First year community relations project, Assignments of Advanced Education

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School-Community Relations: A

First-Year Leadership Action Plan

Melissa Killion

EDLP 6060: Principalship

Dr. Lamberti

School-Community Relations: A First-Year Leadership

Action Plan

Presented to the Board of Education, Superintendent, and Community

❖ This plan outlines key communication strategies for my first year as a school leader.

❖ It addresses four main leadership objectives, aligned with NELP and PSEL standards.

❖ It emphasizes transparent, inclusive, and effective communication with staff, families, and the wider

community.

❖ Core Principle: Embracing and proactively utilizing social media and digital platforms are essential for

modern school-community relations, rather than resisting their influence. Language and communication

are continually evolving, with youth demonstrating advanced digital literacy skills that schools should

leverage to address long-standing educational challenges.

Objective 1 – Cultivating Staff-Family Partnerships

--- What does it look like

Quarterly Family Engagement Forums and Open Houses:

F our themed, well-advertised events spread throughout the year: Each event is offered at multiple times (e.g., 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) and streamed live or recorded for families who can’t attend in person

● September: “Welcome Back and Curriculum Night ● December: “Winter Showcase and Family Feedback Night” ● March: “Data and Progress Roundtable” ● May: “Celebration of Learning & Planning Ahead”

***** Staff and student leaders personally call or email families, especially those less engaged, to encourage attendance*****

Family Advisory Council:

This council is made up of diverse parent representatives from different programs, grades, and backgrounds — including general education, special education, bilingual families, and extracurricular groups.

Meetings are held every two months. They serve as a platform for:

● Reviewing upcoming school initiatives ● Giving feedback on policies, school climate, and events ● Helping plan family nights or cultural celebrations

Each meeting is facilitated by an admin team member and includes an open Q&A or “listening session” to surface community needs.

Objective 1 – Cultivating Staff-Family Partnerships

--- What does it look like (continued)

● Teacher-Family Logs :

○ Simple, consistent check-ins every other month by teachers to highlight positive behavior,

achievements, or concerns using a digital or paper log format.

● Recognition Events :

○ Morning or evening family appreciation breakfasts or awards nights that highlight parental support

(like helping with homework or chaperoning trips).

● Technology Use : Teachers encouraged to send weekly updates through SchoolCNXT or Remind;

messages can be translated for families who speak other languages. Personal thank-you notes from

teachers or principals go a long way in building family trust and appreciation. Build strong parent-school

connections for student success

Objective 2 — Utilizing Community Resources

Goal: Leverage community assets to support schools

Key Actions

● Host Community Resource Fair during Back-to-School Night : Local organizations (e.g., libraries, health clinics, job centers) will be invited to set up booths and share services with families during a high-attendance event, turning the school into a community hub.

● Spotlight student achievements via public events : Art shows, athletic tournaments, and performances will be widely advertised and open to all community members. Events will celebrate student excellence while fostering school pride.

● Engage older adults and childless families through volunteer opportunities : Create intergenerational reading programs, invite retirees to judge science fairs or support lunchtime tutoring, and send newsletters to neighborhood associations to keep these groups informed and involved.

Objective 3: Strategic Communication Planning

Goal: Multi-modal, targeted outreach and messaging

Key Actions:

○ Create Monthly Parent E-Newsletters (with visual tiers: headlines, stories, deep dives)

○ Maintain updated, mobile-friendly school website

○ Assign social media team with clear posting roles

○ Twitter for urgent updates; Facebook for community stories

○ Proactively share positive news; avoid outdated content

○ Translate all materials and use bilingual liaisons

○ Conduct quarterly audits via surveys and focus groups

Summary and Next Steps

Year 1 Focus : Building trust, visibility, and lasting relationships with all

stakeholders.

• Communication Approach : Strategic, inclusive, and mission-driven, embracing modern

digital tools while valuing traditional methods.

• Guiding Principle : Collaboration with families, staff, and the broader community will be

at the heart of all our actions.

• Goal : To make our school a "school of choice" in the community, not by coercion, but by

consistently demonstrating our commitment to student success and community

partnership