Part of the Oklahoma School Finance for Boards Series
Module I serves as the essential foundation for understanding Oklahoma’s education finance system. This experience introduces school board members to the core values that animate school funding, the allocation of governing authority across state, local, and community partners, and the three-part revenue architecture of state, local, and federal streams that support public education throughout Oklahoma. Beyond Budgets OEFS focuses on governance, stewardship, accountability, and oversight rather than day-to-day financial administration. Participants examine how values, authority structures, and revenue systems function and how effective boards use this understanding to strengthen stewardship of public resources. Designed for School Board Members Created specifically for busy local school board members, this experience emphasizes reflection, governance application, and practical oversight considerations that can strengthen board service immediately. Guided by the OCEA Framework Every OEFS module is grounded in the principles of: • Opportunity • Community • Equity • Accountability These dimensions provide a consistent framework for examining financial issues, strengthening stewardship, and promoting informed governance. A Connected Governance Journey Participants may complete Module I as a standalone experience or continue through the larger Oklahoma Education Finance Suite exploring a variety of school finance topics (including strategic budgeting, fiscal accountability, operational finance, and emerging finance trends).
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Jeffrey Maiden is a professor and former educational leader with a passion for helping leaders navigate the complexity of digital learning. Drawing on experience in leadership, research, and professional learning, he created the Oklahoma Education Finance Series to help busy board members better understand systems, strengthen coherence, and take purposeful governance action. His work is guided by the OCEA (Opportunity, Community, Equity, and Accountability) Framework and a commitment to practical, meaningful leadership development.
A Welcome Message for Your Digital Leadership Journey!
In this brief introductory video, Dr. Jeffrey Maiden welcomes participants and introduces the importance of understanding values, authority, and revenue systems in supporting Oklahoma’s public schools.
Perspectives about Academy Experiences from Educational Leaders
Leadership Perspective: "The experience challenged me to think beyond a district management paradigm toward a stewardship approach that frames leadership through relationships, instructional purpose, organizational culture, and professional judgment."
Practical Relevance: "As I transitioned into a district leadership role, I found myself returning to the ideas presented in each video as they closely mirrored the decisions I was making in practice."
Expert Perspective: The experience is a must for all leaders who seek to deepen their knowledge of evidence-informed decision-making. The experience is deeply aligned and supports educator excellence.
Reflection and Professional Growth: "Rather than offering a prescriptive model of leadership, the series encouraged thoughtful reflection."
Overall Experience: "Most importantly, the series strengthened my understanding that strategic leadership is ultimately an act of stewardship..."
Understand the Core Values Shaping Oklahoma School Finance
Develop a stronger understanding of Opportunity, Community, Equity, and Accountability as working principles that guide local decision making.
Clarify Who Decides and Who Is Responsible
Examine how governance is distributed across the Legislature, State Board and Department of Education, local boards, superintendents, principals, county officials, and voters.
Ask Better Governance Questions
Learn how informed boards use exercise their authority to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust.
About the learning experience
Public education finance is one of the most important responsibilities entrusted to local boards of education. Effective governance requires board members to understand the values that animate funding decisions, who holds authority and carries responsibility, and how state, local, and federal revenues form the financial foundation of every district. This Governance Application Experience helps school board members develop a practical understanding of Oklahoma's school finance system while strengthening their capacity for informed oversight and stewardship. Through concise video segments, guided reflection, governance application activities, and professional dialogue, participants move beyond understanding finance concepts toward applying a governance lens to real issues facing local school districts. As participants progress through the experience, they complete a series of structured reflections and governance applications that are compiled into a downloadable Governance Reflection Journal. The journal serves as an ongoing professional resource, capturing insights, questions, and governance considerations that can inform future board service. Participants Conclude the Experience With: • A deeper understanding of Oklahoma’s education values and their connection to finance • Greater familiarity with state aid, local revenues, and financial operations • An OCEA-based governance analysis of a local financial issue • A Governance Consideration Plan for board reflection • A downloadable Professional Development Certificate of Completion • A downloadable Governance Reflection Journal
How the Experience Works
Participants move from financial understanding to informed governance through a structured process of reflection, analysis, application, and stewardship. Video → Reflect → Apply → Integrate → Governance Application → Dialogue
Govern with Oklahoma Values
$70.00