Literacy Champions

5 Keys to a Successful School Partnership
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1. Timely communication:  Particularly early on, but also throughout your partnership, thoughtful and conscientious communication is essential.  When your partner reaches out with a question or requesting more information, try to respond by the next business day.
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2. Build and Empower Your Team:  Training, communications and collaborative practices will need to be shared by church, school and in many cases, a literacy non-profit volunteer coordinator.  Well defined roles will improve the overall experience for all parties and will ensure a strong and lasting partnership.
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3. Clarify your Communication Process:  Make sure all parties (school, business/church, literacy organization) have the contact information for all key leaders, keep that information updated and have a plan for on-going communication for healthy and mutually-successful relationships.

4. Adopt a Listening Posture:  Focus on the school’s needs by listening and meeting them in order to create a trusting relationship.  Be interested by asking open-ended questions and continue to follow-up on the values, needs and concerns expressed.
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5. Keep it Relational:  Remember, all of this is about people.  Look for ways to get to know your partners.  Find ways to encourage and surprise them with acts of kindness.  At first, some may be suspicious of an outside group coming into a school, trust is built by how we relate and behave.

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