Delta-Schoolcraft Parent Coalition Sounding Board Process

The Sounding Board Process Laying a foundation for success I. We live in a world where we can’t see or know all of the details II. We must learn to examine our assumptions III. Getting the most out of our meetings (Ground rules) 1. There is no one way to do things 2. Unique opportunity for providing input to key decision –makers in our community 3. Start off by believing the best of every parent and person who works with our children

As a Parent Liaison what am I Modeling? 1. Am I saying or doing things that set up an adversarial relationship between parents and service providers? 2. Do I believe the best of my parents and of those that serve my family? 3. What are my hot buttons? 4. Do I go out of my way to affirm my team in all they do? 5. Do I shut people down when they are expressing ideas, jump in with my thoughts? Do I do active listening and reflecting back? Do I know what these are? 6. Is it ok that I don’t have all of the answers? 7. Do I have an attitude of humility and am I a team player?

8. Am I able to let someone express what he/she is feeling without tearing someone else down? 9. Am I able to draw out from people their real thoughts and feelings on different topics? 10. If I asked the Collaborative representatives to describe me, the Parent group and what we do, what would they say? Would I feel comfortable asking someone? 11. How comfortable are you receiving criticism – constructive or otherwise? Do I blow up and get defensive or am I able to keep your cool and ask questions to clarify the person’s thoughts and opinions?

What does all of this have to do with the purpose of the Parent Coalition? The Sounding Board Process fulfills one of the four purposes of the Parent Coalition: To serve as a referent and constituency group for parents on the Great Start Collaborative, giving them a means to better understand the desires and needs of parents in the community (customer perspective)

The questions that our group worked through… 1. How do you hear parent concerns and not let it dominate the entire meeting? 2. How do we decide which concerns to take to the collaborative? 3. How do we keep this from turning into a complaint session? 4. How do we help every parent feel like they are heard?

Communicating the process to the Collaborative and getting their support 1. Present it as a work in progress 2. Distribute information and forms Communicating the process to the Parent Coalition 1. Distribute Flowchart 2. Discuss forms and provide scenarios The Sounding Board Process

Communicate the process to the community 1. On-line survey 2. Distribute process information The Sounding Board Process

Systems Thinking value lies in the way that it enables one to design smart, enduring solutions to problems. Systems thinking gives you a more accurate picture of reality, so that you can work with a system’s natural forces in order to achieve the results you desire. Systems change in response to feedback. Systems maintain their stability by making adjustments based on feedback. Systems Thinking

Q’s and A’s