2012 Project Presentation - Leadership For Community Engagement

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Leadership ForCommunity 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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CurrentState
• 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.
PositiveForces
• 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.
NegativeForces
• 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
4
OUT
0
Confidence
IN
1
OUT
3
Understanding the
value
IN
3
OUT
1
Disengaged
IN
2
OUT
2
Ability to get to
meetings
IN
0
OUT
4
InterrelationshipDiagram

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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 communicationtechnologybe usedtostrengthenrelationships,
supportfamily-schoolconnectionsand broadenour P&Fcommunity.

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Research Question
Can communicationtechnologybe used tobroadenour 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
Cancommunication
technologybeusedto
broadenourParentsand
Friendscommunity?
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.
Gaby
Community
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 support
of the groups it is being developed for as well as the staff who will promote
and 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
CommunityConnections
http://sites.berwickfieldsps.vic.edu.au/fieldsfamilies/