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so that they are engaged in the presentation. When in Remember to support each other. Whether it’s a
doubt, stick to the middle of the road on your approach. sport, music or other skill set the focus is on practice,
This hopefully means that you are not totally boring practice, practice. However, the practice is easier
the more experienced audience members while not when you know you have someone there to catch you.
leaving out those who are not as familiar with the topic. I always present with my staff for the first few times.
My approach is different when I speak to support staff The more comfortable that they become, the more I
versus school administrators versus AASBO peers. recede into the background. I did the same thing when
I first presented at AASBO. I presented at the Spring
Conference with a very knowledgeable person from
Document that expert knowledge and provide prompts another district the first time I presented. (Thanks
for your talking points using a slide presentation. Annette Moreno!) I presented with auditors and peers
I can always get behind a good theme. If you have from different sized districts over the years. I actually
a theme or give your staff a theme, it can be a fun still prefer this approach for AASBO presentations
way to prepare presentation slides. I am a big fan of since the diversity is good for the audience and me.
Slidesgo.com. They have free slide presentations
with sample layouts to assist with the building of
the slides. Know your staff well enough to let them My best trick is that when you need a moment, drink
build the presentation, but guide them enough to some water. I prefer using a cup with a straw so I
set them up for success. Watch your word count per hopefully don’t spill it. This gives me a moment to
slide! The audience will be less likely to be engaged gather my thoughts before speaking and sometimes you
if there are just a bunch of words on the slides. Give just need some water. Give yourself and your staff some
them images to look at, short bullet points, meaningful grace as you start to present more. Get comfortable
quotes – just not a full page of words. We are all in your style and perhaps don’t take yourself too
guilty of this at some point so there is no shame in seriously. You’ll be more comfortable, your staff
your game, it just might be time to try something new. will be more comfortable and so will your audience.

Without all of the words, how will your staff remember An excellence source for public speaking tips is:
what to say? Practice! They know the information but “The Little Red Handbook of Public Speaking and
documenting it can be helpful. Use the speaker notes Presenting” by Stephen Keague.
in your presentation software – that’s what is there
for. This is particularly helpful if there are specific
rules you want to ensure are accurate or don’t want Francie Wolfe-Baumann, Dysart Unified School
to miss any talking points during the presentation. District, Accounting Coordinator,
This can be written out like a script or just those can be reached at: francie.wolfe-baumann@dysart.org
specific talking points. This can be printed out to
use during the presentation or just a preparation
tool. If you don’t want to print out a stack of papers
with the presentation and presenter notes, try using
note cards. They fit in your hand a little better but
can also provide some great prompts during the
presentation, especially when you start to get nervous.

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