Message to Families and Community Members
Weekly Newsletter to Staff and Board Members
A weekly newsletter to all district staff and board of education members highlighting things going on in different schools and departments would be a communication format I would use. In the newsletter, birthdays, personal observations of jobs well done, and important dates (testing schedules, sports/club schedules, programs, community events, etc.) could be highlighted. I believe consistent communication and transparency breed trust and help make a school community feel part of the organization's mission and vision. I will work collaboratively with our schools to continue to develop and enhance communication with district families.
Monthly Shout-outs and Awards for Staff Members Identified as Employees of the Month
I will take time each month to recognize district staff who are going above and beyond to make a difference for students in the district. This could be a bus driver who consistently takes the time to make a special connection with the students on their bus or a member of the housekeeping staff who always takes the utmost care and concern when keeping a building clean. It could be an instructional assistant, teacher, or administrator known for showing love and concern for the students in their care. Whatever the case, good work, and positive actions deserve to be celebrated. It is important to me that staff feel seen and appreciated for their work.
Regularly Scheduled Meetings or Connections with Parents and Community Members
I plan to engage in regular meetings with parents and community members to highlight the great things going on in the school district. Whether it be a monthly breakfast or lunch, an invitation to come to see a student performance, or a certain class being taught, intentionality goes a long way in building a sense of connection. Connections that can lead to longstanding positive relationships. For families known as harder to reach, I would want to work with school administrators to make plans to do home visits. These visits would not be truancy-related but rather an opportunity to improve the school-to-home connection for those families who normally do not have positive interactions with the school system.
Social Media Communications
I plan to work with schools to use social media channels to illustrate and tell a story to families and the community about the great things happening in the district. I want parents to know about the hard work being done on behalf of their children every day and be proud of that work. I also want teachers to know that the district and their schools are excited about what they are doing and feel that it deserves to be shared with others. I want to make sure that we highlight the things that students are doing and recognize them for their hard work by sharing that publicly with their community.