paddling upstream in a public school canoewasa-oly.org/wasa/docs/supts15/wasa paddling upstream...
TRANSCRIPT
Paddling Upstream in a Public School Canoe . . .
Dr. John Draper
National School Public Relations Association
www.JohnDraper.org
“There are a thousand hackingat the branches of evil
to one who is striking at the root.”
Henry David Thoreau
Where are we in Public Schools today?
Good to Great for the Public Sector by Jim Collins
•Political Skill
•Public Support
•Political Skill, no matter how effective, will eventually succumb to Public Will
The North Wind and the Sun had a contest . . .
Fundamental Facts• A strong majority of parents, community members and school
employees give their own schools honor roll ratings, but believe that the nation’s public schools are bad
• Most school employees are reluctant political advocates, dislike controversy, and don’t like to brag on themselves or their schools
• There are 8 million public school employees in the USA—leading them to effective, active support of our schools is the first step to changing public opinion about all public schools
Results from the latest PDK/Gallup Poll showed
little change from recent years
What grade do you give to your
oldest child’s school?
A/B 77%
What grade do you give to your
local schools?
A/B 49%
What grade do yougive to the
nation’s schools?
A/B 18%
So what’s the problem?My community thinksour schools are doing
pretty good!
Why rock the boat!?!
There are alwaysmore people ‘out there’
and they thinkyour schools are bad!
The public myth, the evil root, that undermines support
for all public schools is
Our schools are good, but the rest are lousy!
This public myth undermines support for all public schools. It encourages state
legislatures and Congress to punish or reconstruct our “failing” public schools.
We don’t have to change public opinion
about public schools . . .
. . . we only have to extend the way they feel about their
schools—to all schools!
If you are in a hole the first thing to do is to
stop digging!
7 Habits of Highly Effective
School Leaders
1. Avoid public comparisons of school districts—particularly economically unequal districts!
Independent behavior in an interdependent reality
is foolish!
Stephen Covey
We are locally led but nationally fed!
Three Unfortunate Facts About Public Schools
•Everyone who went to school feels qualified to run a school
•The worst schools define all schools
•Your district’s support is linked to the perception of the worst schools in your state
7 Habits of Highly Effective
School Leaders
1. Avoid comparisons of unequal schools or districts
2.Don’t allow test scores to define your school—fully embrace Every Child a Graduate
The Public doesn’t understand test scores
but they get graduation!
It’s a Destination Postcard
Graduation is a celebration that
resonates with the public!
Let’s start making it a party!
One of the best things about graduation??
7 Habits of Highly Effective
School Leaders
1. Avoid comparisons of unequal school districts
2. Don’t allow test scores alone to define your school—fully embrace Every Child a Graduate
3.Inspire teachers with a “Successory”program—if you don’t feed the teachers . . .
Successory Program is a No-Brainer!
•Give students a Successory Form (self-duplicating) just before the grading period ends
• Invite them to complete form, give one copy to “Successory” and drop the other in office basket
• After one week draw a winner and award $25 Gift Certificate to local restaurant
• Send some of the best forms to Central Office for sharing with Board and Media—and after Public Comments fiasco
7 Habits of Highly Effective
School Leaders
1. Avoid comparisons of unequal schools or districts
2. Don’t allow test scores alone to define your school—fully embrace Every Child a Graduate
3. Inspire your teachers with a “Successory” program
4.Plan celebrations of success—use technology to connect and inspire
You are now Chief Morale Officer!
Waterloo Iowa Celebration Day
Believe!Dr. Gary Norris Superintendent
Waterloo Iowa Celebration Day 2013
Video
Technology has made it easy and affordable to produce quality video that motivates staff
Use it!
Link to Waterloo Schools Celebration Day “Believe” Video at
www.JohnDraper.org
7 Habits of Highly Effective
School Leaders
1. Avoid comparisons of unequal schools or districts
2. Don’t allow test scores to define your school—fully embrace Every Child a Graduate
3. Inspire teachers with a “Successory” program
4. Plan celebrations of success—using technology to connect and inspire
5.Use stories to overcome the Villains of Communication
Three Communication Villains for School Leaders
•Curse of Knowledge
•Information Overload
•Presenter Polish
We are in the dark
and held captive by the
Curse of Knowledge!
The Curse of Knowledge
• You know how essential Public Schools are to this country
• You know that Public Schools are better than they have ever been
• You know the wonderful things that happen in your Public Schools
• You know because you have spent your life in Public Schools
• You DON’T KNOW what it is like not to know what you know!
Three Villains for School Leaders
•Curse of Knowledge
•Information Overload
•Presenter Polish
High School Journalism Class Assignment:Use the information below to write a story
for our student newspaper
• The Superintendent just announced that Dr. Bruce Hunter, Senior Associate of the American Association of School Administrators, will speak to all district administrators and teachers next Friday morning in the high school auditorium.
• Dr. Hunter is the Chief Congressional Lobbyist for AASA, the largest superintendent association in the nation, and is known for his ability to focus on national educational issues and not politics.
• Dr. Hunter has been a junior high school social studies and English teacher, a Head Start teacher, a sociology instructor, a grant administrator, and a policy analyst. He was born and raised in Wyoming and has worked in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
NO SCHOOL NEXT FRIDAY!
Three Villains for School Leaders
•Curse of Knowledge
•Information Overload
•Presenter Polish
Chip Heath’s Speech Study using his Stanford Students
Information shared by composed, charismatic, and motivational presenters was forgotten, but less polished speakers who told stories
were remembered!
They laughed when I told a story, but when we won the bond referendum
with a landslide vote . . .
Great story opening for any meeting!
Think of a teacher who had a positive impact in your life—elementary, middle or high school;
a teacher who really cared about you.
Now imagine an entire school district filled with teachers just like that. That’s our goal!
7 Habits of Highly Effective
School Leaders
1. Avoid comparisons of unequal schools or districts
2. Don’t allow test scores to define your school—fully embrace Every Child a Graduate
3. Inspire teachers with a “Successory” program
4. Plan celebrations of success—using technology to connect and inspire
5. Use stories to overcome the Villains of Communication
6.Put a face on children of poverty—tell the stories of individual students
Fifty years ago, when I was a 3rd grader at Stonewall Jackson Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama, on a Sunday morning in September, Pastor John Cross was preparing to preach a sermon titled “A Love that Forgives” based on Luke 23:34.
(clockwise from top left)
Addie Mae Collins (14)Cynthia Wesley (14)Carole Robertson (14)Denise McNair (11)
Killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing on September 15, 1963.
7 Habits of Highly Effective
School Leaders
1. Avoid comparisons of unequal schools or districts
2. Don’t allow test scores to define your school—fully embrace Every Child a Graduate
3. Inspire teachers with a “Successory” program
4. Plan celebrations of success—using technology to connect and inspire
5. Use stories to overcome the Villains of Communication
6. Put a face on children of poverty—tell the stories of individual students.
7.Intentionally build connections with faith organizations, first-responders, and veterans to retool our image!
There is a declining trust in government.
Public schools must disassociate with Congress and the state legislatures
and build identification with the faith organizations, first-responders, and veterans
who are held in high esteem by the American People.
Soldier Dad Surprises Son During School AssemblyYoutube.com
Public Schools are the way America delivers on the promise of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness!
• 21 million hungry students are fed daily in our public schools
• 8 million public school employees provide care and support for students
•Over 50 million children are educated in public schools
More of God’s work is accomplished in Public Schools
than any other institution in America.
7 Habits of Highly Effective
School Leaders
1. Avoid comparisons of unequal schools or districts
2. Don’t allow test scores to define your school—fully embrace Every Child a Graduate
3. Inspire teachers with a “Successory” program
4. Plan celebrations of success—using technology to connect and inspire
5. Use stories to overcome the Villains of Communication
6. Put a face on children of poverty—tell the stories of individual students
7. Intentionally build connections with faith organizations, first-responders, and veterans to retool our image
An opportunity . . .
free, simple and NSPRA approved!
Three Fundamental Messages of Public Schools That Work
• Good things are happening in public schools everywhere—even in our most challenged districts
• Public schools must change to better serve today’s students
• Employees are essential to spread the good news and lead the change
PublicSchoolsThatWork.org
Enroll at pstw.org agreeing to:1. Forward one monthly, PSTW email to your
employees (provides a positive fact about all public schools and a link to a PSTW video)
2. Consider a Successory program (or similar design) to encourage and support staff
3. Consider an organized method for celebrating the outstanding service of district employees . . . an annual “Celebration Day” event is encouraged
Listen for the messages in this PSTW video
• Poverty is the greatest common factor among low-achieving children . . .
• We are working to break the grip of poverty . . .
• Dispelling the myth that urban schools don’t succeed . . .
• Urban teachers put students first . . .
• Students are more than a test score . . .
• Every child, every chance, every day . . .
• Miracles happen every day in public schools . . .
• Waterloo Schools Work!
• Go to www.pstw.org to sign up!
Waterloo Iowa Teacherwww.pstw.org
We need you!
To submit a video for Public Schools That Work • Go to pstw.org and get guidelines for the Video
Contest• District videos selected for use will receive one
paid registration to the NSPRA Annual Seminar• Selected videos will be viewed by educators
across the nation• Help “Reverse the Flow” for all public schools
Help staff realize the difference they make!
Inspire them and lead them.Remind them that miracles happen
everyday in all public schools.
Believe!
Believe in ChildrenClovis Unified School DistrictYoutube.com
How do you make paddling upstream easy?
Reverse the Flow!
Paddling Upstream in a Public School Canoe . . .
For copies of this presentation go to
www.JohnDraper.org
Dr. John Draper
National School Public Relations Association
Public Schools that Work!
www.JohnDraper.org
www.pstw.org