Friday, September 8, 2017

Stakeholder blog series (1 of 4) - Meet the Parents

2017.9.8


Stakeholder Blog Series (1 of 4)
Meet the Parents


“Outtakes”. A snippet of thoughts to kick off this blog post:
When people (in this case, parents) care, and join forces, they are capable of amazing outcomes.


What I am looking forward to putting into practice, or continuing:
Looking for ways to continue to improve the already impressive campus and school community.


Quote(s) that resonated with me this week:
Details matter. Pay attention to the details in everything that you do.

The blog this week will kick off a four week series on stakeholders in education. This has been exciting to think about because it factors in all of the moving parts that make an educational system operate. EdTechReview defines a stakeholder as follows:


“A stakeholder is anyone who is involved in the welfare and success of a school and its students, including administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, community members, school board members, city councilors and state representatives”. ( EdTechReview)


For the purpose of this series, we will focus on four specific groups of stakeholders: parents, community, faculty and staff, and of course, our biggest asset, students. As an educator as well as a parent of three school aged children (Ellie, G7; Brooke, G5, Nicholas, G1), I will consider both perspectives throughout the series. Without further adieu, let us “Meet the Parents”.   


To say that New Canaan High School is a special place would be an understatement. This school is supported and held in high regard by all stakeholders. The investments of time, money, work and volunteerism that go into NCHS demonstrate the desire to provide the best overall experience for the students of New Canaan.


It did not take long to see these investments in action through the work of the amazing Parent Faculty Association at NCHS. Be sure to check out their site, here, or on Twitter at @nchs_pfa. I came on board in the midst of a fairly significant beautification project that has improved the overall look and feel of the physical plant. Pictures speak louder than words and you can see some of their efforts below.


Between outdoor plantings, banners, signage, comfortable seating, a suitable base for the school mascot (Ram), welcoming & informational events, staff appreciation, and much more, the PFA has transformed what was a fine learning institution into a fine learning institution with an amazingly positive feel. This makes a big difference. It instills pride and ownership in students and staff. This all translates into a more comfortable learning environment. A lot of science and research go into making spaces pleasant or suitable to the specific intent of an organization, or simply branding (this is why fast food restaurants use certain colors and furniture to increase sales). Think about stepping foot onto a college campus that has a sense of pride in their campus. School colors are prominent. There are attractive signs that help you navigate your way around. There are comfortable seating areas that invite you to relax, or study, or socialize. There are banners celebrating the school and all of its areas or offerings. All of this helps tighten the academic, social-emotional, and physical loop of a school.  


Without the efforts and investments of the parents in the NCHS community, none of this would be possible. I believe that students appreciate what they have here. I also know that when NCHS students leave here and speak with friends who did not attend NCHS, they will truly know how fortunate they are to have a parent base as committed as the NCHS PFA. Thank you for all that you do!

Please feel free to contact or follow me:
Twitter: @DavidGusitsch
Email: david.gusitsch@ncps-k12.org





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