The world has changed. We have changed. And the relationship between schools and their communities has never been more crucial. No longer operating in isolation, educational institutions now rely on strong partnerships with their communities to thrive.

This month I had the privilege of attending the Texas Association of School Administrators Midwinter Conference and the Texas Council of Women School Executives and I'm thrilled to share with you some invaluable takeaways from my recent experience! These conferences were not only an opportunity for learning but also a fantastic platform for networking, leadership growth, branding enhancement, and fostering support within the educational community.

As 2024 begins, now is a great time for K-12 district leaders and superintendents to take a decisive step toward enhancing their communication strategies. The world of education is always changing and evolving. Staying ahead requires not just keeping up with changes but being proactive with changes and staying ahead of concerns as much as possible.

When unexpected situations arise in K-12 schools, handling communication can be extremely stressful. Whether it's a natural disaster, a safety incident, or any other form of crisis, having the right strategies in place is so important. As a school communications expert, I have seen it all and have successfully helped many districts combat and de-escalate chaotic situations with expert guidance. In this blog post, I am going to give you KEY elements for navigating these situations.

For superintendents and district leaders, understanding the power of social media in today's educational space is crucial. It's more than a trend; it's a dynamic platform that amplifies your school's voice, connects your community, and showcases your achievements. Let's dive into why embracing social media is beneficial when it comes to your school’s branding.

In school branding, being authentic and relatable is crucial for truly connecting with your audience. In this blog, we'll dive into why the 'vibe' your brand shares with your community is so important.

In recent years, the escalating suicide rates among children and young adults have raised alarming concerns for educators, parents, and communities alike. A deeper dive into the statistics reveals the staggering reality that many educators are sadly too familiar with.

The holiday season is often synonymous with joy, but for educators and district leaders, it's also a time of heightened stress. The end-of-year rush, combined with personal responsibilities, can lead to a significant strain on one’s well-being. Yet, it's crucial to remember that self-care isn't just a personal luxury; it's a professional necessity.

When it comes to the K-12 educational space, great district leaders and superintendents are always striving for excellence. A pivotal aspect that often gets overlooked is the power of strong customer service. In this blog, we will discuss the crucial role that exceptional customer service plays, not just as a secondary function, but as a key element in boosting the reputation of school districts.

As district leaders and superintendents, your biggest goals are to enhance the quality of education provided to your students and to ensure your educators and frontline team feel supported and cared for. A crucial component of this is investing in your educational leaders. This investment often takes the form of Personal Development Days (PDDs).

In K-12, we rely on our federal government to ensure equal access to public education for all students. Yet, according to the most recent numbers, federal funding makes up a meager eight percent of local school funding through various grants, acts, and programs.

When a crisis happens, you don’t have days to make a decision; you have seconds. Often, those decisions involve students, staff, and teachers that you know and love. One wrong move can mean loss of enrollment, loss of community support, loss of your job and bad press. Mishandling a crisis could cost your district years of progress.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) was a light in a very dark room for school leaders who needed funding to deal with the ramifications of the pandemic. But now we face a secondary crisis: how to use the remaining funds to make the biggest impact on our schools before the lapse of the deadline.

Fall is fast approaching, and you have a looming staffing shortage for the 2023-2024 academic year. Keep reading to find out my recommendations for attracting and securing fresh candidates in the “off-season” for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Whether you’re a new administrator looking ahead to twenty or thirty more years in your career or you’re thinking about moving up your retirement or changing your career, you have to ask yourself one question. If the teachers are supporting the students and you’re supporting the teachers, who is supporting you?

Many things have changed in school communications in the last thirty years. Technology has evolved, trends have come and gone and social media has emerged as more of a tool than just a simple pastime. Districts now have the option to be more proactive about improving community relations by leveraging their social media presence effectively.

So, as a school administrator, how can you guarantee that your district is equipped to handle any crisis or emergency if your communications officer is unavailable? On-call, interim crisis communications support can give you peace of mind.

You can solve problems in your district using a simple marketing strategy for adding landing pages and lead magnets to your website.

In K-12, not everyone has considered the relationship between district and families as a customer/provider one. The sad truth is that many K-12 administrators fail to consider customer service training until a widespread problem surfaces and the damage has been done.

Throughout all my travels, I’ve observed some interesting changes in the way we use storytelling to shape public opinion in K-12. I want to share what I've seen and learned to give you a benchmark by which you can gauge your school's PR health.