Small Group Brainstorm Breakouts
A low-prep way to get more voices to speak up.
10-15 min
Idea Parking Lot
A way to give staff a standing place to submit ideas between meetings.
Alissa Christensen
Set up a shared space, physical or digital, where staff can drop ideas, questions, or suggestions any time. You collect them before each meeting and work them into the agenda so staff input shapes the conversation, not just the other way around.
Why try it
A parking lot gives everyone a low-pressure way to raise ideas between meetings, so voices that might not speak up in a room still get heard.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Set up the space
Choose where staff will submit ideas. A bulletin board in the staff lounge works well for a physical option; a shared Padlet or Google Doc works for digital. Label it clearly so staff know what it is and how to use it.
2
Invite submissions
Let staff know the parking lot is open and what kinds of things belong there: agenda ideas, questions, concerns, or suggestions. Keep the prompt broad so the barrier to contribute is low.
3
Review before each meeting
Set a standing reminder to check the parking lot a day or two before each staff meeting. Pull out the most relevant items and work them into the agenda.
4
Close the loop in the meeting
At the start or end of each meeting, briefly name which parking lot items are being addressed. For items that are not on the agenda yet, let staff know they are noted and when they will be revisited.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Standing agenda item
Reserve the last three to five minutes of every staff meeting to review what is new in the parking lot. It signals that submissions are being read and taken seriously.
Theme-based parking lots
Run a focused parking lot around a specific topic, like scheduling, PD, or end-of-year planning, so feedback is easier to sort and act on.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Check it weekly
A quick weekly scan keeps items from going stale and helps you spot patterns before they become bigger issues.
Leader Tip #2
Show progress
Call out parking lot wins during meetings: "We added a microwave after last month's suggestion." That kind of follow-through keeps people contributing.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
Alpaca Pulse Check-In
Turn insights into action
With just three simple questions, Alpaca's Pulse Check-In helps school leaders listen to their teams and act where support is needed most.
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