EDL 606 School and Community Relations

Brother Tom Oldenski, Ph.D.

University of Dayton
Assumption University

Email: tom.oldenski@notes.udayton.edu
Mobile: 0892217324

Course Description: Educational relevance of involving the greater community

(parents, neighborhoods, businesses, etc.) to enhance and support student achievement;
organizational relationships between schools within and outside schools; power,
multicultural awareness; major opinion leaders; vision and mission articulation;
interpersonal skills. Students construct a data-based school-community relations plan.

This course will aim at you acquiring an understanding of:

• The importance and necessity for community relations
• What works in schools
• Being an effective educational leader with community relations
• Public Relations in the community: internal and external
• School Culture and School Climate
• Achieving school public relations success
• Vision and Mission
• Creating and Delivering public relations messages
• Developing a school – community relations plan
• How can you make a difference

Course Materials:
Moore, Edward H. (2009). School Public Relations for Student Success. Corwin Press.
Articles & Hand-outs

Course Schedule (Subject to change due to humanity)

Saturday – 13 February – 9 am – 6 pm
Morning: Introduction
The importance and necessity for community relations
Reading: “My Pedagogical Creed” – John Dewey

What works in schools

Readings: “School Level Factors”
“A Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum”
“Challenging Goals and Effective Feedback”
“Parent and Community Involvement”
“Safe and Orderly Environment”
“Collegiality and Professionalism”
From What Works in Schools - Marzano

Being an effective educational leader with community relations

Reading: “Communication and Community Relations: Working with
Internal and External Constituencies” – Stronge, et al.
Afternoon: Public Relations in the community: internal and external
Readings: School Public Relations for Student Success
Chapter 1- The High Stakes of School Public Relations: Student Success
Chapter 2 – Understanding how PR serves your students and schools
Chapter 3 – Defining your school PR needs
Chapter 4 – Organizing your school PR efforts
Chapter 5 – Getting useful school PR research
Chapter 6 – Creating Goodwill Ambassadors for your school

Sunday – 14 February – 9 am – 6 pm
Morning: “School Culture and Climate”
Readings: “School Climate: The Heart of the School” –Stronge, et. al.
“Measuring School Climate: Let Me Count the Ways” – Freiberg
“How Leaders Influence the Culture of Schools” – Peterson & Deal
“School Culture, School Climate: They are not the same” – Gruenert

“Assessing & Changing School Culture & Climate”

Readings: “Assessing & Changing School Culture & Climate” – Hoy & Hoy
“Concerns & Questions for School Culture & School Climate”

Afternoon: “Achieving school public relations success”

Readings: School Public Relations for Student Success
Chapter 7- Achieving School PR Success: Employees
Chapter 8 – Achieving School PR Success: Parents
Chapter 9 – Achieving School PR Success: Students
Chapter 10 – Achieving School PR Success: Volunteers
Chapter 11 – Achieving School PR Success: Diverse Audiences
Chapter 12 – Achieving School PR Success: Seniors
Chapter 13 - Achieving School PR Success: Business & Vendors
Chapter 14 - Achieving School PR Success: Community Leaders

Tuesday – 16 February – 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Virtual Tour of School Web Sites focusing on community relations, school
culture and climate, vision & mission, strategic plans and Web Sites relating to
school community relations.

Thursday – 18 February – No Class

Time to write papers on “Critique of School Culture and Climate”, and “Contrast and
Comparison of School Web Sites”; and to prepare presentations

Saturday – 20 February – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Morning: Vision and Mission
Readings: “Practitioner’s Guide to Creating a Shared Vision” – Casey
“Mission and Vision in Education” – Rozycki

Creating and Delivering public relations messages

Readings: School Public Relations for Student Success
Chapter 15 – Creating Your School Messages & Content
Chapter 16 - Creating Your School Messages & Content: In Print & Online
Chapter 17 - Delivering Your School Messages & Content: News Media
Chapter 18 – Delivering Your School Messages & Content: In Person
1:00 – 3:30 – Lunch & Time to Complete Class Presentations
3:30 – 6:00: School Culture/ Climate Presentations

Sunday – 21 February – 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Morning: “Developing a school – community relations plan”

“How You can Make a Difference”

Readings: School Public Relations for Student Success
Chapter 19 – School PR: How You Can Make a Difference Now
Presentations on Comparison of School Web Sites

Afternoon: Continue Presentations on Comparison of School Web Sites

4:00 – 6:00 Final Exam: Development of school-community relations plan.

Utilizing questions on p. 23-24 of School Public Relations for Student Success

Assessment of Learning
10% - Class Attendance & Participation
20% - In – Class short presentations on designated readings
25% - School Culture & School Climate Paper & Presentation
25% - Comparison of School Web Sites Paper & Presentation
20% - Final Exam

Class Attendance & Participation

– Be present for Class and participate in the discussions.

In-Class Short Presentations on Designated Readings.

Class time will be used to do some designated readings, of which individuals
and groups will then report to the class on key ideas from these readings to lead
all of us in discussion of these ideas and readings..

School Culture & School Climate Paper & Presentation

Do a brief analysis (3 -5 pages; typed; double-spaced) of the school climate
and school culture of your school.
You should use the list of questions dealing with School Culture and School
Climate to assist you with this brief analysis; utilize 15 questions (8 from
one list and 7 from the other. You choose the questions to use in your
analysis.
Present your analysis in class on Saturday, February 20…if you wish, you can
use Power-point.

Comparison of School Web Sites Paper & Presentation

Compare your school web site to another’s school web site from the perspective
of community relations. Your comparison should be 3 to 6 pages long. Present
the comparison in class on Sunday, February 21…if you wish, you can use
Power-point or connect to the web sites.

Final Exam: Development of school-community relations plan.

Utilizing questions on p. 23-24 of School Public Relations for Student Success
All papers are to be submitted either in print copy or file copy by the end of the course
on Sunday, February 21, 6:00 pm.