How do you foster long-term relationships and communication with school partners?

1 Identify your goals and values

Before reaching out to potential or existing school partners, it is important to clarify your goals and values as a museum educator. What are the main objectives and outcomes of your museum education programs? How do they align with the museum's mission and vision? How do they support the curriculum and standards of the schools you serve? How do they reflect your educational philosophy and pedagogy? By articulating your goals and values, you can communicate them more effectively to your school partners and establish a common ground for collaboration.

2 Research and understand your school partners

Another key step to foster long-term relationships and communication with school partners is to research and understand their context, needs, and interests. You can use various sources of information, such as school websites, newsletters, social media, reports, surveys, or interviews, to learn more about their demographics, culture, challenges, goals, and expectations. You can also ask them about their previous experiences with museum education, their feedback and suggestions, and their preferred modes and frequency of communication. By showing genuine interest and respect for your school partners, you can build trust and rapport with them.

3 Co-create and customize your museum education programs

One of the best ways to foster long-term relationships and communication with school partners is to co-create and customize your museum education programs with them. Instead of offering one-size-fits-all or standardized programs, you can involve your school partners in the design, development, and evaluation of your programs. You can invite them to share their input, ideas, and resources, and to participate in planning meetings, workshops, or focus groups. You can also tailor your programs to their specific needs, interests, and learning objectives, and to the characteristics and abilities of their students. By co-creating and customizing your programs, you can increase their relevance, quality, and impact.

4 Provide ongoing support and follow-up

Another essential strategy to foster long-term relationships and communication with school partners is to provide ongoing support and follow-up before, during, and after your museum education programs. You can offer various forms of support, such as pre-visit materials, orientation sessions, online platforms, technical assistance, or professional development opportunities. You can also follow up with your school partners after your programs, by sending thank-you notes, evaluation forms, post-visit materials, or invitations for future programs. By providing ongoing support and follow-up, you can enhance your school partners' satisfaction, engagement, and retention.

5 Recognize and celebrate your school partners

Another effective way to foster long-term relationships and communication with school partners is to recognize and celebrate their achievements, contributions, and feedback. You can use different methods to acknowledge and appreciate your school partners, such as certificates, awards, newsletters, social media posts, or testimonials. You can also showcase their students' work, stories, or reflections in your museum exhibits, publications, or events. By recognizing and celebrating your school partners, you can strengthen your bond and loyalty with them.

6 Adapt and innovate your museum education programs

Another vital tip to foster long-term relationships and communication with school partners is to adapt and innovate your museum education programs according to the changing needs, interests, and circumstances of both parties. You can use various tools and techniques to monitor and assess your programs, such as data analysis, feedback surveys, observation, or reflection. You can also use the results to improve, modify, or expand your programs, or to create new ones. You can also explore new ways to deliver your programs, such as online, hybrid, or mobile formats. By adapting and innovating your programs, you can keep your school partners interested, engaged, and satisfied.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?