Empowering Parents Through Goal Setting and Action Planning

SESSION 7 Taking Action It s time to take your knowledge and turn it into action!

OUR ACTION PLAN - EXAMPLE Our Goal: (checked against SMART goal criteria) Parents will work with PTA to ensure all students get at least 10 hours of art lessons per semester, to meet state standards. Session 7 Objectives Background information: Students are not getting the amount of arts instruction that has been outlined in the state standards. This plan will give every child more instruction in multiple art forms. Action plan task force members: Sherry, Lisa, Marisol, Lynn, Brian Action plan leaders or point people: (contact information) Sherry (123) 456-7890 Lynn (123) 456-7890 In this session you will STEP TASKS TIMING LEAD PERSON Jan 15 Feb 5 Connie Lynn Principal/School leadership support 3 Schedule a meeting with the principal 3 Get on the agenda at a School Site Council meeting. Learn about the benefits of goal setting. Review the steps to action planning. Work with your classmates to complete a group action plan. Research 3 Check LCAP re arts programming 3 Research model program 3 Identify potential community partners Jan 15 Nancy Lisa Identified strategies 3 Bring an outside nonprofit partner with nonprofit agency to train parent art docents. 3 Become part of LCAP planning committee. Budget and timing considerations 3 Program will take place spring semester. 3 Cost for training and supplies: $1,000. 3 Lessons will be led by trained volunteers Funding Sources 3 PTA will donate $500 3 Principal s discretionary fund: $500 Implementation steps 3 Teachers set aside 30 minutes every week 3 Art supplies will be assembled and distributed by volunteers in advance 3 Parents will be informed of the program and recruited to volunteer as docents through the school newsletter, etc. Success measures 3 Docents will keep logs of their visits. 3 Task force members will visit classrooms to observe and talk to children and teachers. As parents, each one of us has a chance to change the world, starting with our children and our schools. Continuous improvement steps 3 School Site Council will commit to replenishing arts supplies once a year. Additional notes

Finding Direction: Goal Setting Goal setting is a powerful technique that can yield strong returns in all areas of your life: Provides a clear and focused direction that translates to a sense of security and purpose. Helps you to efficiently and effectively use your time Boosts your self esteem, confidence, and belief in you ability to make things happen, increasing the feeling of being in control Research has shown that people who use goal setting: Suffer from less stress and anxiety Concentrate better Show more self-confidence Perform better Are happier and more satisfied. Share a goal you have set in the past. Did you achieve it? Writing a goal down is the first step in making it more real. PG. 1

Finding Direction: Goal Setting What is a goal? A specific, measurable accomplishment that you or a group of people would like to achieve in the future. It has a tangible outcome and points to achieve along the way to reaching your goal. Goals can be large or small, short term or long term. The key to goal setting is to employ a consistent process that enables you to set goals that are attainable and that allow for a realistic and clear path to realizing that goal. Using the SMART approach can help you construct goals that are: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely Be positive! When goal setting, strive for what you want to see happen. PG. 1-2

Class Activity: Action Planning Step 1: Goal Setting Let s begin the action planning process! Remove page 9 from the back of Session 7 we ll use it to develop our action plan. If you have multiple action plan ideas and will be breaking into small groups, move into your teams now. Begin discussing the goal(s) of your action plan. Remember to keep it straight forward and emphasize what you want to happen. Refer to page 2 and use the SMART approach to help you construct an attainable goal. Write your goal. Let s continue with some tips to consider as we further develop our action plan Your goal should be believable and realistic, but not necessarily too easy.

Making Your Post-Academy Action Plan As leaders, advocates, and involved parents who are ready to take action at your school, it s important to recognize that every project, program or initiative requires setting goals and creating an action plan. A few things to keep in mind: Whenever possible, involve all members of your parent community. Identify those individuals who have a wealth of passion, energy, knowledge, skills, and connections and invite them to support your plan. Involve teachers or your principal as appropriate. Are their members of the community school district, city, local businesses, volunteer organizations that can help you achieve your goal? Not all goals will require funding, but don t forget to consider money as you brainstorm ideas. Consider any other supplies or resources you might need to achieve your goal. Is there an existing project at your school that needs support? Maybe your goal is to mobilize a group and offer your new knowledge and skills? PG. 3

The Nuts and Bolts Steps to Building a Plan The following 8 steps can provide a framework for your action planning process. Some of these steps may only be considerations as you continue to gather information and support to help you further develop and realize your goal. Your action plan should be customized in any way that works for your group. 1. Identify a need or opportunity. 2. Do some research. 3. State your goals(s) and objectives in clear terms. 4. Get buy in and support from the top. 5. Come up with solutions. 6. Cover the financial bases. 7. Get organized. 8. Take action! And keep things on track. Look around your school to see what needs to be changed in order to make students, staff, and/or families more successful. PG. 4

Class Activity: Action Planning Step 2: Background and Steps Refer to the Example Action Plan on pg. 5 as you continue to develop your Action Plan. 1. Discuss, then complete the background information for your goal: Why is this necessary or important? What do you hope to achieve? What will you goal improve or provide for your school community? 2. Identify the individuals who will help you realize your goal? Who will be the action plan leaders? 3. Discuss and consider the steps necessary to achieve your goal. What tasks need to be achieved, and in what time frame? Write your steps. 4. Determine who will lead each step. You are each qualified and equipped leaders take the lead and use what you know to create change! Remember, your action plan is a work in progress. You are setting a framework today, however you may need additional time or meetings to further develop your plan. You ARE powerful and you CAN make a difference!

School Smarts in Action! Parents just like you have used their knowledge to change things large and small at their schools, and so can you! Here are just a few examples of School Smarts parents making a difference by achieving the following goals: Advocated for more arts education in their schools Created a mentor program between incoming parents and established parents Addressed traffic/bus issues on campus Raised money for shade structures in play yards Set up centralized VIP (Very Important Parent) center, where teachers from all over the school submit their requests for volunteer assistance and parents come and provide help in whatever ways fits their schedules. Organized their schools first PTA and became leaders on the ELAC, SSS, PTA and other district committees. You ARE powerful and you CAN make a difference! PG. 6

Class Activity: Action Planning Step 3: Sharing Out If you worked in small groups to develop action plans, share your goal(s) with the other groups in class. If possible, invite your principal, assistant principal, key parent leaders or members of your School Smarts Steering Committee into class and share your goals with them. Allow for feedback and suggestions on how to improve or better achieve your goals. Revise or adjust your action plan as necessary. Discuss any further steps needed to realize your goal and make your action plan a reality. This might include a future date when you can present your plan to key individuals. Congratulations on taking the first step toward positive change! Never believe that a small group of committed people cannot change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Session 7 Wrap Up To be successful, our schools need the support and energy of parents, families and community members. To get the education they deserve, our children need parents to speak out on their behalf, and stay involved at home, at school, and in the community. There is a lot to do, and no one better than you to do it. Now is the time to make your voice matter! Please complete the Post-Academy Questionnaire at the end of Session 7. Finalize graduation details & plans. Our graduation is: Get ready to celebrate!! PG. 8

CONGRATULATIONS! You are a School Smarts Graduate!