What are the responsibilities and job description for the Board Member position at Renaissance Montessori Academy?
About Renaissance Montessori Academy
Renaissance Montessori Academy (RMA) was founded by a group of dedicated families and community members in 1995. Many of those members stayed on for over 15 years to help establish RMA into what it is today. This included fundraising to secure our current property, building our beautiful building, and updating the multipurpose room.
RMA is a nonprofit early education center and elementary school that uses Montessori principles. RMA strives to instill a love of learning and achievement and to provide its students with the skills and thought processes they will need to learn and achieve throughout their lives. RMA’s goals include meeting each student’s academic needs and encouraging and equipping each student to develop, improve and maximize his or her personal and interpersonal skills and capabilities, emphasizing individualized learning and enrichment, and employing a wide array of successful educational strategies.
Mission: The Renaissance Montessori Academy is a Montessori School that awakens the spirit of the child and kindles a lifelong curiosity and love of learning.
Vision: To be a community of learners that shape the future by cultivating compassion, empathy, initiative, self-confidence, perseverance, and curiosity in a model Montessori school.
Core Values: Joy, Harmonious, Snug, Engaged, Purposeful
About the RMA Board
The RMA Board is composed of at least five (5) and no more than eight (8) members. Meetings occur monthly during the school year, at least nine (9) meetings per year. Remaining legal requirements of the Board of Directors are listed in the bylaws.
RMA Board Members are the fiduciaries who serve the RMA Mission, Vision, and Core Values as well as maintain the school’s fiscal health. Board Members serve as ambassadors for RMA’s mission inside and outside of organizational commitments.
Primary Responsibilities and Expectations of All Board Members
- Agree to a three year term with the possibility for renewal of subsequent terms.
- Prepare for and attend Board meetings regularly.
- As needed, serve on at least one standing committee and attend its meetings regularly.
- As needed, serve on ad hoc committees as necessary.
- Support and participate in fundraising activities.
- Be a goodwill ambassador for the organization.
- Participate actively in Board decision making.
- Assume leadership positions willingly.
- Be a “team player” and work well with the board and management of RMA.
- Oversee and evaluate the Executive Director.
- Be aware of and take all responsibilities seriously.
- Participate in annual self-evaluation of personal board service.
- Be knowledgeable about RMA’s mission, vision, programs, and events.
- Stay informed about Board matters, prepare for meetings, and review and comment on issues of importance.
- Participate in creation of strategic plan and conduct annual review of the strategic plan.
- Respond to requests for feedback or decisions between meetings in a timely manner.
- Understand financial statements or commit to learning about nonprofit financial oversight.
Time Commitment
The Board of Directors generally meets the Wednesday of the last full week of the month at 12pm. Meetings are virtual except for one in person meeting in the fall and spring semesters which are at 6pm at RMA. A commitment of 10-12 hours per month should be expected to fulfill the current requirements of a Board Member.
Preferred Qualifications for Service
- Interest in and willingness to support RMA’s mission
- .Integrity
- Leadership
- Sound Decision Making Skills
- Analytical ability
- Strategic planning skills
- Commitment to open and honest communication
- Ability to use email, video conferencing and other technologies such as cloud based services.
