Jamie Vollmer, author of Schools Cannot Do it Alone, is an optimist. He said the “pendulum is swinging” back from support of prescriptive, centralized control of schools to a renewed belief in the power of local school boards.
But Vollmer also is a realist. In order for that pendulum to move, he told the closing general session of NSBA’s Leadership Conference Sunday, school board members and everyone else with a stake in the schools must initiate an unprecedented conversation with their communities.
This conversation should counteract the relentless negativism of what he called the “neo-reformers” as well as the sepia-toned fantasies of the “nostegnia “set, those whose rosy view of their own education is “50 percent nostalgia, 50 percent amnesia.”
“I call it the Great Conversation,” Vollmer said. “The Great Conversation can be held by the state associations and their members, and the members take it to their communities, where the real power resides.”
In short, public school supporters need to speak about the good things happening in education, “the little miracles” that happen every day.
Not spectacular miracles, “but it’s miraculous and nobody out there knows it.”
It’s time for board members to stop counting on that long-desired goal: “community involvement.” Unless it’s a meeting about taxes or school sports, or food is served, the public will not come in large numbers: They’re just too busy.
So school leaders and even better, the teachers, bus drivers, and custodians whom the public trusts more must meet community members where they are, in civic clubs, churches, taverns, wherever.
Vollmer boiled his advice down to “the S’s stop, shift, and share.” Stop the infighting between teachers, administrators, and school board members, which only adds fuel to school antagonists. Shift from the negative message to a positive one. And share those stories of success.
Yet, just because you should tout your successes doesn’t mean that schools don’t have to change. They do. In fact, Vollmer told the audience, they are the first generation of board members who must educate all children for the knowledge-based jobs of the future. And this should be communicated too.
“Until the community understands these challenges, “Vollmer said, “they won’t rally to your aid.”
After Vollmer concluded, with audience members poised to take their message to Congress, NSBA President Earl C. Rickman III reiterated his call: “Teamwork. Dreamwork. Together we can.”
Jamie,
Great meeting you and you wife last night at the ‘mini’ reunion. I had so much fun connecting with everyone, another wonderful example of serendipity. It would have taken months to get everyone together but instead happened with just a few calls and everybody being in the right place at the right time.
I am most interested the ideas you put forth, you are a gifted communicator. Education is something worthy of a revolution, understanding though, that big ships take a really long time to shift course.
I am ready to create my Second Act and am thinking about how I can support educational issues and at the same time, earn a living. I would be really happy for your ideas about avenues “outside the box’ that may bear fruit. Any thoughts or ideas you share will be appreciated. Keep in mind, I am a career salesperson who loves meeting new people and isn’t afraid to ask anybody anything! I have considered Institutional Advancement but it doesn’t hit the right note and is a BEAR in this market. (forgive the pun)
In the meantime, thanks again for the book, keep up the good work, and good luck finding the sunny vacation spot of your dreams this holiday season. You could always make a quick visit to Sanibel…
Warm regards, Edie