Resources
Tangible triumphs: Increase support for schools by changing your message
October 04, 2009
Increase Support For Schools? Change Your Message (977k 
) - Oregonians aren't getting enough of the right information about their local schools to create a very big fan club for education. This Focus on Critical Issues provides examples of "blue-ribbon" triumphs in our schools and gives you new tools to help you change the public's opinion.
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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 Triumphs: Best Practices from 12 school districts OSBA's Focus on Critical Issues featured four districts involving adults in educating their students - and how students are active in communities; read more details about these programs, plus others we didn't have room to share:
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Gladstone School District offers parenting series |
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Corvallis points to pathways |
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Pioneer School in Lebanon brings in foster grandparents |
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North Marion offers on-campus opportunity |
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Beaverton's William Walker Elementary puts reading first |
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Cottage Grove opens doors to non-traditional work |
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Sisters Elementary meets unique needs |
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Talent students committed to service |
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Crescent Valley Math Lab in Corvallis provides individual support |
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Portland's George Middle unites neighborhood |
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Eugene Program supports middle school readers |
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Silverton programs promote after-school learning |
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:
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); funded by the National Institute for Literacy.
Related articles
Census primer for school boards
Community engagement resources
Schools at the heart of communities