After listening closely to recent school board meetings, one trend has become impossible to ignore. When principals present their goals — along with the thoughtful, concrete steps they’re taking to meet them — some board members seem more interested in interrogating the goals themselves or zeroing in on state test scores. The tone often shifts from inquiry to scrutiny, leaving principals in the position of defending their staff rather than celebrating progress or discussing needs.

Accountability matters. Goals should be clear, measurable, and tied to student success. But accountability without collaboration is shortsighted. If we want our schools to excel, the most productive question a board member can ask isn’t “Why did you choose this goal?” but rather, “What do you need from us to ach

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