability
- Ensuring that in broad terms the school is fulfilling its mission
- Fundraising and promoting the image of the school

BOARD COMMITTEES

Verde Valley School Board of Trustees serve on six standing committees: Finance, Executive, Governance, Education Program & Services Committee, Advancement Committee and Head of School Annual Evaluation and Compensation Committee.

The Finance Committee is commissioned by and responsible to the Board of Trustees. It has the responsibility for working with the Head of School and Chief Financial Officer (CFO)/ Business Management Provider to create the upcoming fiscal year budget; presenting budget recommendations to the Board; monitoring implementation of the approved budget on a regular basis and recommending proposed budget revisions; recommending to the Board appropriate policies for the management of the School’s assets. The finance committee shall be assisted by the Head of School and CFO/Business Management Provider.

The Executive Committee members are limited to President, Vice President(s), Secretary and Treasurer of the Board. The Executive Committee is responsible for general oversight of the Board; offers guidance and support to the various Committees and the Head of School on an ad hoc basis.

The Governance Committee is commissioned by and responsible to the Board of Trustees to assume the primary responsibility for matters pertaining to the Board of Trustees, orientation, training, and evaluation in accordance with the bylaws of the school as well as established policies and practices approved by the Board of Trustees. The Governance Committee also vets nominees to the Board of Trustees and makes recommendations to the Board as a whole.

The Education Program & Services Committee is commissioned by and responsible to the Board of Trustees to assume the primary responsibility for working with the Head of School to define academic excellence, ensure that all Board Members know the educational promises that were made to the Community, understand the applicable accreditation processes, and to devise clear and consistent measures to monitor these goals.

The Advancement Committee assumes the primary responsibility for Board of Trustees recruitment and nominations, alumni relations and raising non-grant funds to support the School’s Mission. The Board president, Vice-president(s), and Secretary, as well as several board members of the VVSF serve on this committee. Non-Board members can serve as advisory members.

The Head of School Annual Evaluation and Compensation Committee shall be comprised of President, Vice President(s), Secretary, Treasurer of the Board and a Board Member who is a professional educator.

VVS Board of Trustees

List of 13 members.

Abani Heller

Chair of Finance Committee.
Amber Davies-Sloan '99

Secretary. Advancement Committee. Chair of Communications Task Force.
Betsy Smith

Chair of Endowment Task Force. Finance Committee.
Christopher Gebhardt

Chair of Branding and Marketing Task Force. Advancement Committee.
Chris Means '75

Vice President. Chair of Land and Facilities.
Don Groves

Endowment Task Force. Branding and Marketing Task Force. Advancement Committee.
Hassan Majid '86

Branding and Marketing Task Force. Advancement and finance Committees.
Tamara Cook '83

President. Chair of Governance Committee.
Jeneda Benally '92

Chair of Native Nations Task Force.
Melissa Shanahan '83

Communications Task Force. Advancement Committee.
Peter Nelson '73

Chair of SEED Land Task Force. Communications Task Force. Land and Facilities Committee.
Shawn Krause

Chair of Advancement Committee. Governance Committee.
Tom Standring '78

Treasurer. Governance and Finance Committees.