Communicating With School Boards: Position, Power, and Perseverance

Abstract

The theme of this years Academy meeting, “Telling Our Story,” raises important questions about how best to hone our message to diverse audiences in order to achieve desired outcomes. This paper addresses strategies and techniques that can be employed with local school boards. The school board is recognized as one of the most influential organizations for developing and shaping policy at the local level. Without the support and advocacy of the local board, efforts to promote physical education and healthful activity for children will not be achieved. The paper also suggests that many advocacy approaches can be generalized lo other groups and settings. including state legislative bodies and other statewide commissions that address issues related to the education of children and youth. Finally, the author acknowledges that despite the best efforts to tell our story, intervening variables beyond the storyteller's control (e.g., happenstance. chance, and fate) may influence the message.