1. Breaking Into Public Schools: School Leader Insights on How to Develop Productive Partnerships
Dr. Sean Bulson, Superintendent, Wilson County Schools, NC
Eric Davis, Chief Operations Officer, Wilson County Schools, NC
March 30, 2016

2. Tweet your comments and questions
As We Go…
Tweet your comments and questions
#EngageChat
(and #rb21)
ERIC
Twitter Chat Questions:
Send a link to the slide deck to Twitter followers in advance of the session, so they can see the flow.
Intro: Introduce yourself to the group and describe your role in working with or in schools
(It’s not personal) What barriers make it difficult for school personnel to accept help from outside?
(Relationships Reign) How can outside service providers connect with a school to develop a relationship on the school’s terms?
(Find the Right Ally) Who in your school serves as a liaison for student service providers from your community?
(Understand the Needs) How can an outside service provider learn about the unique needs of your school?
(Align Your Mission) What parts of your schools school improvement plan or your district’s strategic plan overlap with the work of other agencies?

3. Activator: That’s Me (part 1)
I am passionate about youth issues
I have children in school
I have a pet
This is my first time in Baltimore
This is my first RB21 National Meeting
I intend to vote in the primary and general election
ERIC
We like to add a little exercise into our presentations. If the question we ask represents you, please stand up.

4. Activator: That’s Me (part 2)
I work in municipal government
I work in state or federal government
I work for a non-profit
I am a student
I work in public education
I work for a foundation
SEAN
We like to add a little exercise into our presentations. If the question we ask represents you, please stand up.

5. About Us: Sean Bulson Superintendent, Wilson County Schools
Co-Author of Wilson County’s Youth Master Plan
Former High School Principal
Former ESOL Teacher
SEAN

6. About Us: Eric Davis Chief Operations Officer, Wilson County Schools
Former Director, Office of Family and Community Partnerships
Former Middle School Principal
Former Elementary School Principal
ERIC

7. Rule 1: It’s Not Personal…
…It’s the workload
Principals are key
Accepting help is hard
Instructional Time Reigns
Curriculum is political (…and offers are abundant!)
SEAN

8. WCS Example: Community Liaisons
CIS Intervention Specialists
Partnership Managers seek and engage with community partners in all schools
SEAN

9. WCS Example: Parent’s Day
Organized with CIS
Parents learn about community supports at their children’s school
SEAN

10. Rule 2: Relationships Reign
Show up at schools on their terms
PTO/PTA meetings
Parent/community information nights
Do they ask for help? Tutors? Mentors? Volunteers?
Follow social media
ERIC
Get involved in schools when they open the doors for other reasons. When you show up on their terms, you begin to develop a reputation as a partner rather than a salesperson.

11. WCS Example: Customer Service Taskforce
Business leaders share best practices and strategies for enhancing the school district’s internal and external customer service efforts
Grati-tours - Travel from school to school just to say, “Thank you!”
ERIC
Add link to video to highlight number of views – we start with relationships by focusing on customer service
Link to Customer service website so people can access all clips

12. WCS Example: Gentlemen’s Agreement
Working to re- engage at-risk youth
Many cultural and educational experiences
Mentoring opportunities
ERIC
Programs like this one that exist primarily outside the curriculum are a little easier to engage with. In our program, we seek opportunities to deliver educational programs to students on a variety of topics from a variety of local partners

13. Rule 3: Find the Right Ally
Principals are key, but not always the starting point
Teachers make great advocates
Many teachers serve as club sponsors
Parents make great advocates – PTA/PTO
The best solutions start closest to the students
SEAN
Focus on clubs here – school websites list clubs and the sponsors may be easy to engage

14. School System Chain of Command
Teacher
Counselor
Assistant Principal
Principal
Assistant Superintendent
Superintendent
SEAN
Coaches and club sponsors also

15. WCS Example: Navigating the System
Covering the basics about the school system for those who are not already immersed
SEAN
Look for the calls to volunteer…start the relationship

16. WCS Example: Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
Open call for volunteers to read to our students
SEAN
Look for the calls to volunteer…start the relationship

17. Rule 4: Understand the Needs
What keeps the school leaders up at night?
How do they measure themselves?
What would help teachers do their jobs better?
What are the constraints on their calendars, and where are the windows of opportunity?
SEAN
Posted announcements and newsletters tell you a great deal about what school leaders value.
Timing is everything in schools…but hard to predict the openings.

18. District Strategic Plan State Board of Education Strategic Plan
What Guides Their Work?
Youth Master Plan
District Strategic Plan
State Board of Education Strategic Plan
SEAN

19. WCS Example: Job Shadowing
Job shadowing day with Wilson Education Partnership
One morning with students from a variety of worksites
SEAN

20. WCS Example: Parent Academy
Parent Academy partners
Federal programs designed to empower parents…outside experts help with presentations
SEAN

21. Rule 5: Align Your Mission
What part of your work overlaps with the stated goals of the school or district?
ERIC

22. WCS Example: Active Assailant Video
ERIC
Highlight the number of partners…I like to count the uniforms, but they are also listed at the end.
YouTube link:

23. More About Wilson County Schools
@SeanBulson
@DavisWelcome
#EngageChat
ERIC

24. Stay Connected
Presentation materials will be posted online via the Sched app
Tweet about your session! #Rb21
Find Ready by 21 resources and opportunities at readyby21.org