Adopt a School Toolkit for School and Business Partners

Transcription

1 Adopt a School Toolkit for School and Business Partners The goal of AAS Partnerships is to forge mutually beneficial partnerships between local schools and businesses. This toolkit is provided for guidance and ideas to form successful partnerships. Active partnerships will be recognized on a formal basis for each upcoming school year only upon receipt of the Annual AAS Commitment form.

2 Explore a Possible Match Initial meeting phase This is intended to guide you though a first meeting. These activities and questions are intended to help you discuss how well your organizations align. You may also want to review it annually before completing the Annual Commitment Form. Share with each other an overview of your school or business. Where are you located? Who do you serve? What are you proud of? Would a tour / visit of both organizations be helpful? Share with each other the goals / wants / needs of each organization Mission and Vision of both organizations Academic / Business goals and challenges Student needs / Business or customer needs You will want to be clear and honest about what you need in your organization, as well as from the partnership. Share with each other the resources of your organization Time: Different Levels of Involvement require different time commitments, time to participate in activities and also time to develop the relationship of trust and respect. Talent: Some partnerships require specific skills and others require passion. What are your strengths? Treasure: Some partnerships involve funding or in-kind donations, others do not. What are you looking for? Review the Continuum of Involvement, sharing your thoughts around each level. Donor Level Provide money, materials or items to a school as requested Supporter Level Participate in a few events each year; some planning required to coordinate activities. (Ex: Health Fair Day, Field Day, Tour of Business) Engaged Level Cooperate in ongoing, continuous support of programs within the school. (Ex: Weekly indoor recess activities, supplemental reading programs) Integrated Level Partners are integrated into the school plan/curriculum and collaborate with the classroom. (Ex: Battelle Scientists, Literacy Alliance) Business and Schools have the flexibility to move up or down this continuum based upon changing organizational or personal capacities. In relation to the Continuum of Involvement, is there alignment of interests between both organizations? Can you form a common vision for the partnership that still honors the mission / vision of each individual organization?

3 Are stakeholders from both organizations similarly represented and interested in participating as equals? Review Expectations of Partnerships 1. Work together throughout the year for the betterment of the school, students and business. Develop respect for one another s strengths and talents. Establish ground rules for communicating. Identify clear roles and responsibilities for all team members. Create a spirit of cooperation, encouragement, and appreciation. Communicate with faculty, staff, and community about activities. 2. Plan goal-oriented partnerships. Establish a level of involvement. Link partnership activities to school improvement plans and business goals when appropriate. Identify and obtain needed resources for planned activities. 3. Conduct useful meetings. Create an appropriate meeting schedule. Invite input from all team members. 4. Continue to build on and improve partnership. Evaluate each activity as needed for level of involvement. Replace team members who leave, and adjust roles and responsibilities as needed. Actively recruit new family and community partners for fresh ideas and diverse perspectives. Celebrate successful partnership activities and results. Re-evaluate partnership annually and recommit as desired. Does this sound like a FUN partnership that is good for kids and learning? Is it also good for the business? Do not underestimate the importance of FUN!

4 Annual Partnership Commitment Annual meeting phase (Required for Recognition) Initial Commitment for the School Year Renewal Commitment for the School Year Business Organization: Name of Business: Business Address: Web site Address: Business Phone: Other Team Members Involved: Contact Name: Contact Position: Preferred method of contact by the WACC or WCS: Preferred method of contact by partner: Owner / Manager School Organization: Name of School: School Address: Web site Address: School Phone: Other Team Members Involved: Contact Name: Contact Position: Preferred method of contact by the WACC or WCS: Preferred method of contact by partner: Principal: Please check all that apply: We are willing to commit the time and energy required to meet these four expectations: 1. Work together throughout the year for the betterment of the school, students and business. 2. Plan goal-oriented partnerships. 3. Conduct useful meetings. 4. Continue to build on and improve partnership. Please officially recognize our partnership for the school year!! This annual commitment, valid for up to one year, begins on, 20 and will continue through June / September, 20. Signatures of Participants:

5 Partnering for the School Year Planning meeting phase This step is typically done soon after the organizations agree to partner for the year. This may also be revisited as needed. You may want to share the following documents or information: School and business calendars, explaining busy times, slow time, difficult times, etc. Strategic Plan; What goals did you meet last year? What are you working on this year? What are you passionate about? Newsletters or other announcements. Visit partner web site. You may want to visit each other s organizations Experience what each organization does first-hand. Meet other members of the organization Attend WACC Education Committee Kick-Off Breakfast in October. Is the business interested in being set up as a vendor for the district? (each of the schools secretaries can assist with this process) Confirm that you have a common vision of the partnership and how you will engage in the continuum of Involvement (Donor, Supporter, Engaged, or Integrated.) Create your Communication Plan for the partnership: How often do you plan to communicate? Who will initiate the contact? If you have not heard from your partner, at what point will you contact them? Do you plan to meet regularly or just as needed? Do you want to receive copies of newsletters, announcements, etc? How will you disperse the information across your organization? Remember to exchange phone numbers and addresses!

6 Plan your activities for the year. This will look different for each level of involvement. Are these on-going? Isolated events? How will you know when the opportunity arises? What are the activities? Are the activities on your calendar and the calendar of both organizations? Do you need to involve other people? What planning needs to occur? When will this happen? Does this meet the needs of both organizations? How will you publicize your activity? Optional Goal Setting Forms are available. Create your Assessment Plan: How do you plan to assess your success? Is this formal or informal? Quantitative or qualitative? Will you build in formative assessments to monitor the progress of activities throughout the year or just gather summative data at the end of the process? Can you be open and honest about what is working for your organization and what is not without either side taking it personally? Optional Annual Evaluation Form is available. How will you document or publicize your activities and successes? Do you have celebrations built into your year? Do you know how to complete Media Request Form through WCS? Does the business organization have marketing support you can tap into? Has the business tracked your hours / commitment for the Chamber? If kids are involved in service, have you logged them with the LEAGUE? Have there been any donations made to the district that should be recognized? Have you joined WeLEARN?

7 Goal Setting Form Year - School Name: Business Partner: Goals were discussed and agreed upon with School and Business on this date: Key Areas Goals Action Steps Name Target Date Rev. 9 09

8 At the Conclusion of the School Year Evaluation meeting phase Consider reporting significant accomplishment to the AAS committee. This optional form may be used to guide your meeting or to report your involvement. Find opportunities to appreciate or thank your partner Volunteer luncheons Include in annual celebrations such as DARE graduation, Student Award ceremonies, Celebrations of Service, Thank you cards Attend the WACC Education Committee End of Year Wrap-up. Reflect on the partnership: 1. What has gone well? What are your successes? 2. How did this partnership benefit the students and their growth? 3. How did the business benefit from the partnership? 4. What obstacles did you encounter? 5. What would you do differently next time?

9 Rate the partnership: What Overall, how do you rate the quality of your partnership? WEAK/JUST STARTING: Not well developed; needs work FAIR: Implemented, but needs improvement or expansion GOOD: Well developed goals, & addressed my needs EXCELLENT: Well developed and well implemented, focused goals, and addressed the needs of both the partners. List the members of this year s team. Put a star (*) next to those leaving. AAS Members, Position/ Role on Team (teacher, parent, administrator, etc.) Please list the events/activities that you partnered together: Date Activity / contribution Rating Other Feedback: Are you both interested in renewing this partnership next year? Yes / No If Yes, please complete a Partnership Commitment form for the next school year and return it to the WACC. If no, please notify WACC or committee chairs. If one or both of you choose to pass on this partnership, would you be interested in exploring a different partnership? Yes / No If you are interested in a different partnership, please go to the WACC web site and complete a new request for partnership form. AAS Committee Co Chairs, Suzanne Kile (kiles@wcsoh.org), Polly Benson (polly@circuitwellness.com) Send Completed forms to: Lindsay Brown, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce 99 Commerce Drive Westerville, OH lbrown@westervillechamber.org