A Guide for School Leaders. - Review - book review

School Administrator, April, 2000 by Ernie Jean

No systemic leadership skill is more critical in education today than that of communicating with the various publics in a school community.

In Communicating with the Public, Anne Meeks, a former school district communications director, does an excellent job describing how to build a solid communications program for a school or district. Information is power but its greatest power comes in equalizing the information in all segments of the school community.

The author takes a practical approach, emphatically stating this is not a public relations book. Good communications begins with developing a quality educational program. Through that vehicle, one shares with various publics. In turn, one develops a sense of openness within a school district that allows information to flow freely.

Throughout the book, the author provides pertinent examples. Resources include a school climate checklist; tips for working with the news media; guidelines for conducting focus groups; and help with creating news releases, Web sites and videos. The appendices make up a large part of the book and truly make it a quality piece.

This book has a broader application than just schools. The principles developed here are just as applicable in any organization, including a PTA or a nonprofit agency.

(Communicating with the Public: A Guide for School Leaders, by Anne Meek, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1703 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, Va. 223 11-1714, 1999, 144 pp. with index, $22.95 softcover)