The Art of Saying Something That Matters

What would schools look like if communication flowed freely and effectively?

​It’s a topic that’s come up numerous times throughout my stint in public education, and honestly, just in life. Communication, to me, is a subtle art. It’s thoughtful, intentional, and vital. So, it can be incredibly frustrating when others don’t put as much care into it as I do. Over time, I’ve found that when I’m surrounded by poor communication, even my own professional skills begin to slip.
I believe that strong, clear communication is the cornerstone of any workplace, especially in our schools.
Schools are places of learning, but real learning can’t happen without collaboration and communication. That’s why teachers are given dedicated collaboration time: to reflect, share what works (and what doesn’t), and brainstorm ways to improve their classrooms. But communication shouldn’t be confined to teacher meetings. It should exist across all levels: among teachers, staff, students, families, and the broader community. Education is a team effort, and when communication breaks down, so does everything else. Instructional success, student safety and well-being, and the trust that holds school culture together all begin to erode.
As I pack up my libraries and begin preparations for a new school year (because yes, that’s how my end-of-year process works), I find myself reflecting on communication… its role in our schools and how we might improve it.
Staff meetings are a fundamental part of internal communication. They allow us to share wins, troubleshoot challenges, and stay on the same page about school events and expectations. As someone who has worked as both a paraeducator and a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how these meetings can affect staff morale. For a long time, our staff meetings were reserved for teachers only, largely because they fell outside of paras’ contracted hours. Eventually, we began inviting paras, with the understanding that they were there voluntarily. That simple change made a noticeable difference. People felt more included and more like part of the process. That’s the power of inclusion through communication.
Our school also uses PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) to foster a safe and respectful learning environment. It focuses on encouraging positive behavior rather than just punishing negative behavior. Admittedly, it took me a long time to fully buy in, but I was lucky to learn from some of the best. One key takeaway was that modeling expectations and rewarding positive behavior doesn’t mean ignoring consequences when students don’t meet those expectations.
Our district implemented a system to document behavioral incidents… not as formal write-ups, but as a way to track patterns and guide interventions. Reviewing this data as a team gives staff an opportunity to share insights and work collaboratively to support students. This is communication at its most powerful: proactive, data-informed, and rooted in care.
But communication shouldn’t stop at the school doors. Family engagement is just as critical. Our district sends out a monthly newsletter, written by both staff and students, that highlights school activities. It goes out not only to families, but to the entire community. In a small rural district like ours, where the school is one of the few local “businesses”, this kind of transparency matters. Taxpayers want to know how we’re using resources, and families want to feel connected to what their kids are experiencing.
Parent-teacher conferences are another key piece of the puzzle. Whether it’s during the official quarterly schedule or through one-off meetings, these conversations build a stronger support system for students. They can feel uncomfortable, especially when there’s hard feedback to deliver, but that discomfort is worth it. You can’t fix a problem if no one knows it exists.
As someone who floats between three buildings in two districts, I’ve learned just how essential communication really is. Some years I’ve felt more supported than others, but I’ve also learned to take ownership of my role in keeping communication clear. I send regular updates to administrators, especially in my role as IT Coordinator. Technology touches nearly every part of the school day, and creating a clear, reliable line of communication makes it easier for staff and students to succeed.
One thing I’ve learned is that regular communication is not the same as effective communication. Tone matters. I’ll admit, there are days when I’m frustrated and my emails start to sound less than professional. On those days, I’ll draft the message, and if I can’t put on my “customer service face,” I’ll run it through ChatGPT and ask it to make me sound less grouchy. That simple step has saved me from many unfortunate and unprofessional situations.
At the end of the day, that’s what good communication is about: professionalism. Whether you work in a school, a hospital, or at Dairy Queen, strong communication skills make your workplace more productive, more respectful, and more human. The sad thing is, you don’t always realize how important good communication is until you lose it.
So here’s my challenge to you:
Think of one thing you can do this week to contribute to clearer, more supportive communication in your workplace.
It doesn’t have to be big. Just intentional.