The Importance of Stakeholders in Education
A stakeholder can be broadly defined as a person who has a vested interest or is affected by an organization. As such, educational stakeholder groups include everyone who touches, influences or participates in the educational process. All educational structures have both internal and external stakeholders.
While most stakeholders promote and uplift education, some can interfere, obstruct, or even harm learning communities. When all stakeholders work together in pursuit of common goals and develop productive relationships, students will benefit. When learning communities operate under the caring umbrella of informed and dedicated stakeholder groups, student success and growth, both academically and socially, will be enhanced.
Internal Stakeholders
An internal stakeholder is someone who benefits from the educational community regularly. Students are the primary stakeholders in education as the central focus is to invest in our youth to prepare for a better tomorrow. As parents are a child’s first teachers, this stakeholder group’s insight and guidance are essential. Frequent and productive conversations with parents and guardians benefit the child’s development.
School employees are invested in external stakeholders. Teachers are on the front lines, working diligently to prepare students for their futures. Teachers need support and guidance that comes from a close working relationship with school leaders. Everyone who works in an educational system is an essential internal stakeholder. It takes many employee groups working together to build a quality school environment.
Kind words and support from administrative assistants, bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers promote a positive school culture that is conducive to learning. As a person greets a guest or answers a phone, they are essential to creating a welcoming environment. School staff should be visible within the confines of the school and its surrounding community.
The lines toward the center of involvement can be gray as whether a stakeholder is internal. For instance, school board members could be classified as either internal or external. These vital stakeholders are involved in the educational system at least every month and provide governance. Since they are not involved in daily operations, most schools view school board members as external stakeholders.
External Stakeholders
External stakeholders are persons or groups that help shape education but are not as involved frequently. Community businesses and local government are examples of external stakeholder groups. External stakeholders are largely defined as people who promote and are involved in education but do not have to be involved. Hospitals often work collaboratively with local school systems. Colleges, and their faculty, could be either internal or external based on the level of education being considered.
If colleges provide services and experiences to a local K-12 school system, the faculty members of that college would be external stakeholders. Many individuals will be alumni of the school within the stakeholder groups, which can strengthen connections and add to the sense of belonging.
Finally, organizations that help hold an educational system accountable and formulate accrediting and guidance policies would be external stakeholder groups. As such, state departments of education, the federal department of education, and collegiate regional accrediting organizations are vital external stakeholders. As many of these departments operate based on federal and state legislation, all legislators are crucial stakeholders.
What Do Stakeholders in Education Do?
Stakeholders bring insight and skills that help to create the learning community. Stakeholders are people, and education is a people business. As schools develop productive relationships with all stakeholders, they gain feedback and are able to reflect. Effective communication is essential for quality school operation.
School leaders need to provide robust, relevant, and timely information for the learning community. As stakeholders feel valued and heard, trust will be earned. As we listen and gather feedback from various stakeholders, communication must be a two-way conversation that is free of educational jargon.
Considering all stakeholder groups, it becomes apparent that largely anyone can be an educational stakeholder. Schools must communicate their vision and promote all stakeholders working collaboratively together in pursuit of that vision. Education is a vast concept that demands a team approach. Representation from all potential stakeholder groups is crucial. All people bring diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives.
When all voices are heard, and all viewpoints are considered, students are more likely to receive a well-rounded education that prepares them for future endeavors. Stakeholder engagement needs to be purposeful, relevant, and organized. As needs arise and new initiatives are considered, school leaders should think about what skills and insight are needed.
Stakeholder engagement is ongoing and continuous as the engagement is closely linked to school improvement, which is also cyclical. As schools work with stakeholders, school leaders mustn’t confuse engagement with compliance. Engagement can quickly turn to a compliance model, especially with guardians and students. While most schools would say they want parental engagement, they really want parental compliance.
Further, feedback and true dialogue with students can be forgotten. Students can provide valuable feedback on the quality of education they are receiving. Students can contribute to the learning of others, help with curriculum considerations, and assist in shaping the learning community. Schools must be mindful in pursuit of parent and student engagement.
Stakeholder roles in education vary greatly from receiving instruction, providing instruction, monitoring school improvement, contributing to initiatives, providing funding for scholarships, establishing endowments for particular causes, celebrating achievements, among other ways. The understanding that relationships are everything in education is essential.
Given strong sources of support, students will achieve at higher levels, develop crucial social-emotional skills, build leadership capacity, and become more autonomous in future learning. All stakeholder groups need to work together to prepare students for their future. The task is immense, but learning outcomes can be surpassed while fostering essential skills if we work in unison.
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