5 Tips for Partnering with Local Schools

If you’re looking for ways to increase your impact in your community, consider partnering with your local schools! As schools prepare for back-to-school season and the return of teachers and students, your church or ministry can support families and your community in intentional ways. Here are 5 ways to build connections and partner with your local schools: 

1. Ask and listen. Always connect with your local school administration first, asking if you can partner with the school and how you can support them. Share that you want to partner with the school and support their staff and students through prayer. Ask about the needs the school may have, and become familiar with the polices and procedures the school may have in place when it comes to faith organizations and faith conversations. Be ready to connect and listen. Do not assume you know their needs, and suggestions for possible ways to offer to volunteer are here. 
2. Host a prayer walk. Plan, promote, and host a prayer walk at your local school(s). Choose a day/time, invite the community, and walk around the school’s campus in a short prayer tour. Provide simple prayer prompts for families and parents to pray together. 
3. Consider food and gifts of appreciation. During the first week of school, or even during pre-planning period before students return, drop off snacks for the breakroom, extra school supplies, or even lend a helping hand to teachers setting up their classrooms. Leave a note or sign with the gifts, letting teachers know your church is thinking about them and praying for them. Consider hosting a lunch one day for all the teachers to enjoy a nice meal, or gift every teacher with an extra box of tissues and some Expo markers. 
4. Be consistent. Don’t just show up once. Show up again and again, over and over, in the crisis times and when things are going well. Plan to connect on a consistent basis (once a month) to check in for support and encouragement, and to continue asking how you might help. One teacher friend mentioned that October was a great time to provide support and encouragement. 
5. Don’t expect anything in return. Too often, churches pursue a relationship with local schools for their own personal gain. But schools can smell that coming from a mile away. So rather than asking how partnering with the local schools can be a win for your church, ask how partnering with the local schools can be a win for the school. And if there’s a benefit only for the school, is that enough? Rather than expecting things from the school, hope things for the school.

Looking for back-to-school resources? Check these out!