SamTastic Tip: 4/18/16 - Focus Groups

This week’s tip: Focus Groups

You can learn a lot by not talking. Try scheduling focus group meetings with people you don’t hear from a lot. Students, parents, support staff and community members are almost always pleased to be asked to participate.. .and what you learn can be valuable.

Focus group meetings are easy to facilitate. Simply explain you would like to hear ideas and thoughts about your mission and vision. What is the school doing well? What could we do better? Many SAM principals share their data with focus groups and ask for suggestions and ideas.

Some SAM principals conduct focus group meetings with students the day prior to a staff meeting. This can give the leader great anecdotes to share with staff about school issues while engaging students in a meaningful way.