Communication is essential to student success; principals called community leaders

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(A photo from our 2006 Summer Leadership Institute.)

by Lew Armistead

Family communication with teachers, principals and counselors was identified as an essential element to the success of high school students in the first Principals’ Partnership Poll, which was released as part of the fifth annual Summer Leadership Institute in early July.

Nearly 350 of the more than 600 public high school principals attending the Institute in Phoenix responded to the poll, which asked, “As the 2006-2007 school year begins, what are the three most important actions a family should take to assure success for its high school student.” Results were announced to the news media throughout the United States.

“There’s no one more in tune to student achievement than high school leaders,” explains Jim Hoffmann, executive director, The Principals’ Partnership. “As part of our efforts to demonstrate to America the importance of school leadership, we felt it’s time to deliver the views of principals to America.”

This year’s Institute brought together more than 600 principals from 21 states for four days of professional development, networking and camaraderie.

“The Principals’ Partnership has become a vibrant, powerful, unique network,” said Bob Turner, senior vice president, corporate relations, Union Pacific, and president, UP Foundation, during the opening reception. “You are the leaders of one of your community’s most valuable assets—its public schools—and you have one of our nation’s greatest responsibilities—educating its children.”

Calling Union Pacific a “growing, ethically strong company,” Turner told the principals UP is committed to supporting them as they work to move their communities forward. “We, at Union Pacific, are impressed with you.”

During the four-day Institute, the 600 school leaders heard general session speakers William Daggett, an internationally-recognized consultant in helping schools deliver more relevant skills and knowledge to students; Darrell Scott, father of Rachel Scott who was killed during the Columbine tragedy; and Luis Valdez, founding member of the California Arts Council. There were also 10 Assemblies, school size alike sessions, information sessions, and team meetings. Information from the presentations can be found at this link.

The poll was designed to alert parents, community leaders and other decision makers to the key elements in student success. The question was asked as part of the registration process for this year’s Institute.

Six steps families could take to assist their students were identified:

Maintain regular communication with school personnel—211 responses

Talk with your student about school activities and friends—77 responses

Establish a time and place for homework—63 responses

Have a positive attitude about education, high expectations for your school—56 responses

Assure attendance at school—33 responses

Get involved in your student’s school activities—32 responses

While communication clearly is the most important factor in the minds of the principals, there were strong views on all six.

Maintain regular communication with school personnel

Principals were overwhelmingly clear that the most important thing families can do to support success for their high school student was to maintain regular communication with school personnel. This includes talking, at least monthly, with teachers and school counselors, participating in open houses and parent-teacher conferences, and reading and responding to school communications.

Parents were also encouraged to initiate contact with school whenever they had a question, needed additional information about their child’s program or progress in school, or felt that school personnel were not providing sufficient information.

“Parents need to let their student know that they are interested and want to be involved in their education,” responded one principal. “To this end, parents need to establish contact with the school. Families should be clear about what they expect from school---a phone call in the morning if the student is not in school, information from teachers when students are not being successful in classes.”

Talk with your student about school activities and their friends

The second most frequent citation encouraged families to talk regularly with their student about school and his or her social connections. Principals felt it was important for students “to feel supported” and for families “to encourage their child to do their very best work.” One principal said, “If children do not feel that someone from home believes in them and supports them, it makes our job much more difficult.” Another principal urged, “Stay in close communication with your teenager but don’t issue ultimatums. Try to listen and come to school often.”

Establish a time and place for homework

Principals also suggested families can establish a place where homework is done and identify a time each day when homework will be completed. Complementing establishing a time and place for homework was the importance of limiting the hours that students work, and monitoring completion of homework. One principal suggested that ‘every single day, ask to see completed school work and ask questions about class events, teachers and friends.”

Have a positive attitude about education, high expectations for school

In addition to talking with students about their school activities, principals encouraged parents to speak positively about school. This includes discussions about the importance of completing high school and planning for a post-secondary educational experience. Principals also suggested that parents monitor their child’s educational program to assure that they are enrolled in rigorous courses that will support their educational goals. One principal stated, “The most important action that a family can take is to make sure that the student understands the importance of doing his or her absolute best through the family’s placement of education as its highest priority.”

Assure attendance at school

School attendance also emerged as an important factor in school success. Principals were direct in their responses. “Attendance is directly related to successfully completing high school. You can’t drop in occasionally and think that you can keep up. “Another principal remarked, “Families need to get students to school. We’ll take responsibility for educating them once they’re here.” “Getting to school includes providing adequate time for sleep, monitoring nutrition, and limiting the time that students work” said another principal.

Get involved in student’s school activities

The final category identified by principals was for families to encourage their student to be involved in school co-curricular activities. Several principals cited the research that connects dropping out of high school to lack of participation in school activities. Beyond encouraging students to participate, principals suggested that parents attend and be visible at events where their child is involved. This visibility manifests itself as yet another form of support for school.

Among other comments at the Institute—

• “The single most important ingredient of a successful high school is the school principal.”—William Daggett
• “Union Pacific is what every corporation should be-- a partner with American education.”—Daggett
• “This nation has never seen a benchmark or standard it didn’t like.”-- Daggett
• Principals are such powerful influences in their schools.”—Darrell Scott

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