This is probably the question that occupies school leaders most as they strive to build resilient schools. In a time when public education is under more scrutiny than perhaps ever before, we believe that the answer to this question is challenging but simple. What schools need most is trust.
In this issue, we’ll explore two areas of school life where trust matters most—school board relations and school bond campaigns. Although these two issues may seem different at first glance, trust is the critical element for resounding success on both fronts.
The reality is that if your community doesn’t trust your schools, they won’t vote to support your district monetarily. Similarly, if your board doesn’t trust your leadership and vision for the district, they probably won’t give you the support you need to make that vision a reality. In each instance, cultivating trust is essential.
Here, we’ll delve into many stories that will give you clarity and hope as you generate trust with your school board and broader community. We’ll highlight leaders such as Dr. Quintin Shepherd, who turned the compassion he experienced as a student into a leadership philosophy that works for the success of all children. We’ll also share a perspective from current NSPRA President Cathy Kedjidjian on how enfolding communications within her district’s broader strategic plan laid the foundation for years of success for her district.
To aid you as you cultivate the broader community support you need to pass a referendum, we’ll also detail stories of school bonds from around the country—both successful and otherwise. We hope this will help you better understand what’s necessary to pass a bond against any odds. To help you communicate with your stakeholders more effectively, we’ll revisit the unifying power of storytelling. We’ll also give you tools to help build relationships with your school board that will translate into solid gains for your district’s students and families.
The trust you build now, both with your community and your board, is evergreen. While it will help you pass bonds and work effectively in the short term, it will also lay the foundation for all your future work. Election Day is always the start of something new. With these strategies in hand, you can make it something great.
This is probably the question that occupies school leaders most as they strive to build resilient schools. In a time when public education is under more scrutiny than perhaps ever before, we believe that the answer to this question is challenging but simple. What schools need most is trust.
In this issue, we’ll explore two areas of school life where trust matters most—school board relations and school bond campaigns. Although these two issues may seem different at first glance, trust is the critical element for resounding success on both fronts.
The reality is that if your community doesn’t trust your schools, they won’t vote to support your district monetarily. Similarly, if your board doesn’t trust your leadership and vision for the district, they probably won’t give you the support you need to make that vision a reality. In each instance, cultivating trust is essential.
Here, we’ll delve into many stories that will give you clarity and hope as you generate trust with your school board and broader community. We’ll highlight leaders such as Dr. Quintin Shepherd, who turned the compassion he experienced as a student into a leadership philosophy that works for the success of all children. We’ll also share a perspective from current NSPRA President Cathy Kedjidjian on how enfolding communications within her district’s broader strategic plan laid the foundation for years of success for her district.
To aid you as you cultivate the broader community support you need to pass a referendum, we’ll also detail stories of school bonds from around the country—both successful and otherwise. We hope this will help you better understand what’s necessary to pass a bond against any odds. To help you communicate with your stakeholders more effectively, we’ll revisit the unifying power of storytelling. We’ll also give you tools to help build relationships with your school board that will translate into solid gains for your district’s students and families.
The trust you build now, both with your community and your board, is evergreen. While it will help you pass bonds and work effectively in the short term, it will also lay the foundation for all your future work. Election Day is always the start of something new. With these strategies in hand, you can make it something great.