Carol A.

Swanson
Hamline University
Competency 7: Community Relations

7. Community Relations

a. Articulate organizational purpose and priorities to community and media

b. Request and respond to community feedback
c. Demonstrate the ability to build community consensus
d. Relate political initiatives to stakeholders - including parental involvement programs
e. Identify and interact with internal and external publics
f. Understand and respond to news media
g. Promote positive image of schools and the school district
h. Monitor and address perceptions about school-community issues
i. Demonstrate the ability to identify and articulate community issues that impact local education

The school community can often reflect the community as a whole. If the school/district

is healthy, the community often is healthy as well. The relationship of the school/district to the

community it lives in can be what brings a community together if and when that relationship is

transparent and open.

It is imperative that the school/district articulate its purpose and priorities to the

community in a way that the community understands. It is also important for the school/district

to receive and respond to feedback in a positive way. Finding mutual partnerships in the

community is a positive way to ensure that the school and community thrives. In my field three

experience, I was able to work in a community school. This school has many partnerships in the

community. There is an active medical clinic which is served three days a week by volunteer

medical doctors who treat the student population for general medical health care that is free to all

the students. There is a chemical dependency specialist on the staff who work with youth who

struggle with sobriety. Students have the option to learn in a separate space in the school with

other students who wish to remain sober. The school also works closely with probation officers

who help to keep the youth in school and graduate to become contributing citizens. A dental
Carol A. Swanson
Hamline University
Competency 7: Community Relations

clinic is offered free of charge. A food shelf and clothing is available to the students, as well as

all school supplies are provided. This schools mission is to remove barriers for students so they

can focus fully on their education and obtaining a high school diploma.

I was able to have conversations with many leaders about communications with the

community, and most of the principals I worked with have specific district personnel that are in

charge of public communication. I see this as a positive measure as then the community hears a

common message that has been vetted by the leaders of the district. There are times when the

media should be contacted to celebrate important activities or events in the district to share with

the community, but any communications with the media should be well thought out and vetted

by administrators in the district.

It is important for a school to engage parents in the school, whether it be using parent

volunteers, having an active parent-teacher group, maintaining an informative website or social

media site, parent conferences, as well as ensuring that parents feel welcome in the school in

whatever capacity they can participate. One of my school field sites holds student/family intake

meetings in the summer every year for every student before the school year begins. This is an

excellent way to build bridges between students families and the school. It allows for everyone

to understand expectations for students, families and the school.

In order for a school/district and the community to maintain good relationships it is

important for the school/district to be transparent to the community as a whole. Community

members need to remain informed about the mission and vision of the education system as well

as ask for feedback from the community, and act upon that feedback for the wellbeing of the

student population.