Market a Professional Image
The best ambassadors a school district has are its employees. People watch you and listen to you to find out what's going on in their schools. While you may live in the community, many people may not know that you are a professional school employee.
Below are some time-tested positive image-makers. You know yourself and the community. Choose those strategies that will work for you.
• Let teachers, administrators and parents know that you are a part of the education community. Your workstation may not be a classroom but what you do has an impact on each student in the building.
• Do as much business as you can in the community in which you work.
• Design a business card that you can give to businesses and community members so they recognize who you are and where you work.
• MEA Communications has developed a training called "Toot Your Own Horn" which takes you step-by-step creating a personal marketing booklet. You can use them at the start of the school year to welcome parents. Contact Rosemary Carey at rcarey@mea.org or 517/333-6214 for more information.
• Attend school events. Go to games, concerts and plays. Bring your family with you.
• Serve on school committees. Take an active part in what could affect your job.
• Vote in local, state and federal elections. This sends the message that you care about what happens in the government which could ultimately affect your job.
• Go to school board meetings. Board members make decisions about what happens in the school district and with your job.
• Support your co-workers. Don't let the negative go beyond the school building walls.
• Talk about what you do in a positive way. People are listening.
• MEA Communications has produced a DVD featuring support staff members and their contributions to their schools and community. To order your free copy, contact Dick Slagter, MEA's new Headquarters Consultant focusing on statewide anti-privatization campaigns, at 800-292-1934, Ext. 2946.