Building Support in the Community

Developing Community Support

Schools and teachers draw strength and students from the surrounding community. School bonds are easily fostered in areas where the schools are embraced and respected. Likewise, members of the school board or other governing body are regarded as respected leaders who are in touch with the community.

Teachers that earn the respect of the community are supported and welcomed anywhere in the community. Positive community relations are an expectation, not a promise.

However, both of these aforementioned statements can become hotly contested in areas where the schools have a history of neglecting the community. Communities invest their time and money in schools that reflect their trust and care. They withdraw support from schools that do not reflect their values and do not provide a proper education for their children. In most areas, the schools are the center of neighborhood life and often do double duty as community centers and Parks and Recreation facilities. Schools knit communities together by bringing people from all walks of life together for a common cause. If you want to measure how well a community supports the school, count the number of people that show up for a theatrical performance or an athletic contest even though they do not have any children in the event. Schools are more than an educational institution; they garner an emotional investment in the community.

One of the very first items of business for a new teacher is to become established in the local community. There are a number of ways to accomplish this task, but they all stem from three primary sources: visibility and attendance; support for local issues and events; and finally membership and participation.

Visibility and Attendance

The easiest way to become part of the community is to relocate into it. Establishing a residence by its very nature makes the teacher a part of the community. Once settled, the teacher can become a thriving and flourishing “local.” Living in a community also allows easy access to community news, interests, and concerns. Access to this type of information is a sign of integration and acceptance into the community, and is invaluable in predicting and identifying educational storms on the horizon.

Having community insight is a great way to dispel rumors and serve as a conduit to prevent problems; however, community members assume that when a teacher talks about other teachers, the school or school system, that the teacher has special insights and therefore they trustingly believe them. Be careful not to speak without weighing the ramifications—this is how rumors and gossip start. Teachers should always keep their comments positive when speaking, even casual comments and especially “off the record” conversations in the community. Parents accept the words of a teacher without doubt. Negative comments spread like wildfire and always have the name of the sponsoring teacher attached. This is a good way to become extremely unpopular, distrusted, and disliked quickly.

If relocation is not an immediate option, do the next best thing—visit. Parents love to see teachers out and about in the community. The visit can take place anywhere, like a local restaurant, civic event, or market place. One of the best ways to become part of the local community is to be seen in it, be involved with it, and attend functions sponsored by it. Teachers who have a high level of visibility and approachability in the local community will become well known. Through their contacts and recognition, they open the door for collaborative opportunities. Conversely, an unknown teacher is an easy target and cannot expect much help or support from the community.

There are many ways for a new teacher to become more visible. Listen to what the veteran teachers are saying about local events in the community and pick the one(s) that are of interest to attend. Also, check the local newspaper and search for local community events, such as festivals and celebrations that are popular in the area. Sometimes a community celebrates a local historic event, such as the Repulse of the British, or Lewis and Clark Day. Community festivals are fun and are located around harvest days in agricultural areas, fishing or hunting season in rural areas, and recreational events in tourist areas such as hot air balloon days or ski season. Often there are ethnic celebrations that provide a glimpse into the local culture, such as Cinco de Mayo, or Greek Week festivities. Go play and have fun. Even if you do not interact with parents of students in your class, they will know you were there. Although these events are great at building community support, teachers should not discredit themselves by drunkenness, lewd behavior, and other acts that disparage the image of a teacher in the community. Bad news travels fast. Note that attending these events does not oblige a new teacher to join a club or organization.

Support for Local Issues and Events

Teachers become a part of the community when they begin to have the same interests and issues as the locals. This is not necessarily intended as a political statement, but rather support for non-partisan issues like a new community swimming pool or library. Once a teacher connects with a community, the community’s interests and concerns are also the teacher’s interests and concerns. This is not a contrived situation, but a measure of how well the teacher is established and understands the community. Non-educational community needs are shared by the teacher.

Weigh carefully the ramifications of becoming politically active.

By law, teachers may enter the political field at any time. It is a constitutional right to exercise first amendment rights. In fact, a fair number of elected officials spent quality time in the classroom first. It has often been said that all elections are local. How does that affect teachers? Local elections are notorious for temporarily dividing a community. Sometimes the emotions generated by a hotly contested election spill over onto the candidates themselves and their supporters. Left unchecked, strained emotions may increase to become something worse. The bottom line is simple: elections can be nasty. Be careful.

Membership and Participation

To the extent possible, connect with a local religious community, club, or organization to provide a non-educational outlet as a life balance technique, a civic opportunity, and to increase community acceptance.

Local religious centers, clubs, and organizations are always looking for new members. This is a great way to integrate quickly into the community. Clubs and organizations are also welcoming agencies that network the local community. They are open and inviting because they have a built-in clientele that gathers for a common purpose or theme. Teachers who participate become more like family than neighbors.

Participation occurs as the teacher becomes more immersed in the culture or rules of the religion, club, or organization. Supporting local good causes is a civic opportunity as well as a strong promoter of community acceptance. This is also an opportunity for high visibility in a socially accepted venue: a win-win for the teacher and community. Working and long-term participation within a locally accepted and respected association is the best way to become accepted and respected within the community.