Parent Ambassador Program at The Lang School

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What is the Parent Ambassador Program?

 

At The Lang School, our Parent Ambassadors play a crucial role in serving as a support for prospective families and in welcoming and guiding newly enrolled families as they integrate into our vibrant school community. Parent Ambassadors serve as enthusiastic guides, sharing their knowledge and passion for our unique approach to education with prospective and new families. They facilitate the onboarding process, offer valuable resources, and help families transition smoothly into our school environment.

 

What Is a Parent Ambassador?

 

A Parent Ambassador is a parent or adult who has a child enrolled at The Lang School and is passionate about sharing their positive experiences with others. They engage with prospective families and newly enrolled families to foster a positive connection with the school. 

 

Purpose of the Parent Ambassador Program:

 

The primary purpose of the Parent Ambassador Program is to harness the power of peer-to-peer support to assist in the identification and onboarding of new Lang families. By equipping and empowering Parent Ambassadors, we aim to create a network of advocates who can effectively communicate our mission and how it is lived through our academic and support programs, co-curricular opportunities, and the larger Lang community. These relationships help inform prospective parents and hopefully encourage them to join our Lang community. For new families that have already chosen to enroll, this work not only aids in the onboarding process, but also provides ongoing support and connection for the families of our twice-exceptional students.

 

Guidelines for Engaging with Prospective Families:

 

Parent Ambassadors play a crucial role in providing greater clarity about the learning experience at The Lang School and helping prospective families make informed decisions that align with their child's needs and values. Here are some key guidelines for Parent Ambassadors when engaging with prospective families:

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1. Active Listening: Listen attentively to the concerns, questions, and interests of prospective families. Take the time to understand their unique needs and priorities in choosing a school for their child.

2. Share Personal Experiences: Draw upon your own experiences as a Lang parent to provide authentic insights into the school's culture, academic programs, and supportive community. Share anecdotes and examples that highlight the positive impact of the Lang experience on your family.

3. Highlight Academic and Support Approaches: Articulate the distinctive features of The Lang School's educational and support approach, including its focus on personalized learning, small class sizes, differentiated instruction, and emphasis on social-emotional development and executive functioning skills. Help prospective families understand how these elements contribute to a nurturing and inclusive learning environment.

4. Emphasize Individualized Support: Highlight the school's commitment to meeting the diverse needs of each of our twice-exceptional students. Explain how faculty tailors instruction to accommodate students' strengths, interests, and learning styles to foster academic growth and self-confidence.

5. Address Concerns Proactively: Be proactive in addressing any concerns or misconceptions that prospective families may have about The Lang School. Provide accurate information and clarify any misunderstandings to ensure that families have a clear understanding of what the school has to offer. If you aren’t sure how to answer a question, let the prospective family know that you’ll get them an answer or connect them with someone who can.

6. Offer Transparency: Be transparent about the school's academic curriculum, assessment practices, levels of support, extracurricular activities, and policies. (Note: are there relevant resources and materials that we should make available to ambassadors?)

7. Encourage Other  Connections: Encourage and help prospective families to connect with relevant members of the leadership team or faculty as needed to help families envision their child's potential experience at Lang.

8. Provide Ongoing Support: Offer ongoing support and guidance to prospective families throughout the decision-making process. Be available to answer questions, provide additional information, and offer reassurance as needed. Help families feel confident and empowered in their decision to join The Lang School community.

 

With these guidelines as a foundation, Parent Ambassadors can effectively support prospective families in making informed decisions that are right for them and for their child that ultimately fosters a strong sense of connection and belonging within the Lang School community.

 

How will New Families Benefit from the Parent Ambassador Program?

 

New families at The Lang School benefit from the Parent Ambassador Program in several ways:

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1. Integration Support: Parent Ambassadors help newly enrolled families integrate into the school community and culture with intention and purpose. Their guidance and support facilitate a smoother transition for families, fostering a sense of belonging from the outset.

2. Connection and Information: The parent-to-parent relationship established through the program serves as a strategic avenue for important connections for new families. Parent Ambassadors also act as a channel to distribute key information and address any questions or concerns that new families may have.

3. Authentic Perspective: Parent Ambassadors serve as authentic advocates of our school, offering firsthand perspectives on the academic, and emotional growth experienced by their own families at The Lang School. This authenticity helps prospective families gain a deeper understanding of what The Lang School has to offer.

4. Contribution to Community Vibrancy: By fostering connections and relationships within our school community, the Parent Ambassador Program contributes to a vibrant and supportive environment where all members feel valued and included.

5. Impact on Enrollment: Through word-of-mouth referrals and advocacy efforts, Parent Ambassadors can also play a crucial role in attracting new families to The Lang School. This impact on enrollment ensures a healthy admissions funnel and supports the continued growth and success of our school.

 

Onboarding Guidelines for Parent Ambassadors:

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1. Training and Preparation: Parent Ambassadors receive training and guidance on effectively representing The Lang School and its mission to prospective families. They are equipped with key information and messaging to ensure consistency in their communications.

2. Authentic Storytelling: Ambassadors share authentic and emotionally compelling stories about their experiences at The Lang School. These stories should align with the school's key value propositions and highlight the impact of our educational approach on their family.

3. Effective Communication: Ambassadors possess strong communication skills and are able to convey information about the school in a clear, engaging, and positive manner. They are prepared to answer questions and address concerns from prospective families. They are also transparent about questions to which they don’t know the answer and then seek out the appropriate response from the relevant member of the leadership team.

4. Empathy and Listening: Ambassadors approach interactions with new families with empathy and openness, listening to their concerns and impressions. They are prepared to address questions and concerns thoughtfully and provide support as needed.

5. Collaboration and Feedback: Ambassadors collaborate with school administrators and staff to enhance the effectiveness of the program and provide feedback on their interactions with new families. This feedback helps refine messaging and improve onboarding efforts.

6. Respect for Privacy: Ambassadors respect the privacy and confidentiality of prospective families and adhere to school policies regarding the sharing of information.

7. Follow-up and Support: Ambassadors follow up with prospective families to address any additional questions or concerns and provide ongoing support as needed. They act as a resource and guide throughout the enrollment process.

8. Commitment to Inclusivity: Ambassadors embrace and promote inclusivity, welcoming families from diverse backgrounds and ensuring that all feel valued and supported.

 

By adhering to these guidelines and embodying the spirit of the Parent Ambassador Program, our Ambassadors play a vital role in shaping the welcoming and inclusive culture of The Lang School community. They serve as valued partners in our efforts to promote our school and support prospective families in their journey to join our community.

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