Community engagement in school governance

During divided political times, a participatory democracy - where everyday citizens influence the policies that affect their communities - seems like a challenging endeavor. But University of Delaware Assistant Professor James Bridgeforth reminds us that this model can exist at the K-12 school board level. And it holds a lot of potential for enacting meaningful change.

"Despite the often sensationalized stories of chaotic school board meetings and the influence of more national 'culture war' issues, I still believe that it's possible for people from different backgrounds, experiences and points of view to come together to figure out how to best serve the needs of all of our children," said Bridgeforth, who studies educational leadership in UD's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).