Every educator I’ve ever known constantly feels like they’re behind the eight ball, including communicators who support educators. Too often, they’re asked to churn out work within a week, or maybe within a day. Getting it right becomes second-priority to getting it out the door. You feelin’ me on this one? In case it helps,…
In a previous post, I wrote about how an otherwise routine discovery process revealed a breathtaking data point. And how that insight led to a widely appealing story angle that generated a surprising amount of media coverage for PEBC. I’ll continue the argument for investing time and resources in discovery, including original research, by sharing a…
Four Foundational Brand Components The idea of a brand means a lot of different things to different people. And agencies who specialize in branding all approach the process in slightly different ways. But if you’re contemplating a branding process — developing a new brand strategy, or refreshing an existing brand — there are four foundational brand…
They’re not what you’d expect. Let’s face it: consultants get a bad rap. When I worked for Denver Public Schools, I was guilty of contributing to the negative narrative. Now that I’ve experienced both in-house leadership and project-based work, I have a broader perspective on the advantages of working with a consultant to support communications within a…
What clients, donors and board members wish they could tell you — and how to get them to open up If you’re reading this post, you may be pre-dispositioned to asking for and receiving feedback. You may see feedback as a gift, one that helps us grow and continue to become the best versions of…
Why a growth mindset is just as important for adults as it is for kids Show of hands: how many of you have stumbled in the process of striving toward a goal you set just weeks ago? If you slowly raised your arm skyward (in your mind, at least), let me be the first to…
Why branding and marketing is part of every staff member’s job description, and how you can help them do it better “We have ambitious goals to expand our network and double the number of students that we help get to and through college. To get there, it’s going to take all 620 of our team…
“You came into our lives exactly when we needed you – and Good Natured Learning is proving to be the best name for our organization. You have a gift and I’m grateful our paths crossed.” Becca Katz, Co-Founder, Good Natured Learning Build support from donors and advocates. Recruit program participants. Garner media attention and awareness.…
You know that nightmare you have, where you suddenly realize you’ve gone to school in only your underwear? That’s how I imagine it feels to be the superintendent of a small, rural school district. Stop for a coffee, and you might high-five a junior who had a great soccer game. Or, you might hear from…
New Year, New Brand? The four things you must have to refresh your identity — and how to get them done. Ah, January! The perfect time to turn over a new leaf. For the lucky among us, that may include refreshing your organization’s brand — or developing a brand from the ground up. But if…
The hidden reason why board members struggle to fundraise, advocate and recruit — and what you can do about it The strength of your board is a proxy for your organization’s overall success. The more influence and expertise board members bring, the better you’re able to advocate for your stakeholders’ interests, sharpen your efforts to…
Springboard Communications is thrilled to congratulate our client Westminster Public Schools on winning the state’s top honors for their district-wide rebranding, which Springboard led in partnership with Ebb + Flow Creative. WPS was recognized by the Colorado School Public Relations Association with their Medallion Award, which is the highest honor given in the K-12 public education sector. The…
“Marissa Ferrari was instrumental in leading the rebranding process for Westminster Public Schools (formerly Adams County School District 50). In addition to guiding us smoothly through the process and making smart recommendations, Marissa was adept at navigating the intricacies of working with all kinds of district stakeholders, including a very invested Board of Education.“ — Steve Saunders, Director…
Win Support by Appealing to Adult Learning Styles Last November, Denver voters overwhelmingly supported Denver Public Schools’ proposed bond and mill levy package–a whopping $628.6 million worth of improvements. While school districts can’t participate in campaigning for ballot initiatives, they can help ensure parents and other community members understand what a bond and a mill levy…
Boost Your School’s Brand Image As the number of school options available to families continues to increase, it’s in every school leader’s best interests to clearly communicate what makes your school stand out. Here’s why: In an environment of school choice and competition, if you’re not talking to prospective families… someone else is. While your…
In early 2014, I’d been part of the communications team at Denver Public Schools for almost five years. The job was demanding — and inspiring — enough that it had brought me to tears many times. But on a sunny February morning, ten minutes into a professional development session for district leaders, I cried tears of…
Photo Credit: Nic Garcia, Chalkbeat Colorado In November 2015, a coalition of 40 well-known education organizations launched a collaborative campaign under the banner Teach Strong. The campaign partners pledged to start a national dialogue aimed at making “modernizing and elevating the teaching profession the most pressing and significant education policy priority for our nation.” Over at…
Is there a time when a strategy shouldn’t be innovative? Yes: when you’re a busy principal charged with running a school marketing program in your spare time. School Marketing Toolkit To help schools in Westminster Public Schools recruit students, Springboard Communications was asked to create a toolkit that would provide easy marketing ideas for busy school…
Is your exciting new initiative at risk of death by edu-speak? School districts across the country are embracing teacher-leadership initiatives, and many are looking to the example set by Denver Public Schools. In 2013, DPS was among the first in the nation to create a “hybrid” teacher-leader role: highly effective teachers spend about half of the day in…
