Reading the Pulse

of the Community
Where do I start?
 Get to Know Community
Leaders
O Obvious Leaders (bank presidents,
attorneys doctors)
O Give voice to the majority
O Pocket Leadership
O Sub-groups within the community
O Offer great leadership to people
within the pocket
 What are some
examples of pockets
in your community?
 Civic Organizations
O Provide valuable O AARP
services for
communities. O Kiwanis
O It is wise for school O Lions Club
leaders to inform these
organizations when O VFW
starting a new initiative. O YMCA
O Hold regularly
scheduled meetings
O Girl Scouts
O Provide tremendous O Boy Scouts of
connection to public America
opinion
Neighborhood Schools
O What are neighborhood schools?
O Return schools to the status of
community beacon
O The taxpayer next door must believe
that they are important to the
school.
 First Steps
O Door-to-door visits
O Proactive approach
O School functioning as a neighbor
O Opens communication about positive
and negative
 First Steps (cont.)
O Welcoming Letter (pg. 31)
O New or existing Administrator
O Informs of visit
O Provides an easy out
O Invites to visit school
O Open communication
 First Steps (cont.)
O Neighborhood Gathering
O Communicated in a timely and
accurate fashion (mail and phone call)
O Focused agenda that includes school
and neighbors
O Question-and-answer period
O Refreshments!
 Indirect Parent
Perception
O Information from Teachers
O Open House & Parent Teacher
Conferences
O Notes from parents
O Conversations in the hallway
O Parents chaperoning field trips etc.
O Classroom volunteers
 Indirect Parent
Perception
O Information Shared by Students
O Teacher-Student relationships
O Students reflect attitudes of parents
O Admin-Student relationships
 Indirect Parent
Perception
O Information Shared by Business and
Community Leaders
O Leaders AND Parents
O Trusted channel of communication
O Access to a great deal of public
opinion
 Multiculturalism
O Multiculturalism is NOT:
O Tacos on Cinco de Mayo
O Reading stories from Around the
World
O World Food Day
 Multiculturalism
O Multiculturalism IS:
O Understanding nonverbal behaviors
O Preparing written materials in all
languages that are used in students
homes
O ACKNOWLEDGING and educating
students about holidays and customs
that are part of the local culture