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ERIC Number: EJ894663
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Feb
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1529-8957
EISSN: N/A
Tools to Advocate for Your School
Williamson, Ronald; Blackburn, Barbara R.
Principal Leadership, v10 n6 p61-63 Feb 2010
School leaders are often in a position to advocate for their schools and for ways to improve the educational experience of students. By actively supporting a cause, such as increasing the rigor of the school, leaders provide information to stakeholder groups that will build support for their vision. Successful advocates incorporate several behaviors into their work: They speak from the heart when telling their stories, and they are always factual, honest, clear, and concise. They frame the issue by tying it to a larger picture, but are able to talk about the local impact and the implications for students in their own schools. Successful advocates also possess important human relations skills. They are cheerfully persistent and aware of who their audiences are so that they can build advocacy efforts appropriately. Finally, they never forget to follow up and always thank people for their time and attention. Advocates also develop strategies for getting their message to key constituent groups. They develop sound bites, identify success stories that can be shared, organize useful information, and practice "elevator" talks. To be a successful advocate, one must develop strategies to share his or her message and mobilize others to support his or her vision. This article discusses three useful tools that can assist in one's advocacy efforts.
National Association of Secondary School Principals. 1904 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1537. Tel: 800-253-7746; Tel: 703-860-0200; Fax: 703-620-6534; Web site: http://www.principals.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A