Each institution will have a different culture that requires a different type of promotion. However, in all cases, it is important to involve individuals who are supportive of innovation and professional development.
Ideally there would be one or more administrators who can provide resources and support on an ongoing basis to keep your program thriving. On the other hand, because individual participant buy-in is essential, management should not impose the AWAL program unilaterally.
Having senior administrators participate in the first AWAL Workshop offered by an organization (consider principals, vice-principals, deans, chairs, superintendents, etc.) has proved to be a very successful way to generate the kind of enthusiasm needed for an “AWAL Champion” to emerge and support the program’s implementation.
AWAL, as with all professional development programs, gets best results when participation is voluntary. Therefore, organizations may wish to offer two or three choices if AWAL is to be part of a school or district-wide PD event or conference.
If you have already offered AWAL once successfully, you may choose to draw on the original participants to spread the word in an “each one, teach one” model.
Once the participants have been identified, it is helpful to suggest that they visit the AWAL Web site and explore the activities on the database BEFORE the Workshop. A letter, like the one below, may also be a useful tool in focusing participants and preparing them for what to expect in the Workshop.