Tangible triumphs: Increase support for schools by changing your message

This is an image of Communication Cornucopia Game

Have fun with fruit while learning good PR ideas (and mistakes) in this Board Game (1955k

) based on true tales in Oregon schools! Spend a few minutes with your board or school community discovering some of ups and downs of community relations - and take the final lemon test.

Tangible Triumph

For board members and superintendents

Board/Superintendent Kit (266k ) - Sample "good news" letters to your community using the key messages, guidelines to share success during board meetings, sample speeches, newsletter stories, email updates and news releases.

PR Inventory for Boards/Superintendents (143k ) - Handy one-page checklist to review current communications programs from a district perspective. Guides efforts toward informing parents, staff and community about what students are learning, how parents and other adults are involved and how students help the community.

For principals

Principal Kit (231k ) - Sample parent newsletter stories, 30-second "elevator" speeches for principals, teachers and secretaries; good employee recognition programs.

Pr Inventory for Principals (119k ) - Handy one-page checklist to review your current communications efforts and develop a plan to help you inform parents, staff and community about what students are learning, how parents and other adults are involved and how students help the community.

For everyone

Schools Cannot Do it Alone (126k )
E3: Key Research Findings (191k )

Other resources from OSBA

Start a Key Communicator Network - Personal, face-to-face contact is the most effective communication method when building support for your schools.

Community Engagement Tools

Tools from OSBA's PR in Action communication service:

Learn "Low-fat writing" to reach your audience (64k )
Giving a speech to promote your schools (344k )
Sample graduation speech (70k )
Keep it in your pocket: Create a short speech about your schools (75k )
Useful tools for quick communication (362k )
Using Voice Mail (60k )
A web content primer (290k )

State and national resources

E3: Employers for Education Excellence - A statewide non-profit organization working with employers and schools to boost student achievement. E3 promotes high academic standards and strong community involvement to prepare all Oregon students for success in post-secondary education and employment. Practical Guide to Promoting Public Schools from the Learning First Alliance

Put Reading First (K-grade 3). This recommended volunteer program gets parents involved in elementary school. It's from the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA).