Navigating the nuances of public and private life can often be a catwalk as a public official. For newly elected school district or county office of education trustees, understanding the complexities of public speaking and learning when and how to represent at public and community events should come early. This is one of the primary school board governance functions.

Board of education members — while elected by the public — are neighbors, friends, business partners and acquaintances to many in the communities they serve. Engaging with the public in their capacity as elected public officials requires mindfulness of their role with attention and understanding that their “board hat” is always on.

Navigating this dynamic can be challenging for board members. Fortunately, trustees can find guidance and assistance by consulting their board’s governing policies on communications and their role in speaking at community events. Consulting with the superintendent or board president before any official engagement is also helpful, as they can assist in drafting talking points while emphasizing the power to act or speak comes from the collective board and no single team member has authority over the board’s decisions or actions.

How, then, do board members find a balance between being visible in the community — at school events and in other community settings — without seeming to be speaking officially on the board’s and district’s behalf? Preparation is key.

CSBA offers the following suggestions when representing the governance team at a community engagement:

• Familiarize yourself with the district or COE’s vision and review shared talking points or the board’s communication plan. Knowing the district or COE’s perspective and direction ensures you are on solid ground in speaking with one voice as you represent the governance team. Should your local educational agency not have a communication plan or talking points, seek an opportunity to build one into your governance policies.
• Collaborate as a team on an elevator speech that includes easy-to-remember and easy-to-repeat positive data points about student successes and progress toward specific goals your community is interested in.
• In situations around emotionally charged or potentially harmful hot-button topics, preparation is vital. Knowing how to listen effectively to parents and community members, particularly when they disagree with you, is a skill developed over time. Acknowledge and thank individuals for sharing and let them know you have heard them.

CSBA offers numerous ways to support district and county board members, providing training opportunities that help team members find the needed balance between maintaining a high level of community visibility and being prepared to represent the district in various situations and venues. Remember, trustees who prepare intentionally for community engagement by knowing their talking points and board perspectives while listening to understand, will represent their governance team effectively while building community trust.