DESCRIPTION:

‍ ‍Rural school districts thrive when the community and the school system move in lockstep. However, a common challenge for leadership is ensuring that the School Board, the administration, and staff are all pulling in the same direction.

In this interactive, practitioner-led breakout session, leaders from two distinct school districts will share a blueprint for a community-based strategic planning process that connects community expectations and district execution. Attendees will move beyond theoretical models to explore real, actionable strategies that can be implemented this school year to engage their communities.

Key Takeaways & Strategies for This Year:

• Mapping the Community: Learn how to design a community engagement process that recognizes local voices and translates community expectations into school district goals.

• Community to Board to System Alignment: Strategies to support and equip your School Board to govern through the lens of community expectations, ensuring goals, policy, and oversight reflect local expectations.

• System Cascade: How to take a community-driven strategic plan and operationalize it so that administration and school staff are aligned in their strategic work.