Educational administration and community engagement

Educational administrators work at all levels of education to provide leadership, develop curricula, and manage resources for their institutions. They make sure their schools meet legal and financial obligations, evaluate students' performance, supervise staff, and engage in community relations.¹

Strong community engagement with schools creates a network of local business leaders, parents, civic organizations, and community members to promote an active and dynamic education system.²

This article will explore the relationship between educational administration and community engagement and some strategies for building effective partnerships.

School administrators set the vision, culture, and tone for their organizations. As a school administrator who is focused on creating strong school and community bonds, you’ll need to establish an environment in which community engagement is a core value. You can do this by modeling the importance of interacting with community members for your staff and students and facilitating communication between everyone involved.

These relationships include stakeholders such as teachers, students, parents, government leaders, business owners, and civic leaders. You can bring them all together by establishing communication channels that are transparent and easily accessible. Some options include newsletters, community advisory boards, and social media platforms. You’ll need to be available to listen to input from all stakeholders and explain your school’s needs and policies.³

Most communities believe in the power of schools and are happy to partner with you to help provide a better education for your students. However, you need to communicate with your community so they know what you need and how they can help.

Before you begin reaching out, consider what your goals are. Think about how community members can help your students and teachers. If many of your students need one-on-one reading help, for example, you can ask for volunteers to read with them.⁴

After you’ve identified your needs, research which community resources may be able to help. If your library has a book club that meets on weekday mornings, for instance, ask the librarian if you can do a presentation about your reading buddy program. You can also tap into larger databases that connect schools with organizations such as Grantmakers for Education. This can be a particularly good option if you’re trying to raise funds for a new initiative.⁴

Schools that have the support of their communities are stronger learning environments for their students. Studies show that high family engagement is associated with higher student achievement, lower rates of absenteeism, and higher graduation rates.⁵

Partnering with local businesses can provide students with real-world learning opportunities, including internship programs for upper-level high school students. Community organizations can also help ensure your students' needs are being met outside of school. For example, many communities have a backpack program, through which they send bags of food home over the weekend for food-insecure students and their families. Others have summer meal programs for families who depend on free school lunch to feed their children.⁶

You’ll be in a better position to build strong relationships in your community if you’re prepared for the obstacles you’re likely to encounter and have a plan for navigating them. Some of the most oft-cited barriers to effective collaboration include the following:⁷

• Power imbalances: Families and community members may feel that they have little influence over school policies and that their voices aren’t being heard
• Resource constraints: Many schools are understaffed and under-resourced, which can make it difficult to free up the time to work with community partners and families
• Communication blocks: A lack of consistent and transparent communication can lead to a drop-off in interest and a loss of trust
• Cultural barriers: Diverse communities often have mixed traditions, which can make collaboration difficult

Educational administrators can overcome these issues with strategic planning. Implementing shared decision-making can help families and communities feel more involved and engaged. Educational administrators can also provide training and resources to help all stakeholders communicate more effectively. Equity-focused policies can help dismantle cultural barriers and ensure all voices are heard.⁷

Both rural and urban schools benefit from community involvement, but this looks different for each. Lost Hills is a small, rural school that serves fewer than 300 students. In 2018, Lost Hills drew on programs in and out of school to meet students’ needs, including healthcare, tutoring, and mental health. The school saw double-digit proficiency gains in academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, even when many other schools were struggling.⁸

The Atlanta-based Communities in Schools program works with 73 schools in the Atlanta metro area. It provides volunteer opportunities for students along with essential services such as tutoring, emergency aid for families, a food pantry, personalized support for students in foster care, mentors, and risky behavior programs. Communities in Schools partners with numerous urban agencies and organizations to provide these services.⁹

Maintaining ongoing programs can be as difficult as getting them started, but implementing a continuous communication and feedback loop can help. Make sure your partners can easily communicate with you and others involved in the program. Take their feedback seriously and implement their suggestions when you can.¹⁰

Regularly evaluate your partnership's impact. Understanding which programs are having the greatest benefit can help you decide where to allocate your resources and whether some partnerships need to be adjusted or dropped altogether. Professional development for administrators and staff, including training in effective communication and collaboration, will empower others to engage in relationship-building activities. This can provide you with much-needed help and allow you to expand your program offerings.¹⁰

At the University of Kansas, an online master’s degree in educational administration can equip you with the skills and education you need to navigate the complex challenges schools face. Our educational leadership program is taught by expert faculty members who will help you learn how to increase your impact.

Learn on your own schedule and pursue your degree while working. If you’re ready to advance your career and make a positive change in your community, contact one of our admissions outreach advisors today.