The Community Education Director, often working at the school district level, typically oversees facility use and numerous programs and activities, including but not limited to the following: parent education programs, family resource centers, and parent involvement initiatives; school-to-work, also called school-to-career or work preparation programs; alternative schools for those whose needs are not met in the regular school; mentoring programs; teen pregnancy prevention; substance abuse and violence prevention activities; school-age child care and extended learning programs; community service and service learning activities; enrichment programs for all community members; literacy and English-as-a-Second-Language programs; and Adult Basic Education and Graduate Equivalency Diploma programs.
He or she is adept at working with community members to identify community needs and the resources available to meet them. Facilitating cooperation and collaboration among those in control of the resources is another skill required of the Director, as is leadership training, strategic planning, communications, public relations, and program evaluation, among others.
Principles of Community Education
Community education offers local residents and community agencies and institutions the opportunity to become active partners in providing educational opportunities and addressing community concerns. It is based on the following principles:
