Discovering Opportunity Through Building Partnerships

     In Chapter 11 of Eric Sheninger's book Digital Leadership - Changing Paradigms for Changing Times he talks about 5 different ways to create partnerships with organizations outside of the school walls so that authentic, ongoing, awesome learning experiences for students could continuously take place. The five partnerships he suggests that we take advantage of include:

• University partnerships
• Have university classes taught in the schools.  This will help plant dreams of moving on to higher education.
• Experiential learning partnerships
• Work on fostering relationships with organizations like Audobon Centers, Botanical Gardens, and The YMCA.  Look for experts in different fields that help maximize student learning.
• Intra-school partnerships
• Look for ways that schools can share resources through cooperation and communication.  Look for ways that this can be done in your own district and world wide.
• Corporate/Community partnerships
• Look for perrenial partnerships that will last.  The idea is to find partnerships where the roots between the school and organization can run deep.  Develop only those partnerships that will last.
• Mental Health Partnerships
• Find mental health organizations that come alongside the school and offer programs that will help meet the needs of students who are struggling with mental health issues and, for the older students, drug abuse.  We need to be willing to share space and instructional time so that these struggling students can be given foundational help that will allow them to perform better academically.

     The other idea that Sheninger presents in this chapter is that of learning to leverage social media.  Share what is being done at the school and in the district through Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets.  This could help lead to strategic relationships, authentic learning experiences, professional development opportunities, school recognition, professional recognition, and an influx of  opportunities for superior educational technology to be brought to our school and district.

     Our school and district need to decide exactly what it is we want to become known for in this diverse and ever expanding world of education.  What is going to be our brand, or what do we want to be known for?  What partnerships with organizations outside the school walls do we need to find so that this brand can be developed so we can give the students outstanding learning experiences?  These are all questions worthy of being asked and answered.