PROJECT LEAD INTRODUCING LEAD FOR GREAT SCHOOLS LEAD FOR A GREAT NATION

“You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be. ” ~Wayne W “You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be.” ~Wayne W. Dyer   “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself.” ~Harvey Fierstein “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” ~Norman Vincent Peale

A NATIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN A UNITED EFFORT TO GET THE GOOD WORD OUT ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME “The key to reversing negative stereotypes is to contradict them, in direct interactions between people, in the media, and through education." ~Heidi Burgess

PROJECT LEAD IS NOT A political campaign Intended to favor or oppose candidates for political office or to promote or oppose political positions

THE GOAL Lead the way to organized, rational, well-founded, sustainable and effective long-range policy development

Shift superintendents from reactive to proactive THE OBJECTIVES Strengthen public confidence in our nation’s schools Shift superintendents from reactive to proactive

THE OBJECTIVES (CONTINUED) Promote superintendents as key leaders in American education Establish pivotal roles for superintendents in state and national decision-making

STRATEGY Respond to criticisms with facts; portray confidence in who we are; be amenable and accessible; emphasize policy over funding; and stay both persistent and resolved.

Regularly publicize their districts’ achievements THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENTS Broadly disseminate the realities of U.S. education Regularly publicize their districts’ achievements

Emphasize the need to distinguish rhetoric from reality THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENTS (Continued) Encourage stakeholders to resist group-think and question conclusions Emphasize the need to distinguish rhetoric from reality

understanding of the job of district superintendent THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENTS (Continued) Develop a public understanding of the job of district superintendent Actively support efforts to involve superintendents in state and national policy decisions

Generate participation THE ROLE OF NASS Provide tools and resources for superintendents Generate participation Publicize, support, and coordinate efforts

Samples of convenient tools available now TIPS: STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNICATING WITH LEGISLATORS FACTS: NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN U.S. SCHOOLS A POWERPOINT: AMERICA’S EXPECTATIONS OF ITS SCHOOLS A DISTRICT PLAN: HOW TO ENGAGE DISTRICT STAKEHOLDERS MUCH MORE!

GENERATE AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT ~ NEXT STEPS GENERATE AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT IDENTIFY SUPPORTERS AND ESTABLISH NETWORK(S) RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE SUCCESSES BUILD ON ACHIEVEMENTS TO REACH OUR GOAL

ADVICE FOR GAINING MOMENTUM STRATEGIES ADDITIONS TO OUR RESOURCES ~ YOUR INPUT ADVICE FOR GAINING MOMENTUM STRATEGIES ADDITIONS TO OUR RESOURCES SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS

LET’S DO IT FOR KIDS Superintendent A. Katrise Perera and student Isle of Wight County Schools Smithfield, Virginia

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE PLEASE JOIN US TODAY! GO TO www.nass.us/