This module offers some ideas on how to get started on gathering information to help you think through what your school’s goals are and how the work of your partners can help you accomplish those goals.  One of the end products of this process can be a document that summarizes relevant information about your school, as well as the goals/priorities that you land on through discussions with your principal.  Two templates for these school summaries are available at the bottom of this page.

School leaders put a lot of thought into setting their goals, and your work as a partnerships coordinator can support this by helping to determine how partners can help accomplish this work. While partners may not be able to address each and every one of your school’s goals, there are often creative ways that partners can adapt their work to align with the goals of the school and echo the expectations and messages of other school staff, like teachers.

Each school is different and you may want to approach this work in your own way.  Your school may have had a partnerships coordinator for years, or this may be the first year. This is just a starting place to give you some ideas on where to begin in developing an understanding of your school’s goals and how the work of partners can align with them.  As always, coordinating with your principal will be important throughout this process.