If the Community Action Agency (CAA) runs a Head Start program, the answer is no; the Head Start Act prohibits board members serving as paid staff of the organization. Even for CAAs without Head Start, however, CAPLAW does not recommend making the executive director a voting board member.
From Community to Boardroom: FAQ on Democratic Selection and the Low-Income Sector
Low-income individuals in the community have an important voice in the administration of poverty alleviating programs. The federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act recognizes this and requires each Community Action Agency (CAA) to have a tripartite board of...

