She was also kind enough to recommend an article on public involvement and education that she says is very applicable to this school board and that reflects her own philosophy of public service. It is a PR primer with solutions for overcoming the interface problem between conventional "quick sale" market approaches and essential aspects of public engagement in education. In this article, Scott Widmeyer outlines a dozen lessons learned during decades of reform:
- Publicity and promotions are not enough to make a real difference or a lot of money in education;
- Invest time and talent to create informed education consumers;
- Be patient and prepare for fallout from unintended consequences;
- Listen carefully to what the public is saying -- and use polling data wisely;
- Beware the perils of pandering to public opinion;
- Gain support by behaving like experts;
- Help people ask good questions;
- Paint a variety of pictures of success;
- Take time to educate the education reporters;
- Keep corporate leaders at the table;
- Be willing to consider real structural changes; and
- Make communications an engine of the learning enterprise.
C mon mike, it is common knowledge that Kathleen takes all of her direction from City Hall. I don't think she has ever had an original thought. She is merely a puppet.
ReplyDeleteAnd anonymous commenters always have the market on "common knowledge" cornered.
ReplyDeleteI don't know all the school board members, but I do know and respect Kathleen Harkey enormously, and I know that she is one of the most independent, thoughtful and well-centered persons I've ever known.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that some cowardly anonymous poster could snipe at Kathleen without a scintilla of 'evidence' is a sad commentary on at least some of the people who are not supporters of Kathleen.