Education and Community Building: Connecting Two Worlds

• NCJ Number: 193908
• Author(s): Jeanne Jehl; Martin J. Blank; Barbara McCloud
• Editor(s): Atelia I. Melaville
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 34 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Rockefeller Foundation
• Corporate Author: Institute for Educational Leadership
• Sale Source: Institute for Educational Leadership
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report intends to help educators and community leaders understand and respect the assets and talents that each brings to the goal of improving student learning.

Abstract

Observations at four sites where schools and community-building organizations are working together provided unique contexts in which to illustrate some of the most challenging issues and promising strategies described in this report. The first section of the report provides the backdrop against which efforts to strengthen schools and build communities are occurring, as it discusses the goals of building stronger schools, building communities, and building "bridges" between educators and community-builders. The second section of the report identifies some of the differences in structure, organizational culture, and leadership between schools and community organizations as institutions. These institutions have differing perspectives toward schooling, citizen involvement, accountability, and partnership styles. The report then presents strategies and logistics whereby community-builders and school leaders can cooperate in progressing toward their common goal of ensuring a positive future for children, their families, and their communities. Educators and community-builders can work together well when they approach each other with respect, take time to build trust, and define ways that their assets can be used to reach shared goals. Guidelines provided for building relationships between educators and community-builders focus on building capacity in all sectors, broadening and deepening accountability, and the development of comprehensive school reform strategies that model the value of community. "Rules of Engagement" are outlined for educators and community-builders. Four case studies illustrate how the concepts presented in this report have been applied in various localities to create a working collaboration between school leaders and community-builders. Appended resource organizations and 7 annotated selected publications