Approaching the Education System

When you have a super program such as Arbor Week, you want everyone to use the materials because: you know they have value. To market a product, you have to reach your audience --in this case, educators. The response that you receive will depend on the interest sparked in a particular individual. If at first you do not succeed, try again and again.

Doors To Knock On

1. Your Child's Teacher: If you want to start on a small scale, with someone you know, this person is a good choice.
2. Your Local School: Visit the principal and explain your Arbor Week program, outlining the benefits teachers and students. You can offer to provide resources to the library or to give an after-school workshop on the program.
3. Principal's Associations: Most boards have associations of principals that meet regularly. It may be possible to speak at a meeting, outlining Arbor Week opportunities. These associations sometimes have a professional development committee that organizes special programs for teachers.
4. Teachers' Federations: Local teachers' federations often have their own newsletters. Such a publication can be an excellent vehicle for letting teachers know about Arbor Week resources and opportunities
5. Consultants: Most school boards have staff who are responsible for curriculum development. A consultant may be associated with a specific subject, such as science, or with a grade grouping such as Primary -Junior (grades 1 -6). Working with these consultants allows you to offer resources and program to specific subjects and grade levels.
6. Superintendents: Superintendents are responsible for consultants and for specific subjects or specific schools within a board. The administrative organization differs from board to board. Superintendents ca assist you in getting resources into the media centre or resource centre of each school, in developing workshops or professional development days, in duplicating materials needed to distribute to teachers, and in informing teachers about learning opportunities for them and teaching resources that will benefit their program.
7. Directors of Education: Visit the Director and make him or her aware of Arbor Week and the role i1 can play in assisting teachers. Support from the director, in the form of a directive to all schools, will assist in stimulating active participation of schools in Arbor Week activities.
8. School Board Members: Your locally elected school trustee can be approached to bring the Arbor Week program to the attention of other board members and the staff of the school board or to arrange for you to make a presentation. There are often board committees that will be interested in your proposal. I' is often very worthwhile to approach both the elected members and the staff of the school board. Remember there are usually two school boards in your area: the public school board and the Roman Catholic Separate school board.
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