Preventing Burnout
Today we discuss why comms pros are experiencing record burnout—and how to avoid it.
SchoolCEO PodcastSchool Marketing Ideas and Inspiration
Siloed from School Sites
Today we discuss how comms pros’ relationships with supers differ from their relationships with site-level staff.
Small But Mighty
Today we discuss one of school comms’ biggest challenges: small teams.
Overcoming Obstacles
Today we’re sharing how one district in Florida overcame staffing and budget obstacles.
The Mom Complex
Happy Mother’s Day! Today we discuss how you can tap into moms’ expertise and meet them where they are.
How to Tell a Story on Social Media
Today we discuss the 3 key elements of a good story.
Story Magnets
Today we discuss how to generate stories instead of waiting for them to come to you.
Sliding into Enrollment
In this episode we share how one district in Georgia attracted families with a unique new feature.
SWOT Analysis
In this episode we share a SWOT analysis of school communications nationwide.
I'm New Here
We’re kicking off a brand new season with a fresh format. In this episode, we talk about how to cultivate a beginner’s mindset.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: Season 3 Recap
This season, we've taken a deep dive into school marketing, exploring everything from brand to digital experience. Today, we're connecting all the pieces and providing you with actionable steps to transform how your community thinks and feels about your schools.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: How to Create Brand Advocates
In this episode we’ll discuss how to create advocates for your schools. First, you have to focus your attention toward people who can actually be converted. Second, you have to wow them with intention and thoughtfulness.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: How to Communicate in a Crisis
In this episode, we’ll go over the three phases of a crisis communications plan: before, during and after.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: What is Enrollment Marketing?
Today’s focus is on a vital topic in K-12 education: enrollment marketing. Enrollment numbers impact funding and nearly all district operations. A key tool for improving enrollment is understanding the customer journey.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: Does Social Media Work for Schools?
In this episode, we’ll discuss the rise and fall of different communication channels, why social media is different for schools than it is for individuals and companies, social media’s potential downsides and when it can work for your schools.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: What is Digital Experience?
In this episode of SchoolCEO Podcast, we dig into how to optimize your online communities to make sure that they’re just as incredible as your schools are in real life.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: What is Experiential Marketing?
In this episode, we’ll discuss what sets successful experiential marketing campaigns apart from other events, how experiential marketing can benefit schools and ways K-12 leaders can leverage experiential marketing tactics to level up your events and create lasting memories.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: What is Organizational Culture?
Nothing is more important to the success of a district than organizational culture. In this episode, we’ll discuss how to determine the health of your organizational culture, steps you can take today and every day to improve it and why it’s so important that you do.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: What is School Communications?
In this episode, we’re looking at what sets apart effective school communication from ineffective school communication.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: What is School Marketing?
In this episode, we explore the tools and strategies that are being used in the private sector and the actionable steps you can use to take your schools to the next level.
The Complete Guide to School Marketing: What is Brand?
School marketing begins and ends with establishing a brand that is true to itself and delivers a consistent experience to students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and the larger community.
Introduction to Season 3: The Complete Guide to School Marketing
In each episode of Season 3, SchoolCEO explores some of the most important and foundational concepts to change how others think and feel about your schools.
School Marketing Insights: SchoolCEO Conversations Season 2 Recap
In the 99th episode of SchoolCEO Conversations, we take a look back at some of the best insights from Season 2 covering a wide array of relevant topics.
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer: Growing and Supporting Women Superintendents
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer discusses her work in addressing the gender gap in education leadership and the importance of supporting rising educational leaders.
Greg Turchetta: Winning at School Communications
Greg Turchetta, the Senior Chief Communications Officer for the Richland Two School District in South Carolina talks with us about branding, storytelling, and transparency.
Dr. Paul Coakley: Lessons for School Leaders
Dr. Paul Coakley, the Superintendent of Multnomah ESD, shares his insights on building a personal brand, the importance of leaving a legacy, and much more
Dr. Julie Sweetland: Strategic Framing for Schools
Julie Sweetland, a sociolinguist and senior advisor at the FrameWorks Institute shares how leaders and advocates can use strategic framing and communications to have more productive conversations around complex issues.
Kim Lear: Understanding & Decoding Generations
Generational researcher and keynote speaker Kim Lear shares how you can better understand and communicate across the generations that make up your school community.
Dr. Peter Hannigan: Communicating to Different Generations
Dr. Pete Hannigan, Superintendent of Hawthorn School District 73, and Samantha Cook, Communications Director, discuss generational differences in the workplace, effective communication strategies to engage their community, and the importance of strong school culture.
Andrew McPeak: Preparing Students for Real Life
Andrew McPeak is a millennial speaker and Vice President of Content for Growing Leaders. He talks with us about how educators can better prepare their students for real life.
Dr. Joe Sanfelippo: Changing the Narrative
In this conversation with SchoolCEO, Dr. Sanfelippo discusses how he changed the conversation inside and outside of the schools he led, keys to developing a culture that actively shares the best stories, and how to lead authentically.
Margaret Heffernan: The Big Impact of Small Changes
Author and entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan speaks with SchoolCEO about building strong organizations and cultures through relationships, continuous improvement, managing uncertainty, and more.
Debbie Critchfield: The Power of School Communications
Internal communications is critically important to running a successful school district, and it is also an ongoing challenge for many. Debbie Critchfield, Superintendent of Public Instruction in Idaho, shares her experience in school communications and the ins and outs of internal communications.
Scott M. Curran: Impact Storytelling
In this episode of SchoolCEO Conversations, we speak with Scott M. Curran, an expert consultant focused on impact storytelling, social impact, and philanthropy. He shares what impact storytelling is and how it can engage and inspire staff.
Tom Burton: How Superintendents Can Think Differently
Former superintendent Tom Burton shares how leaders can challenge assumptions and think differently to drive change. He discusses the importance of data, dissent, transparency, and authentic relationships in shaping culture.
Michael C. Bush: Learning To Be A Great Place To Work
Michael C. Bush, the CEO of Great Place to Work, presents research and experience that every superintendent can use to shape the culture of their district and schools.
Neal Foard: Storytelling From The Heart
Neal Foard teaches us how to tell a story by example and learn what not to do to make your stories more effective.
Dr. Melissa Thompson: How to Onboard Board Members
In an era of contentious board meetings and board elections, Dr. Melissa Thompson, former superintendent of Swallow School District, shows a smart, common-sense approach to helping school boards succeed with onboarding.
Dale Scott: An Insider’s Guide to School Bonds
Dale Scott teaches the importance of strategizing, preparing, and campaigning for a bond.
EduOpenings: Helping Educators Discover Jobs
Dr. Howard Fields and Dr. Darryl Diggs Jr. discuss EduOpenings.com, a website to help educators and districts streamline the job search process.
Dr. Carmen Simon: Impossible to Ignore - Capturing Attention
In this conversation, Dr. Carmen Simon explores how to make your school communication and messages more memorable. You will learn how to help your community act on what they have heard from you.
Aurora Meyer: Crafting Meaningful Connections
Aurora Meyer shares with SchoolCEO how Columbia Public Schools approaches communications in new and old ways in order to craft meaningful connections.
Dr. Deborah Gist: Creating Radical Collaboration
Named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2010 by TIME magazine, Dr. Deborah Gist has been working to create a new way for school leaders to collaborate with their stakeholders.
Dr. Donald Killingbeck: Building Your Brand with LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an underutilized platform for many school districts. Dr. Donald Killingbeck has used it to advance Hemlock Public School District’s brand and his own. The result? A stronger digital presence that tells the district story and attracts teachers and garners community support.
Jennifer Hines: Making the Media Work for Your Schools
Jennifer Hines spent 20 years in the media business before leading communications at Tyler ISD in Texas. Her media expertise and relationship building offers an important lesson for superintendents and communications leaders alike.
Karen Eber: How Storytelling Can Shape School Culture
Karen Eber discusses the power of storytelling to influence school culture to reach your school community.
William D. Parker of Principal Matters: What Matters Most
William D. Parker, the host of Principal Matters, a popular podcast and blog for principals and other school leaders. Join a conversation about how superintendents and principals can build trust and work together to the benefit of the school community.
Jamie Vollmer: Increasing Support for Schools
Jamie Vollmer, a now enthusiastic defender of public education. His presentations show the power of communities that value, support, and champion their local schools.
Julie Lythcott-Haims: On How to Raise an Adult
Lythcott-Haims dives deep into the hearts and minds of young adults, parents, and school leaders.
Jeffrey Collier & Coty Kuschinsky: Collective Authorship
Jeffrey Collier and Coty Kuschinsky discuss how Saginaw ISD is using collective authorship to build a stronger brand to better serve their staff and community.
Championing Communications
SchoolCEO speaks with those in communications roles in four districts across the country. They explore what others might misunderstand about communication roles.
Jonah Berger: Increasing Our Influence
Jonah Berger discusses how school leaders can increase their influence to the benefit of their schools and communities.
Dr. Jeff Horton: Courageous Conversations
Dr. Jeff Horton, Superintendent of GFW School District in Minnesota, discusses how he and his community moved from worry to hope through courageous conversations and active listening.
Dr. Robert Hunt: Crisis, Growth & Leadership
Dr. Robert Hunt, Superintendent of Barrington 220 SD in Illinois, talks with us about managing crises, both at a professional and personal level, how to best communicate during difficult times, and how to grow and recover after.
Internal Marketing: Crafting Experiences for Staff & Teachers
Sherese Nix and Nick Gray discuss how kicking off the academic year and how intentionality in the smallest details can influence how teachers and staff think about your schools.
Jeff Mayo: Marketing Your Schools' Employer Brand
Jeff Mayo, Dr. Allison Clark, Tyler Hill discuss their solutions that they’ve found and how they’re bringing communications and HR together to start solving recruitment and retention.
Neel Doshi: Culture & Motivation in Education
Researcher Neel Doshi discusses the importance of culture in motivating people and organizations to reach their potential and explores the concept “Why you work determines how well you work.”
Jenna Rhodes: Neuroscience and Education
Jenna Rhodes talks about her collaboration with the neuroscience-based teaching program, NeuroTeach Global.
Dr. Philip Lanoue: Big Ideas in Public Education
Dr. Philip Lanoue discusses his experience as a lifelong educator and his recent work around school culture and school leadership.
Dr. Johann Neem: Democracy's Schools
Dr. Johann N. Neem shares insights from his book as well as reflections on the one-year anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol.
Dr. Lupita Hightower: Sí Se Puede
Dr. Lupita Hightower shares how she uses the Kids at Hope philosophy to ensure every child is successful. No exceptions!
Donna Mazyck: School Nursing as A Foundation of Healthy Schools
Donna Mazyck, Executive Director of the National Association of School Nurses, shares her own personal experiences and the impact that school nurses have on students and schools.
Dr. Jeremy Owoh: Equity Through Student Voice
Dr. Jeremy Owoh shares his thoughts and philosophy on authentic educational equity and how it has shaped his leadership.
Dr. Chris Cipriano: Who's Being Heard?
Dr. Chris Cipriano shares insights from her research at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University.
Danielle Dreilinger: The Secret History of Home Economics
Danielle Dreilinger shares insights from her recent book The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live.
Dr. Shon Hildreth: How Charter Schools Really Impact Districts
Dr. Shon Hildreth shares insights from his research on how a local charter school impacts local school districts.
Dr. Andy Crozier: Millennial Superintendents Aren't Coming...They're Here
Dr. Andy Crozier shares not only what it was like becoming a superintendent at 28 but also his research on the experience of millennial superintendents.
Jay Midwood: Rethinking Substitute Teaching
Jay Midwood shares how Central Falls School District is solving its substitute teaching shortage by creating a pipeline of well-trained educators.
Adam Tyner: How to Sell SEL
Adam Tyner shares insights from the recent Thomas B. Fordham Institute report on parents and the politics of social-emotional learning.
Dr. Mark Lenihan: Arming Teachers: What Do Superintendents Think?
Dr. Mark Lenihan shares nuanced perspectives from superintendents on arming school staff as part of an emergency management plan.
Dr. Julie Vitale: Equity Through Collaboration
Dr. Julie Vitale shares how Oceanside Unified School District has become a leader in equity in Southern California.
Dr. Julie Stamm: The Brain on Youth Sports
Dr. Julie Stamm shares her research on youth sports, head impacts, and what we can do to make sports not only safer but more fun for youth of all ages.
Liz Kirby: Superintendent as Chief Politician
Liz Kirby shares her story of coming back home to Cleveland to lead and advocate for students in Cleveland Heights-University Heights as they face mounting pressure from school choice legislation in Ohio.
Dr. Doug Brubaker: Getting to Redefinition With Technology
Dr. Doug Brubaker shares how Texarkana ISD in Texas is thinking about technology with a redefinition mindset.
Dr. Jeff Butts: Superintendent as Chief Advocate
Dr. Jeff Butts shares how MSD Wayne Township in Indianapolis is advocating for students not just locally but also at the Indiana state house.
Dr. Jill Siler: Thrive Through the Five
Dr. Jill Siler, author of Thrive Through the Five, shares about her recent transition away from the superintendency to her new role with the Texas Association of School Administrators.
Dr. Glenn Robbins: Technology By Design
Superintendent Glenn Robbins discusses how his school has centered learning on design thinking to build a community where empathy and inclusion go hand-in-hand with sustainable technology.
Lesley Bruinton, APR: Directing Strategic Communications
Lesley Bruinton, APR, defines and highlights the vital role that PR and communications professionals play in schools.
Dr. Avis Williams: Ask Avis: How to Build a Leadership Pipeline
Dr. Avis Williams shares how her district was able to create a robust leadership pipeline while building a culture of joy along the way.
Lisa Elliott: Professional Learning With Voice and Choice
Lisa Elliott shares how she has reshaped professional learning using adult learning theory.
Dr. Roger Catania: Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is
Dr. Roger Catania shares why schools should be more selective in purchasing practices in order to promote a stronger local economy.
Mike Nelson: 31 Days of Hope
Mike Nelson of the Washington Association of School Administrators shares how he and other educators are sharing 31 Days of Hope with each other.
Jon Laffoon: Leading With Love and Accountability
Jon Laffoon shares how he is leading with love to help the district become the premier STEM district in the state.
Dr. Victor Simon: Prerequisites for Leadership
Dr. Victor Simon shares his prerequisites for effective leadership.
Derek W. Black: Schoolhouse Burning
Derek W. Black shares how the recent politicization of school boards fits within the historic American commitment to public education.
Dr. Bob Baldwin: Iterating Leadership
Dr. Bob Baldwin shares how his district has iterated a leadership pipeline to transform student achievement.
Passing the Torch: Becoming Peacefully Irrelevant
Drs. Frank Davidson and Howard Carlson, retired superintendents and current professors of educational leadership talk about how to set up the new superintendent for success.
Dr. Rocky Killion: Rising Above the Mark
Dr. Rocky Killion shares how his district is using the 5 Cs of leadership to rise above the mark.
Dr. Allyn Roche: Morale From the Top Down
Dr. Allyn Roche shares how he is building morale and focusing on employee SEL at Upper Perkiomen School District.
Dr. Jamie Piraino: Building Leadership Capacity
Dr. Jamie Piraino shares how he and his team are building leaders and the economy in Western Pennsylvania.
Dr. Michael Hinojosa: Legacy Work
Dr. Michael Hinojosa shares how Dallas ISD is reshaping its role in the community to support families years before their students ever reach the classroom.
Dr. Teresa Hill: Ending Failure as a Default
Dr. Teresa Hill shares how in order to end the achievement gap, schools must first end the failure as a default mentality.
Dave Deskins: The New Reality of Career and Tech Ed
Dave Deskins shares how views on career and technical education have evolved and how Greene County Career Center in Ohio is meeting the 21st-century employment needs in the area.
Dr. David Vroonland: Decoupling from Standardization
Dr. David Vroonland shares how his district is decoupling from standardization and selling out to purpose over strategy.
Dr. Steve Webb: Back to the Future with Community Schools
Retired superintendent Dr. Steve Webb discusses how Washington’s Vancouver Public Schools serves every student’s needs—academically and beyond—through Family-Community Resource Centers.
Dr. Tammy Campbell: The Red Thread of Racial Equity
Dr. Tammy Campbell shares how her district has threaded racial equity throughout their culture.
Dr. Paul O'Malley: Immunity, Community, Unity
Dr. Paul O'Malley shares how his district was able to expand COVID-19 testing in order to keep students and staff in the building for most of the 2020-21 school year.
Dr. Carol Birks: Meeting a District Remotely
Dr. Carol Birks shares her experiences starting as superintendent at her district during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Kevin McCahill: Chief Enthusiasm Officer
Dr. Kevin McCahill shares how he is the CEO—Chief Enthusiasm Officer—of New York's Nanuet Union Free School District.
Dr. Chris Meyrick: Building a Culture of SEL
Dr. Chris Meyrick shares how he is building a culture of social-emotional learning in a small New Jersey district.
Dr. Francisco Escobedo: Innovation LIVE!
Dr. Francisco Escobedo shares how his district is bringing innovation into the homes of students through Innovation LIVE!
Ken Gutman: Setting Up Your Bond For Success
Ken Gutman shares how his district passed several bonds, including what was the second-largest in state history.
Dr. Joe Ricca: Building Buy-in During a Crisis
Dr. Joe Ricca shares how he builds buy-in before a crisis and how schools can contribute to the common good.
Dr. Lupita Hightower: Developing Latino and Latina Leaders
Dr. Lupita Hightower shares stories and experiences from the first cohort of AASA's Aspiring Superintendents Academy for Latino and Latina Leaders.
Dr. Jason Andrews: Bonding With Your Board
Dr. Jason Andrews shares how his experience as a school board member when he was a teenager shaped his understanding of effective district leadership.
Dr. Calvin Watts: A Seat in the Circle
Dr. Calvin Watts shares his personal approach to equity and inclusion in one of the nation’s most diverse school systems.
Lori Gonzalez: Boots on the Ground
Lori Gonzalez shares how she's "boots on the ground" at her district with fewer than 200 students.
Dr. Nisha Patel: Promise, Purpose, Podcasts
Dr. Nisha Patel shares how her district is building collective efficacy and amplifying voices through the #FoxC6Strong Voices Podcast.
Tim Doak: Building Business Connections in Rural Schools
Tim Doak shares how he's building business connections to strengthen the two districts he serves.
Dr. Kelli Joseph: Cutting the Budget in Three Years
Dr. Kelli Joseph shares how her district was able to grow, improve test scores, and increase teacher pay in the midst of a budget crisis.
Dr. Carol Kelley: Dismantling Racism in Elementary School
Dr. Carol Kelley shares how her district is building equity for all of its learners and creating a more anti-racist culture.
Matt Baker: Boosting Student Enrollment in Rural Schools
Matt Baker shares how he's marketing rural schools and growing student enrollment at his district.
Dr. Ehren Jarrett: Signing Twenty New Teachers a Year
Dr. Ehren Jarrett shares how Illinois' Rockford Public Schools is developing a pipeline of twenty new teachers a year.
Dr. David Miyashiro: Bringing TED to School
Sparked by participating in a TED speaking event, Dr. David Miyashiro shares how he's bringing TED into the curriculum of California's Cajon Valley USD.
Jeffrey Collier: Writing Your District's Story
Jeffrey Collier shares how he builds a "communications buffet" to enhance district communications.
Dr. Lora de la Cruz: Redefining the Guidance Counselor
Dr. Lora de la Cruz explains how her school is rethinking the role of the traditional school counselor in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Matthew Miller: Teaching the High School Entrepreneur
Superintendent Matthew Miller shares how students are becoming entrepreneurs and starting businesses—all while working towards graduation.
Dr. Baron Davis: Attracting Men of Color to Teaching
Dr. Baron Davis shares how he and his team are building equity through his Premier 100 Initiative to recruit and retain 100 men of color.
Hollis Milton: The Speed of Trust
Superintendent Hollis Milton shares how he's wrestled with his decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic—even while battling the virus from a hospital bed in March.
Dr. Susan Enfield: Leading With A Promise
Dr. Susan Enfield of Highline Public Schools shares with SchoolCEO how the Highline Promise is reshaping everything in the district from discipline to culture.