This document provides guidance for superintendents to become community leaders and engage local organizations. It recommends superintendents determine what the community wants from graduates and schools, identify the most influential community leaders and best connected organizations, and ensure site leaders and the superintendent belong to local boards and organizations. Examples of best connected organizations include chambers of commerce, industry associations, and economic development agencies. The document also provides resources for community engagement focused on career pathways and workforce development.

1. NAFNext Roadmap to Impact
Superintendent’s Role as a Community Leader
1. What Do Your Employers/Community Want? (In Graduates? From Teachers? From Schools?
For their Firms?)
2. What are the Best Connected Organizations in Your Community?
3. Who Are the Most Influential Leaders?
4. What Local Organizations Do Your Site Leaders & Superintendent Belong to and Attend?
5. Which Community Organizations Include Your Superintendent As a Member of Their Board of
Directors?
Best Connected Organizations
Business/Education Intermediaries
Community Foundations
Chambers of Commerce (Community, Regional,
Ethnic)
Service Clubs (Rotary, Lions, Soroptimist)
Industry Associations (Manufacturing, IT, Design,
Health)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Economic Development Agencies
Local Government
United Way
Red Cross, YMCA
Youth Provider CBOs
Workforce Investment Board
Other
Influential Community Leaders
 Are on community boards of directors – especially those on multiple boards
 Known to donate to local causes
 Local elected officials
 Asked to lead fund development campaigns
 Community opinion leaders (Basically – who gets the most done? Who do people call to be
involved? Whose calls are always returned?)

2. Resources for Community Engagement
www.workbasedlearning.naf.org/engage (this document contains many links to other resources)
www.linkedlearning.org/get-involved/resources/
Download the complete toolkit: Engaging business leaders, policymakers, and community partners [PDF]
or individual documents that can be printed or edited (yes it says Linked Learning but applies to
academies beyond California).
www.connectededstudios.org
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2011/Pathways_to_Prosperity_Feb2011.pdf
http://www.jff.org/initiatives/pathways-prosperity-network#.U5tUULGGcg8
http://www.p21.org/news-events/p21blog/1431-bean-deeper-learning-and-high-expectations-in-the-
secondary-classroom
http://www.p21.org/our-work/resources/for-educators
http://www.p21.org/our-work/resources/for-community
http://www.readyby21.org/resources
http://www.learninginafterschool.org/documents/WBL%20Definitions%20Outcomes%20Criteria.pdf
Contact Information:
Dr. Gabe Soumakian, Superintendent, Oxnard Union High School District;
Gabe.Soumakian@ouhsd.k12.ca.us; 805 385-2561
Dr. Kay Faulconer Boger, Executive Director, Ventura County Civic Alliance; kfaulc6146@aol.com; 805
484-2130
Deanna Hanson, Hanson Consulting Group; deannahanson@gmail.com; 916 296-4131