Engaging stakeholders is central to CLEE’s USDOE grant-funded PLANS Program. Opening yourself up to feedback and leadership from families, students, and staff can feel overwhelming. What if the feedback is negative? What if it makes you look bad? What if people only focus on what isn’t working?
Several leaders admitted to feeling this way as they began engaging in focus groups and community asset and needs mapping. One said plainly, “It put me in a vulnerable place to have to admit to things that are not perfect.”
Then something different happened. Communities were eager to share their perspectives – and they wanted to help. Instead of tearing schools down, families and students expressed pride and support. A parent shared, “I appreciated being selected and hope opportunities like this continue. We don’t usually get asked what’s working and how we could improve it.” As the process continued, leaders began to trust it too. One reflected, “I loved having parent involvement in the group to get a wider variety of perspectives.”
This shift is powerful. Feedback wasn’t about blame, it was about belonging. Families, students, and staff wanted their schools to succeed, and they valued being invited in. A parent reflected, “The discussion pushed me to think about the challenges teachers face. It made me step out of my comfort zone and consider perspectives different from my own.” A teacher added, “Our differences have a commonality: wanting what’s best for teaching and learning, and recognizing that the school is not a silo. We need to better connect with the community in deeper ways.”
That’s part of our PLANS work – the courage to be vulnerable, the trust to let others in, and the transformation that happens when feedback, both the positive and the challenging, fuels shared pride, stronger ideas, and lasting improvement. The real question for all of us is: What would it look like for you to let others in, and what transformation might be waiting on the other side?