澳门跑狗论坛

Opinion
School & District Management Opinion

Principals, Here Are 4 Simple Tips to Communicate Better

Important communication strategies for school leaders
By Alex Sponheim 鈥 June 06, 2023 4 min read
Photo illustration of a leader effectively communicating with the community
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Effective communication is vital for any organization, and schools are no exception. In fact, communication is arguably more critical in schools because it affects the well-being and academic success of students.

From communicating with parents to collaborating with colleagues, school leaders must master various communication strategies to achieve their goals and create a positive learning environment.

School leaders need to remember the goal of written communication is to inform the reader. Leaders should try to avoid jargon and acronyms that take a lot of mental energy and can confuse the reader.

About This Series

In this biweekly column, principals and other authorities on school leadership鈥攊ncluding researchers, education professors, district administrators, and assistant principals鈥攐ffer timely and timeless advice for their peers.

Remember, the reader doesn鈥檛 have all the information the leader has, and being clear and concise in the communication is vital.

1. Identify your target audience.

Before communicating, it is important to understand your intended audience. Are you communicating with staff, parents, students, management, or the community? Each stakeholder group will be interested in specific topics or need unique information.

This guidance could be used for any issue that a school leader must communicate to the community. For example, imagine the water has been shut off in your school building. A local water provider is working on the problem, but they needed to close off areas of the street to get to the leak that caused the water to be shut off. Each stakeholder group will need different information based on how this incident affects them.

Parents will need to know that their child is safe, temporary solutions for their child such as water bottles and alternative restrooms, and early or late dismissal information.

Your staff will need information about what happened and the estimated time of when the water will be turned back on, alternatives for staff and students, disruptions to the school schedule, and the point of contact for challenges that arise.

Students need to know that the water was shut off, as well as alternatives for restroom and drinking-water access.

Administrators will need to know what happened and the estimated time of when water will be restored (in case other schools are affected), the steps taken to limit disruption, the updated course of action, the resources you need, and a breakdown of the event they can communicate to the governing board.

The wider community will need information about road closures and an explanation of any increased presence of emergency responders at the school (to help dispel rumors).

2. Use the right platform.

Knowing your families鈥 and communities鈥 communication preferences is essential. For instance, your parents may prefer email or text messages, or they may prefer apps such as Class Dojo or Remind. Your community may prefer specific social media platforms such as Facebook (maybe a specific Facebook group), Twitter, or Instagram.

If you are unaware of your families鈥 preferences, provide families with a survey at Back to School Night to gain a better understanding. You can send home a similar communication survey to families at the end of the year and use that data to adjust your communication strategies. Veteran staff members or staff members that live in the community can also provide you with insight into which social media platforms the community prefers.

Bonus Tip: Follow other government agencies on social media platforms so you can share their updates with your followers on social media and reach new ones.

3. Adjust your frequency.

Communication to stakeholders includes the sharing of various topics, such as events, volunteer opportunities, new programs and supports, general news, safety updates, and expectations for students and parents.

It is vital to know your families鈥 preferences and the information they want to be informed of and how often. You can use analytics such as email open rates, click rates for buttons in a newsletter, and page analytics to ensure your families are reading what you鈥檙e sharing with them and feel connected to your school.

4. Improve your layout.

Most people do not read communications word by word. People tend to scan the information provided and rely on headlines to get the information they need.

Consider the following when writing digital messages:

  • Use headers (large, bolded text) to break up themes covered in your communication.
  • Use short sentences and short paragraphs to make scanning easier.
  • Utilize lists and bullet points to provide important information quickly.
  • Optimize for mobile devices. Most people access information on their phones. If they cannot easily read the information, they will not read the message at all.

Effective communication is a vital skill for all educators, and it can help achieve professional goals while improving their students鈥 lives. By implementing these communication strategies, school leaders can build strong relationships with their stakeholders, increase engagement, and foster a positive school culture. Remember, the power of communication lies in its ability to connect people and inspire change. Start using these strategies today and see the impact it can make in your school community!

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum Big AI Questions for Schools. How They Should Respond鈥
Join this free virtual event to unpack some of the big questions around the use of AI in K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of 澳门跑狗论坛's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of 澳门跑狗论坛's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Spark Minds, Reignite Students & Teachers: STEM鈥檚 Role in Supporting Presence and Engagement
Is your district struggling with chronic absenteeism? Discover how STEM can reignite students' and teachers' passion for learning.
Content provided by 

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide 鈥 elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

School & District Management Principals Polled: Where School Leaders Stand on 10 Big Issues
A look at how principals responded to questions on Halloween costumes, snow days, teacher morale, and more.
4 min read
Illustration of speech/thought bubbles.
DigitalVision Vectors
School & District Management The 4 District Leaders Who Could Be the Next Superintendent of the Year
Four district leaders are finalists for the national honor. They've emphasized CTE, student safety, financial sustainability, and more.
4 min read
Clockwise from upper left: Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, superintendent of the Peoria Public School District 150; Walter Gonsoulin, superintendent of Jefferson County Schools; Debbie Jones, superintendent of the Bentonville School District; David Moore, superintendent of the School District of Indian River County.
Clockwise from upper left: Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, superintendent of the Peoria school district in Illinois; Walter Gonsoulin, superintendent of Jefferson County schools in Alabama; Debbie Jones, superintendent of the Bentonville, Ark., school district; and David Moore, superintendent in Indian River County, Fla. The four have been named finalists for national Superintendent of the Year. AASA will announce the winner in March 2025.
Courtesy of AASA, the School Superintendent's Association
School & District Management 3 Tips for Districts to Maximize FEMA Funding After a Natural Disaster
District leaders who have been through natural disasters stress the need for thorough documentation, even if it seems excessive.
5 min read
Close up of FEMA paperwork
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion The Difference Between Data and Evidence: What School Leaders Need to Know
Data collection alone won't improve student learning. Here are 7 ways to take action.
4 min read
Screen Shot 2024 12 13 at 7.40.48 AM
Canva