As Superintendents, employing strategic communications is an essential occupational skill.  The ability to appeal to multiple constituencies in order to inform and direct them in alignment with a vision for the organization is necessary on a daily basis.  How does one acquire these skills in order to achieve a level of success in service to their school district?  This academy course will help participants:

1) Identify the target audience(s) of the communication;

2) Decide on the appropriate medium(s) to deliver the communication;

3) Develop skills in effective communication; and

4) Organize a strategy that allows the participant to “begin with the end in mind.”

Research referenced in this academy proposal is collected from multiple sources, including Patrick Lencioni’s The Advantage (2012), Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habit of Highly Effective People (1989), Donald Phillips’s Lincoln on Leadership: Executive strategies for tough times (1992), Robert Marzano, Timothy Waters, & Brian McNulty’s School Leadership that Works: From research to results (2005), and Paul Houston & Doug Eadie’s The Board Savvy Superintendent (2002).  

Ultimately, participants will develop a detailed action plan to incorporate the learning from the presentations into each participant’s organization. All four outcomes listed in the syllabus must be included in the action plan. The action plan must include for each outcome:

1. Activity – What activities will take place to achieve the desired outcome?
2. Timeline – What is the timeline for each activity?
3. Responsibility – Who is responsible to planning and implementing each activity?
4. Budget – Are there budgetary implications for each activity?