The Superintendent’s Section: Wisdom, Ideas and Strategies by Jack McKay and Friends.
Recognizing Students and Staff at your School Board Meeting
Some of my superintendent friends routinely set up the board’s agenda so that the first 10 to 15 minutes of the meeting be devoted to highlighting the successes of students and staff, and on occasion, community members who are helping students.By recognizing the successes at the school board meeting, you have the opportunity to highlight what the school district is all about (the achievements of others) and what they and the school board value. During the special recognition part of the board meeting, some present certificates and awards like “district stars” to those being honored. Another secondary purpose or subtle strategy is setting the tone of the board meetings. This ceremonial part of the meeting may have the subtle effect of starting a meeting on a positive note rather than what would normally be a relatively formal business meeting.
This special section on the board’s agenda reminds me of one of my axioms, “Don’t tell me what you value, rather tell me what you do and recognize and I’ll tell you what you value.”