WASB Wisconsin State Education Convention 2012

Lots of Innovation Happening in Small Communities

When I submitted my proposal to present a seminar about sustainability through community engagement at this year’s WASB State Education Convention, I didn’t really expect to get an invitation. 

The reason?  While there is no shortage of small groups of people and individual schools doing creative and successful things to raise the bar for student achievement, you usually don’t see that type of passion and enthusiasm for change at the school district level. 

I was asked to be prepared for 75 attendees; I brought enough materials for 100 and it wasn’t enough.  There weren’t even enough chairs for the more than 110 people who attended my seminar titled Sustainability through Community Engagement.  Not only that, more than 30 people bought my book *The Secret to Better Schools; a New Mindset for Engaging the Community, and 24 schools requested a free consultation to learn about how alinea can help them secure community support to achieve their amazing visions for their schools.

 The energy in the room was hopeful, exciting and contagious.  One of the attendees, a school board member in one of these amazing communities hurried up to me after the seminar exclaiming, “I want to join your team and do this amazing work!”  And guess what?  This past week she joined alinea, LLC for her first team meeting. Stay tuned for more developments!

Shortly after, we headed back to the booth, where a steady stream of principals, superintendents and school board members proudly shared the exciting initiatives and public-private partnerships they were already forming.  It was so exciting, and even hugs were shared.

My team and I have always enjoyed working with schools in smaller communities.  It doesn’t take long to experience the unique personality of a community, nor does it take long for people to step up once there is a clear vision.  We talked with education leaders from the top of the state like Bayfield, Washburn, Drummond and Manitowish to the tip of Door County like Oconto, Gibralter, Little Chute, Seymour and Crandon to the west of Milwaukee like Wisconsin Dells and Montello. 

The passion and optimism of these school leaders was so refreshing!  All they need is a little confidence to know that the community will be there for them if they can learn how to ask for support.  That’s were alinea comes in.  We love helping schools attract resources by teaching them how to inspire people with their stories, be clearer about what they need and how people can help, and strategically cultivate relationships.

We’re so excited to hit the road and bring our proven model to school districts all over the state!     

*P.S.  Following the conference, "The Secret to Better Schools" made it onto Bobby Tanzilo's OnMilwaukee.com blog!  What a great way to start 2012.  

Stay tuned for more developments, we have a lot to share!