Stand Tall Leadership. Steven A. Bollar

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      If you offer this information at the end of every email, there is no way a parent can say they didn't know how to get a hold of you or you were not accessible.

       Say Cheese!

      If you are comfortable, consider adding a headshot under your signature. Simply cut and paste a nice, clear image of yourself. Do not use a full body image or a candid photo. You must appear professional and friendly. Also, be sure to shrink the image down to a sensible size. The photo should not be bigger than your typed name. If you don't want to use your photo, consider using the school's mascot. Again, the image should not be bigger than your typed name.

      The focus of this idea is to increase communication and improve the image of the school. Through your email signature, you can continually share the vision of the school and maximize your public relations opportunities.

      PS: I hope you are not planning to add every idea I shared with you into your email signature. Pick one or two that would work and try it out for a month or two. Let me know what your response is.

      First Impression

      When you walk into the front of your building, what do you see, hear, and smell? In most schools, you see a beige wall with a few posters or school projects hung on the wall. Possibly, a desk with someone who is checking in people for security reasons. You hear the rush of the traffic outside, a few students in the hallways, or possibly nothing at all. The smell could be many things. You could smell wet carpet from the runner in front of the door, the garbage from the can next to the wall, or the famous aroma of sweaty children.

      Any way you look at it, the combination of sights and smells could make anyone entering the building have a not-so-good experience. When visitors enter your building, it is the first impression they get of what is important to the school. Don't leave this up to chance. Take a moment, stand outside of your building, walk in the front door, and let your senses take inventory. What is the message about your school when you enter? Is it a positive first impression? If the message isn't clear and you are not impressed, here are five ways to change that.

       Plug In

      If you walk in your building and get a whiff of the last sweaty child who walked by, consider using fresh-air plug-ins. Find an outlet or two that is close to the front door, get a few fragrant plug-ins, place the setting on low, and enjoy. Having a pleasant smell as you enter the building is a delightful surprise that goes a long way. Make sure you change the plug-in monthly.

       Boom Box

      Purchase a small Bluetooth speaker and place it near the main entrance. Create a playlist with classical music or familiar tunes and push play from a local computer or digital player. Make sure you put the playlist on repeat so the music will continually play. No need to turn the volume up to 10. Keep it at a level so people can notice the music when they enter. Having calming music play as people enter helps set the tone. This is especially helpful if you have an angry parent or community member coming in.

       Say Cheese

      Take several photos of students who attend the school. Pick out a few that are full of energy and have them enlarged to poster size. Frame the photos and arrange them in the lobby. Some people love black and white photos and some like the bright colors. Either way works well. The focus is to showcase what is most important, the students. Having student work on the walls is nice, but how often do you see people stopping to look at it? Displaying beautiful children on the walls will attract more people and make for a positive environment as you enter the school.

       Theme

      Place a large banner at the main entrance showcasing your theme for the year. The banner should clearly state what is important to everyone who enters. There is no doubt that the school is a positive place for learning.

       Paperless

      Get rid of all the paper taped to the front door. So often schools tape important messages to the front door. Here is a secret, NOBODY READS IT! Find another location to post those papers. If you must hang them at the front door, get some clear plastic sleeves and slide them into sleeves. That way they are straight, organized, and not ripped with tape hanging on it. Nothing says total confusion like a school door with 10 ripped announcements all over it.

      Last Day Ice Cream

      On the last day of school, after the students pull away on the buses, give your staff a treat. Schedule the local ice cream truck to come by the school that day and encourage each staff member to get one ice cream treat from the truck. This is a great way to say thank you for a great school year.

Note

      1 1 Barbara DeAngelis, Real Moments: Discover the Secret for True Happiness (New York: Dell Publishing, 1994), p. 99.