Being a superintendent means you are accountable and need to stay in touch with so many people: families, students, teachers and even your school board! Having positive working relationships with all of these people is crucial to build community, above and beyond just supporting student learning. Creating strong community engagement starts with transparency and trust.
Cate Reed, seasoned administrator, current Senior Vice President of Teach For America, and Possip Reporter, shares tips for superintendents to foster community and support.
And while there are so many people who count on you, it can also be lonely. There is only one superintendent, and the buck stops with you – the good and the bad. The average tenure of many superintendents only lasts a few years. It can be a really hard, and at times, a very isolating job.
However, there are ways to keep the job engaging and even fun (sometimes!). Superintendents can employ various strategies to stay in close touch with those people they are serving. That proximity can build up resiliency in an otherwise very hard job.
Build Community Through Communication
- Newsletters: Sending out newsletters via email or traditional mail can keep families informed about school events, updates, and important information.
- Social Media: Utilizing platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram can help superintendents communicate with families in real-time. Share updates, photos, and engage with questions or concerns. Here’s an example of a superintendent and principal announcing a snow day with a duet!
- Virtual Town Halls: Hosting virtual town hall meetings allows superintendents to connect with families who can’t make it to school board meetings. A virtual setting invites people to express concerns, ask questions, and receive updates directly in an interactive format.
- Personalized Communication: Tailoring communication to the specific needs and preferences of families can enhance engagement and connection. Our data shows families respond to text more frequently than email. Also consider phone calls or video messages.
Be Curious and Receptive!
- Surveys and Feedback Forms: Sending out surveys or feedback forms allows families to express their opinions, concerns, and suggestions. Superintendents can use this information to better understand the needs of the community. (And Possip’s platform helps leaders save time by organizing all that information into useful trends and insights! Here are some stories of how school leaders like you have done it!)
- Open Office Hours: Setting aside specific times for families to schedule virtual or in-person meetings can provide an opportunity to build community through direct communication and problem-solving.
- Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs): Collaborating with PTOs or similar groups can help superintendents stay connected with families and understand their perspectives on school-related matters.
Be Creative As You Build Community!
- Community Events: Attending and participating in community events, such as fairs, festivals, or neighborhood gatherings, allows superintendents to engage with families in a more informal setting.
- Superintendent/Student for a Day with Students: Host a student to shadow you for the day, or vice versa, be a student for a day alongside a student. This is a great way to have kids get a window into the life of a leader, and for a leader to get a sense of what is it like to be a student in their school. As you build a community centered on respect and trust, what better way to deepen empathy and understanding.
- Substitute Teach or Teach an Elective: Set aside one day a month to be in the sub pool. Getting back into a classroom alongside kids can be inspiring, and build rapport with your colleagues. Some administrators also teach a mini elective once a year to stay in touch with their teaching persona. Families love to see that administrators are staying close with what happens in schools.
Overall, staying in touch with families strengthens the partnership between schools and the community. It takes effort, but the payoff can be a positive school culture which ultimately contributes to the success and well-being of students.
