I just returned from family vacation at the "happiest place on earth", Disney World.  I must say people look really excited both when they are checking in, and out.  It is very much true what I have heard, that Disney is not a vacation but an experience.

The one thing I continuously reflected on when at Disney was customer service.  It is amazing the expectations they have for all Disney staff in terms of how to relate and treat guests.  Believe me you don't last long on that staff without a smile and dedication to customer service.  The whole time I thought about how customer service relates to us as educators.  There is no doubt children, families, and stakeholders have more choices than ever before in terms of how they will become educated.  We as public schools have become a customer service business.

Make no mistake, I believe public schools (ecspecially ELC) continue to offer the best education and preperation for learners upon completion.  But stakeholders now have more choices from: private schools, open enrollment options, home schools, online courses, online schools, GED's, and other alternative education settings.  High school students also make choices in terms of what classes they choose to take from what teacher.  I am not sure as educators we talk about customer service enough?  Just a thought, but certainly open to your responses in terms of what is the school role in providing excellent customer service to all our stakeholders.

Do we survey and reflect enough?  When do we ask for input from students, as well as evaluation?  Should we be providing end of course surveys for all our courses?  Right now we ask outgoing seniors, other than that where are we getting the evaluation of our customer service we need?  Certainly a topic for reflection and ongoing discussion but stakeholders / students have more options than ever before, what are we doing to ensure they choose us?