PMP:021 10 Ways to Positively Communicate About Your School

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I once heard someone say, “Communication is 100% of what a principal does.”

I couldn’t agree more. Of all the areas you manage as a school leader, the way you communicate is one of the most powerful determiners for what people will think about your school.
In episode 21 of the podcast, I share 10 simple ways to make your communication positive. If you want to see the full companion blog post for this episode, check it out here. Here are 10 strategies I discuss:

1. Group Email to Parents

This is by far one of the most popular means of communication I have used. One of my tech-savvy assistant principals showed me how to filter through our data information system for all parent emails. I also have a collection of addresses I gathered from ones teachers have shared with me. Once a week I try to send out a newsy email about school happenings. If you do this, place the parent email addresses in the Bcc tab to protect privacy.

2. Daily announcements

There are lots of ways to do daily announcements. We try to keep our over-the-speaker ones to a minimum amount of time. Instead we post a full list as a powerpoint that runs in our commons all day on a big-screen monitor. My secretary also emails the daily bulletin to teachers, parents and students who request to receive it.

3. Newsletters

If you can, dedicate one person to receive all emails about student/teacher successes. We have a teacher with an elective hour dedicated to producing a newsletter that is posted online, and we print copies to keep in offices for guests to see.

4. Website headlines

Keep news updated on your website. Our district technology director will post special announcements and/or student highlights on the website homepage. Teachers with their own websites can have their web addresses linked to our school page too.

5. Teacher emails

This is one of the easiest ways to communicate information to everyone at once. Not only do I email my teachers regularly, but many of them send out weekly communications to parents. Some of them use Remind101, Twitter, or Edmodo as quick ways to text reminders to students too.

6. Being visible

Want people to know you support them? Be in hallways, classrooms, and at special events, games, and community gatherings. It means a lot to students, parents, teachers, and patrons.

7. Students of the month

Have your teachers nominate and vote on a boy and girl from each grade. Our students receive certificates and get their photos shared via our multiple media options. The students love the recognition and their parents do too.

8. Celebrations

Be creative in making a big deal about success. We host an annual breakfast for all students who are successful in state exams, celebrate teacher birthdays once a month with cake in the teacher lounge, recognize student achievement at spirit assemblies, and make announcements when great things happen–to name a few ways to celebrate.

9. Networking

Whether it is blogging, professional associations, or agreeing to speak or present at an area conference, you don’t just represent yourself. You are also an ambassador for your school or organization. Don’t be afraid to talk to fellow school leaders and others about what’s happening at your school. It’s encouraging and motivating.

10. Posting calendars online

Keep your school calendar on the school website as well as the district calendar. It is a helpful resource for anyone wanting to know what’s happening at the school.

Conclusion

Is the communication coming from your school overwhelmingly positive? If not, focus in on some of the strategies for increasing the good news coming from your school or organization. When you do, you help keep the positive happenings at the forefront of your school.

Now It’s Your Turn

What are some other ways you would add to the list? Let’s keep growing and learning together?

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