1. New Board Boot Camp November 17, 2011
Community Engagement
New Board Boot Camp
November 17, 2011
What do we want the board members to walk away with?
1. The knowledge that you are an advocate of public education – your personal role in community engagement
2. You need to know your community in order to engage with the community-who is your community, how do you know who is in your community, What are the service groups, what are the faith based groups, how do we reach all constituents.
3. Community engagement is never enough – how do we reach constituents without children,
4. Methods, Tools and Techniques
Three big points:
Know your community
How to engage your community – think out of the box
What is your role – you are an advocate/tool to engage the community
Chris Nation | Board of Directors | Marysville School District #25
Lori Oviatt | Board of Directors | Riverview School District #407

2. Who Are We? Chris Nation Marysville School District 11,000 Students
Mission: Every student...100%
Proficient in literacy and math.
Graduating on time.
Prepared for success in college, career, and responsible citizenship.
Board Member since 2008, Legislative Representative
Lori Oviatt
Riverview School District Carnation and Duvall
3,200 Students
Mission: Educate Children
Board Member since 2006, currently serving as Board Chair
Start with our elevator speech – then introduce ourselves

3. Marysville
Riverview

4. Agenda
By the end of this presentation you will:
Gain knowledge and understanding around Standard 5 – Community Engagement
Delve into the depths of who makes up your community
Learn how to engage with your community
View what your role as a school director is in your community
Write your 30 second elevator speech
11/20/2018

5. Standard 5: Engage local community and represent the values and expectations they hold for their schools by:
Collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.
Ensuring school board and district transparency through a process that is open and accountable.
Ensuring district information and decisions are communicated community-wide.
Soliciting input from staff and a wide spectrum of the community so that a diverse range of interests and perspectives on issues is considered.
Standard 5
Benchmarks a-d – we are focusing on a. and c.
In order to engage in your local community – you need to understand who your community is. Activity

6. Who is Your Community? Draw a picture of your community
Community engagement Activity
Draw a picture of your community
Think of all the different types of groups that make up your community
Represent the community in a picture
Intro – 5 min
Exercise introduction 2m
Draw pictures 3-5m
Exercise debrief 5-8
Purpose is to think about all the different groups that make up your community,
Who do you have on your map/picture
Who did you miss
Who isn’t represented?
Shouldn’t all aspects of the community be involved in the school
Throw pictures of different groups on the slide –
Write up own list of community groups – what groups may they have missed – nonprofit profits, sports teams, bus drivers, staff, teachers
11/20/2018

7. What is Community Engagement?
You must know your community in order to actively engage them.
A single meeting or series of meetings does not constitute community engagement
Community engagement is an ongoing process of two-way communication between a school district and the community it serves. It is an ongoing, collaborative process during which the school district works with the public to build understanding, gain guidance and actively involve the community in the education of the children.

8. How Can You Keep Community Groups Engaged?
Create a list of the all the different methods that you can think of to communicate/engage with each of the groups you drew:
Think about how you hear school district news.
How does your school communicate out district information?
How does your community hear about district news/information?
Think about how you would like to see communication or engagement from your school.
Think about all the different ways your school interfaces with your community.
The goal of this exercise is to show the importance that school boards should view community engagement as a strategic, proactive opportunity to strengthen your districts which can improve student achievement.
How to engage your community – think outside the box
Would you communicate the same way with all these groups?
How would you engage with the different types of groups
What tools and communications avenues are you using?

9. 10 ways to Engage your Community
Use Media Resources – News, Radio, Public TV
Committees, Key Communicators, Governing Bodies
Print Media: newsletters, flyers, surveys
Social Media: blasts, twitter, Facebook, skyward
Service Organizations: Rotary, Kiwanis, Lion’s
Business Partnerships
Foundations: boosters, education foundations
Fun Fairs, PTSA Events
Volunteer Opportunities: Pen Pals, Reading Buddies, Tutors
Listening

10. What is your role as a director to engage with the community
YOU are an elected official
YOU are the voice for your community
YOU are an advocate for public education
YOUR ROLE is to build relationships with elected officials, legislators, (local, state, federal)
YOUR ROLE is to build partnerships with community leaders and service organizations

11. Your Elevator Speech
A Tool for community engagement
A way to describe and sell an idea in 30 seconds or less – 90 words or less
You need to be able to say, who you are, what you do, what you are interested in doing and how you can be a resource to your listeners.
Your elevator speech can be used:
When you meet new community members
When you campaign for re-election
To remind you why you are a school board director
My passion for education began in second grade when my teacher Miss. Virden welcomed me into a new school and made me feel important as a new student
11/20/2018

12. A Three Step Process
Consider these three steps in writing your elevator speech
A hook – a story, statement or question to pique the audience interest
Your position –
Why are you a school director?
What do you want to accomplish?
What are your responsibilities?
Book end –
What do you want to leave them with?
What do you want them to do?

13. What’s Your Story? Activity – Tell your story in 90 words or less.
Create your elevator speech walk through the steps
A hook – a story, statement or question to pique the audience interest
Your position –
Why are you a school director?
What do you want to accomplish?
What are your responsibilities?
Book end –
What do you want to leave them with?
What do you want them to do?
Timing – 20 min
Goal of the elevator speech…the role of the board director is to be an advocate for your school district and public education overall and in order to do that what are you telling your community members? This tool will help you to formulate how to make sure your goals for your district are communicated in a way that you want.
Provide them with The Framework of the Elevator Speech
Work in pairs and practice
At the table everyone share
Elect someone to give their speech

14. Lori’s Elevator Speech
My passion for education began in second grade when my teacher Miss. Virden welcomed me into a new school and made me feel important as a new student. Her smile and genuine interest in me hooked me on education. As a school director, I have the opportunity to show my passion for education in the daily decisions I make as part of a board of directors. I hope that these decisions enable others to share my passion for public education as well as participate along side me in this journey.
11/20/2018

15. Chris’ Elevator Speech
My passion for education and the benefit one can have on a child’s life began many years ago while I was the Chairman of our local Rotary Education Foundation. While awarding students an opportunity to further their education, I witnessed the huge impact that a small financial scholarship played in helping to change the life of a young adult, this brought a warm feeling of purpose and accomplishment.
I took this opportunity to expand my role as a parent and a community leader to become an advocate for public education. In my heart, I believe that no matter what the obstacle, every child has the right to a well rounded and complete education. Any child, with the right resources can and will become a successful, productive and responsible individual.
11/20/2018

16. Questions, Thoughts, Comments

17. Thank You!