Education doesn’t happen only in schools, and teachers aren’t the only educators. Students learn best the things that their whole community – from parents to peers to politicians – agrees are important and encourages them to learn. Schools, too, depend on their communities for resources and support. Building strong SMT programs depends on a community’s recognizing that SMT is important and understanding why. It also means designing programs that will be relevant to your community’s broader goals for creating opportunities, attracting business, and fostering citizenship.

As representatives of the community, school board members serve as bridges between the schools and parents, business, and politicians. Here are tools to help broaden recognition of the importance of SMT education and to gather information about community priorities.