SELLING YOUR SCHOOLUsing Media to Inform and Persuade

SCHOOL WEB SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Utilize the Announcements page of your school web site to inform parents of upcoming events and to showcase the great learning taking place in your building.

Keep the calendar updated so parents always know when special events are on the horizon.

Include photos and videos that visually show the learning.

Take a look at your school web site analytics.

ANALYTICS FOR THIS WEEKSchool Visits this week Visits this month

Ft. Loudoun 2,657 11,243

Greenback 3,551 17,329

Highland Park 1,387 6,770

Loudon Elem. 1,666 5,389

Loudon High 5,059 38,130

North Middle 22,212 98,491

Philadelphia 3,638 16,339

Steekee 907 3,526

Eaton 11,567 45,667

LCBOE 28,548 108,856

TEACHER WEB SITES

Make sure ALL the teachers in your building keep their class web sites current and include important information for parents including…

Assignments Vocabulary and Spelling Lists Archive of Notes Home Lesson Plans Links to helpful web sites Links to tutorial web sites

PRINCIPAL PAGE

Much like Eric Sheninger of New Millford High School, publish a monthly newsletter online with all your accomplishments…

http://www.newmilfordschools.org/nmhs/school_report.html

Utilize social networking (ie. Twitter, etc.) to keep parents informed. You can create a controlled account for your school that will carry your message.

BE VISIBLE

Take every opportunity to be the visible person in your building. This includes sidewalks in mornings and afternoons, bus halls, hallways, athletic events (hang in the lobby near the concession stand).

Show parents that you are accessible and available to listen to them and get to know them.

Quick turnaround on email and voicemail to parents. Even if you do not have an answer, reply and tell them you are working on it.

HOST PARENT EVENTS

Morning coffee time to chat Evening information sessions on relevant

topics Lunch opportunities Showcase student accomplishments/talents Educational Classes for parents Movie Nights Guest Speakers of interest to parents

UTILIZE LOCAL MEDIA

Put the News-Herald on your email list and regularly send them news and photos from your school

Get to know the reporters and establish a relationship of trust

Submit information to run on TV3 channel Assign a staff member to write news stories

about learning projects to submit to the paper.

UTILIZE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Volunteer to speak at local club meetings

Become involved in civic organizations and spread the word about your school

Invite them to participate in your school

Partner on a project

GET THEE TO CHURCH

Partner with churches for…Backpack feeding programsClothes ClosetsHoliday AssistanceTutoringMentoringFacilities

WRITE!

Newsletters Summer Letter Home to parents

(http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/6006)

Blogs (http://www.patrickmlarkin.com/) Letters asking for help (Clayton example) Teacher letters to students Letters to local businesses

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Join professional organizations and become active in networking and learning from colleagues

Trade out expertise Find innovative strategies for family

engagement

OTHER IDEAS?

What are some successful events/ideas from your schools?