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Leadership For Community Engagement

Gaby Gutjahr

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The topic

My new role informed the direction of my project.

Developing a specific question/topic:

• Data collection and sorting

• Readings

• Reflective Journal

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Data collection

My methods of data collection included:

• Collecting feedback from the current P&F group.

• Discussing with my Leadership team their concerns about the P&F group.

• Brainstorming strategies and ideas with the previous Family Engagement Leader.

• Locating existing blogs created for communities, parents and families.

• Using graphic organises to sort my thoughts, what I had learnt and to find the greatest priority.

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Current State

• Small P&F group, even after the

school has been open for 6 years

and we have 1000+ students.

• P&F are struggling to get support

for fundraisers and events.

• The same families are doing the

fundraising repeatedly.

• P&F meetings involved discussing

fundraising events – there isn’t

much of a social or personal

element to the gathering.

• They meet in a secluded room

around a table. Very formal and

not very welcoming.

• We have a low number of

multicultural families at our

school.

• Families are reluctant to get

involved in the P&F group as it is

seen as a ‘clique’.

Desired State

• The group has the opportunity to

discuss school initiatives, topical

issues as well as fundraising.

• More members, at least five times

as many as what we have now.

• Easy to get support to help out at

events.

• P&F has a good reputation in the

school and staff and families are

willing to get involved, support

and assist the group.

• Friendships are developed

between families in the school

(that otherwise wouldn’t know

each other).

• Families who are new to the

school have a strong support

network instantly.

• Families talk and offer each other

advice and ideas. Information

sharing.

• Families are aware of what is going

on at school.

• Children feel a strong sense of

community and see the group as

role models.

Positive Forces

• We have a very welcoming school

that encourages family involvement.

• Our Principal, Business Manager,

Community Development Leader and

Family Engagement Leader all

participate in P&F meetings /events.

• We have a Family Engagement

Leader who supports the group.

• We have a large school community.

• We have a highly digital school.

Negative Forces

• Ability to get to school for meetings

(due to work/transport etc).

• Time to come to school and help out

in events.

• Seeing the value in joining the group.

• Confidence in joining a group where

they know no one.

• Parents who don’t feel comfortable

or are disengaged at school.

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Time

IN

4OUT

0

Confidence

IN

1OUT

3

Understanding the

value

IN

3OUT

1

Disengaged

IN

2OUT

2

Ability to get to

meetings

IN

0OUT

4

Interrelationship Diagram

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Data collection

An ‘affinity diagram’ was created to identify the purpose and what we wanted to get out of P&F.

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Data collection

I attended P&F meetings and participated in discussions about lack of new members.

We discussed what had been done in the past and any ideas for the future.

The group voted for the development of a blog which had been a discussion point in the past.

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Research Question

Can communication technology be used to strengthen relationships,

support family-school connections and broaden our P&F community.

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Research Question

Can communication technology be used to broaden our Parents and Friends community?

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Action Plan

Text

Key Improvement

Strategy

What?activities/ programs

How ?budget, equipment, IT, learning time, learning space

Who ?individuals/teams

responsible for implementation

When?date, week, month or term for completion

Achievement milestones

changes in practice or behaviours

Can communication technology be used to broaden our Parents and Friends community?

Blog

Explore the possibilities / legalities of creating a Facebook page for our P&F group.

• Create a blog for families accessible through our school website.

• Provide support to Community Development staff and P&F members so they can learn how to use the blog.

• Sign up additional staff/parents to manage the blog.

• Inform families about the blog through emails, the school newsletter and word of mouth.

• Put P&F information and minutes on the blog and begin advertising events.

• Talk with the Parent Reps about their use of Facebook and their ideas.

• Speak with Stephen about the possibilities of using Facebook to create an online network.

GabyCommunity Development team

• Immediately

• Within two weeks of creating the blog

• By May

• Within two week’s of creating the blog

• Within a month of creating the blog

• Next Parent Rep meeting

• After speaking with the reps.

• The blog is located on the school website.

• Key stakeholders are using the blog.

• Others will be updating the space.

• Families outside P&F will be commenting on the blog.

• Detailed info on blog.

• I will have an understanding/position on the use of Facebook to develop community networks.

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Evaluation

Results:

• Addition of other community areas such as Community Development team, Junior School Council, Parent Representative Program, Prep Parents, Transition.

• It is on the agenda for the next School Council meeting to add a page for them to publicise their ‘community thanks’ and information about the group.

• Although there is a lot of information on the blog, it is only at the stage of being referred to by members of our community groups who are aware of its existence and purpose.

• It has had some success and it has brought together different community groups within the school.

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Evaluation

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Evaluation

Text

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Recommendations

Where to next?

• Create opportunities for families outside of our P&F and Parent Reps groups to become familiar with, and use, the blog.

• Provide the Community Development team with admin rights so that they can each update their areas.

• Provide opportunities for the students to contribute to the blog.

• Include more podcasts / vodcasts and family learning opportunities via the blog.

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Recommendations

I have learnt:

• The importance of collaboration and involving all stakeholders. The supportof the groups it is being developed for as well as the staff who will promoteand use the blog.

• That I can’t make things happen overnight.

• I need to utilise the students. They are also part of our community.

• You can only lead a horse to water …

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Recommendations

Next time?

• I would collaborate more and take things slower.

• I would give myself more time to collect data and observe what others are doing so that I could approach the implementation in an inclusive way.

• I would do more promotion of the blog as it is being completed.

• I would use students to help develop and promote the blog.

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References

Readings

Bozeman, M. (1987). Montana State University. Motiving member participation. http://www.msucommunitydevelopment.org/motivatingmember.html

Cavaye, J. (unknown). Capable Communities: A Guide To Community Development. Approaches to Community Development. Cavage Community Development Training Package.

Hughes, P., Black, A., Kaldor, P., Bellamy, J. and Castle K. (2007). Building Stronger Communities. Strengthening communities beyond the locality. USNW Press: Sydney. pp. 195-208

McConchie, R. Engaging Families. Retrieved from Victorian Parents Council http://www.vicparentscouncil.vic.edu.au/index.php/parent-resources/at-your-school/engaging-parents

Morris, K. (2010). Getting Parents Involved in Blogging. Retrieved from Integrating Technology In The Primary Classroom http://primarytech.global2.vic.edu.au/2010/11/28/getting-parents-involved-in-blogging/

Niven, R. (2011). The role of social media in community building and development. Retrieved from The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/voluntary-sector-network/community-action-blog/2011/dec/08/facebook-social-media-community-development

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References

Blog sites

Bangalore Steiner School - Community Blog. http://bangaloresteinerschoolpf.blogspot.com.au/

CSH Greenwich Middle School Parent Blog. http://cshmsparents.wordpress.com/

Digital Parents blog. http://digitalparents.com.au/

Elmwood Parents’ and Friends’ Blog http://www.elmwood.ca/parents/parents_and_friends_association_committee/

Kincoppal-Rose Bay P&F Blog. http://www.krb.nsw.edu.au/1845/community/parents'-and-friends'-association/

Melbourne High School P&F Blog. http://mhsparentsandfriends.blogspot.com.au/

Park Slope Parents blog. http://www.parkslopeparents.com/

St Justin’s Oran Park P&F Community Blog. http://www.sjopdow.catholic.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=105&Itemid=518

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References

Other resources

Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for the Council of Australian Governments. (2009). ‘Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia’.

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. (2010). Parents http://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/default.htm

Parents Victoria website. http://www.parentsvictoria.asn.au/

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The blog

Community Connections

http://sites.berwickfieldsps.vic.edu.au/fieldsfamilies/