#SchoolPR Insights Blog

Planning for next year already? Now is the perfect time to do so! With school out of session, you and the team—as well as the rest of your community—have time to reflect on the past year’s achievements and challenges. Use the community’s feedback as you solidify decisions for the upcoming school year.

Benefits of the annual summer reflection

Never does a school leader say, “We achieved our mission, so our work here is done!” There’s always room for growth, whether it’s the culture, curriculum, employee benefits or program offerings. Reflecting on the past school year allows you to keep setting the bar higher and higher by identifying shortcomings in various aspects of school life.

A yearly reflection also helps you become more in tune with your audience. By seeking out their opinions on certain matters, you gain valuable insight into their wants, needs and concerns, as well as what’s working and what’s not. Collecting feedback is key for steering your school’s efforts in the right direction.

Reflecting on the past isn’t solely for identifying challenges and shortcomings. This practice also helps you pinpoint strengths that are unique to your school community. When you know the community’s strengths, you’re better equipped to capitalize on those strengths and integrate them into your school brand identity.

How to gather feedback from your audience

Every person has something worthwhile to say. To tap into their insight, maximize your reach by asking for feedback in a variety of ways. Here are some effective methods for gathering feedback from your audience:

• Classroom surveys: At the end of every school year, ask teachers to distribute printed surveys among their students. You can customize these surveys based on the school building, grade level and subject matter. This will help you gather a large quantity of feedback from the student population.
• Public hearings: There is no overestimating the power of speaking face-to-face with people in your school community. Give them a chance to vocalize their thoughts and opinions by inviting the public to board meetings. Ensure enough time is set aside for community members to speak.

• Social media polls: One quick way to gauge your audience’s wants and needs is to create a poll on social media. This option works best for simpler, more straightforward topics, like voting on new school colors or asking which activities people enjoy the most at school events.

Reflect on the past to improve the future

A better school year starts with reflecting on past achievements and challenges. As you undergo this process, remember that significant growth involves more than a school leader’s perspective. Seek feedback from your students, staff, families and community members, so that you can better serve their needs in the years to come.