7. Community Relations
a. Articulate organizational purpose and priorities to community and media
b. Request and respond to community feedback
c. Demonstrate the ability to build community consensus
d. Relate political initiatives to stakeholders - including parental involvement programs
e. Identify and interact with internal and external publics
f. Understand and respond to news media
g. Promote positive image of schools and the school district
h. Monitor and address perceptions about school-community issues
i. Demonstrate the ability to identify and articulate community issues that impact local education
Reflection
An effective school leader must maintain a positive relationship with the community. They could build and maintain that relationship with community members such as families, local businesses, and organizations by inviting them to the school and making them feel welcome and part of supporting the students. They should be able to participate in the school community through delivering services or interacting with youth. With that, the school leader should be promoting a positive image of the school.
When a positive image is promoted and a relationship is maintained, community members will be excited about participating and donating services to the school. During my field experience, I was able to set up a program that is paid for through a community program. This program, the Climb Theatre, is offered to Eagle Ridge Junior High free of charge by a local business. This program offers interactive plays to students about drugs, environmental issues, and relationship skills. We are able to offer this program to individual teachers, departments or to our whole school. We have utilized this program offered to us and it has helped build a partnership between the organization and the school.
I also had the opportunity to organize and facilitate two community forums that were held in the neighborhoods of our students. These forums served as a bridge for our families between the school and community. The goal was to promote a positive image of the school as well as to build parental involvement and collaboration. We held the forums in the community rooms of two major apartment buildings that house our students. Many teachers and administrators were present and available to meet parents and answer questions. Ice cream was served to all families that attended and parents were asked to fill out a survey about how we could best meet the needs of their child. As seen in the attached artifact, the results of the surveys were summarized in a PowerPoint presentation that was given to staff after the forums.
As a future school leader, I look forward to building relationships with community members, organizations and businesses. I feel that it can benefit students and the community. If our community buys into the education and partnership of raising our youth, we are creating the next generation of citizens that will be working and owning our community. I feel that it is an important skill of a school leader to make their community feel welcome in their school and I look forward to being able to create many meaningful partnerships.