Being a Stakeholder in your School: How to Communicate Effectively

The days of waiting for paper report cards and progress updates to arrive in the mail are long gone. Today, there are more ways than ever to communicate with schools and teachers in order to stay on top of your student’s progress and to nip any potential problems in the bud. As easy as it sounds, there are still many factors to creating and maintaining a successful line of communication.

Rightfully so, parents typically have high expectations when it comes to staying in the know about what’s happening day-to-day with their children. A recent survey conducted by The National School Public Relations Association* showed that parents are mainly interested in progress updates, timely notice when performance is slipping, class expectations, and homework and grading policies. It is important that schools make this information easily accessible, which they can do through email, online parent portals, institutional websites and newsletters, and telephone/messaging systems. Not only do the majority of moms and dads want this information, but they want it readily accessible, with nearly fifty percent wanting district updates as often as decisions are made.

From a parent perspective, assertiveness and knowledge are the best policies for staying in touch with your son or daughter’s school. Some guidelines for being an involved participant include:

Using email: Email is a quick and easy way to communicate with the necessary people. Be sure you are on the school’s email list if it has one, as this can be a way to effortlessly stay in the loop. However, it is important to keep in mind that email is effective for short, simple exchanges and not for major concerns. If you have a conflict or concern to resolve, do not hesitate to schedule an in-person meeting with the proper official.

Staying current: Schools are rapidly and continually adapting and upgrading their technology and communication systems, so it is vital to be aware of what is available to you and where to find it. Often, lunch menus, bus routes, standardized test information, weather updates, and more are available online. A phone call may not be necessary if you know where to find the information you are looking for. In addition, a great number of schools use sites such as Naviance.com to make grades, test scores, college resources and more available at the click of your mouse. Many teachers even utilize social media such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to post information. Be sure you are aware of where and how to access the plethora of information that may already be available to you on the web.

Following up: Kids, bless their hearts, don’t always tell parents everything that’s happening in school. It is important to build and maintain open lines of communication with the professionals (teachers, administrators, coaches, aides, counselors, etc.) who work with your child daily. If you have a question, ask. Don’t let problems escalate; contact the right person at the school immediately if you have any concerns, no matter how small.

Being a stakeholder: At Lawrence Middle School in Deville, Louisiana, principal Marguerite McNeely makes it “a rule at our school to keep all stakeholders informed through a variety of communications and media.”** “Stakeholder” is a good way to think of yourself when advocating for your child. You have a vested interest just as you would in a business, and what happens there directly impacts you and your student. Ideally, everyone would follow Ms. McNeely’s creed, but no matter what, remember that you and your family are part of the organization and it is important to maintain your stake by being assertive, knowledgeable, and involved.

*http://www.edutopia.org/blog/parent-involvement-survey-anne-obrien

**http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin511.shtml

Written by Phil Lane

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