Shifting Fears
Editor’s Note: Melissa McConnell is the communications specialist at Belton School District #124 in Belton, Missouri. Her career in education began as library media specialist before becoming a technology integration specialist. This is her third year in school communications. This essay originally appeared in the October 2017 issue of the 1635 newsletter. Subscribe here.
I have had one car with a manual transmission. I was a newlywed in North Carolina and my husband should be sainted for teaching me to drive our first major purchase together. I was afraid, I was frustrated, I was embarrassed…but I was also determined. Soon, I realized a shift in my mindset was all I needed to master the gears and pedals to get in the rhythm of driving it. Understanding the gears, pedals, and their purpose was half the battle to succeed in driving the car, and I found I have had a very similar experience shifting those gears — and fears — when I became a school communications specialist. I have been in education for over 20 years, but this is only my third in school public relations. Each gear shift (and fear shift!) in this role has led me to believe I am finding my rhythm and our district is better because of it.
First Gear: While a low speed for a car, it’s how I started. Slowly. I knew I had a lot to learn — I came from the educational technology world and the school library world before that — so I proceeded to read, watch, listen, and research in a couple of months before I started. I found some great resources, books, websites, organizations, and more to support me. Time to rev it into second gear.
Second gear: Known as the “workhorse” in a manual transmission, it’s truly where the rubber does meet the road in school PR. I had to learn what we had (not much), what we were missing (a communications plan), and design a roadmap to get there. I still spend a lot of time in second gear writing, revising, communicating, and learning from others. I still consider this a fear I overcome daily; making sure we are prepared as best we can for what the day may bring.
Neutral: Yep, I learned sometimes doing nothing is the right thing to do. As a doer, this gear is the one that is the most challenging for me to embrace. While I love to learn and soak in new knowledge, idling and just observing is HARD. But I recall from my library days when I used the Workshop model: we have to reflect on our teaching to be sure we are meeting the needs of our learners. Same thing here. I have to reflect on my practices to be sure I’m meeting the needs of all of our stakeholders.
Reverse: Sometimes reflection while in neutral means I realize I’m going the wrong way. Reversing course and revisiting plans or actions is something we do a lot in school PR. It’s best practice to be sure we’re on the right track, and when we aren’t, be humble enough to acknowledge it and make changes going forward.
And then there’s the clutch. The car can’t go forward without engaging the clutch with each gear shift. Know who I consider my clutch in #SchoolPR? Each. Of. You. You drive me to be better, to share more, to take risks, and to succeed. I can’t thank you enough for being the ones who make sharing the story of my district one of the most rewarding road trips ever.
1635 is a newsletter and a monthly moment to propel us forward in public education. Each month it features long-form content from those working both inside public education and from those on the outside looking in. We can learn so much from both viewpoints. The newsletter delivers the last Tuesday of every month. Subscribe.
