While serving as a member of the Otter Valley Unified Union School Board, I attended a workshop about how to strengthen and sustain public engagement. I chuckled when I heard the phrase “crickets and pitchforks,” referring to the two typical reactions elected officials receive from the public: silence and outrage. I was excited to learn that engagement is not simply possible, but is the linchpin of democracy. Working in a true unified fashion, the OVUU school board sought out every way to connect with the c … (read more)