Communication Plans

Building a communication plan can help a school achieve its vision and build a positive culture with stronger community support. In order to develop short and long term goals, administrators need to get to know their community using a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) so that they better understand the community they serve, and how best to communicate effectively. Once that analysis is complete, the administrator needs to identify and work with key stakeholders to create an effective plan. Potential action items could include creating an internal flowchart to help teachers quickly identify who to contact for publicity, concerns, and classroom needs. If a student or classroom shines, those displays of excellence need to be celebrated and shared with the community so that people hear the many successes that take place. If a school has a strong technology program, but the website needs work, the message becomes inconsistent to the public. A good administrator needs to examine all aspects of the school’s image and how they are perceived throughout the community. Other methods include meeting with key community stakeholders such as the police department, mayor, college education departments, libraries, social services, and leadership from any major employer, so that leaders can begin to discuss ways that they can mutually serve one another and capitalize on a collaborative relationship. Meeting with behavioral health services and social services could result in a collaborative effort to better serve students with traumatic backgrounds. Meeting with a leading employer could result in job shadowing, and volunteer services on by students, so they can serve their community and learn more about careers and job opportunities. Employers could be guest speakers at school events to help students learn about adulthood and how to be effective community members. Each of these ideas need to be examined, included in a short and long term plan, and implemented with leadership and strategic assessment so that goals and benchmark activities are met over time.