Communication is the Key to Unlocking Doors and Hearts

In a recent newsletter sent by the American Schools Foundation Alliance, their front and center story was “Communication is the Key to Unlocking Doors.”

Those of us who know communications, know how true that is! The article goes on to say, “The link between communicating and raising money is clear.”

Now, the application of that idea to public schools may not be as immediately obvious to some as to others. But again – how true! Think about it: why would anyone want to spend money on something they know nothing about? I think the majority of people do not go into a store and say, “Give me something – anything, I just want to spend money.” Of course not!

Well, if we extend that reasoning, then, it makes total sense to me that we must always be communicating with our publics about our schools. If we don’t – they have no idea what they are paying for, and then why would they want to continue paying? Worse yet, if we aren’t communicating with them somebody else may be -- and it may or may not be the true picture.

It is true, communication is the key to unlocking doors and I would add, unlocking hearts. I’m sure the author intended this to mean two-way communication: Not just sending, but actually engaging and communicating two-way with our publics. That’s when we will start building relationships.

Dorreen Dembski
Director of Communications
Wisconsin Association of School Boards