Turn departures into insights: Smarter Exit Surveys for your district

From the desk of Dr. Jaret Tomlinson, Ed.D. When staff members leave your district, their experiences don’t have to walk out the door with them. At ExcellenceK12, we help school districts transform departures into powerful insights through thoughtfully designed Exit Surveys. Instead of guesswork, you gain clear, actionable data about why people leave – and…
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The secret to passing a bond issue: Start 12 to 18 months early

In the past 18 years, we have helped hundreds of school districts pass bond issues. We often do a pre-election telephone survey six to nine months before the election to identify what patrons want and what they are willing to pay. This combination of data is usually a slam dunk. But when the results are…
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Why customer service matters more than ever in public schools

In today’s educational landscape, public school districts are expected to do more than deliver strong academic outcomes. They are expected to provide an experience that reflects responsiveness, respect, and trust. While “customer service” may sound like a concept reserved for the private sector, it is clear districts must embrace it as a core valueFamilies entrust…
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Communicating with your patrons

We talk to school district patrons all the time, and one thing we consistently hear is districts do not share enough about the general status of the district. Districts tend to focus on student achievements and other feel-good stories. That’s all good and fine and gives people the impression everything is great. But when you…
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How transparent are you?

When we talk to patrons about what they want from school districts, one of the topics that almost always comes up is transparency.  Patrons want to know more about what’s going on in the district than they currently know. But here’s the problem. Our research also shows they are not digesting the information that’s already coming from the…
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Keys to a successful superintendent and School Board collaboration

By Dr. Jaret Tomlinson As the work of leading school districts continues to grow in complexity, strong, collaborative relationships between superintendents and School Board members are more essential than ever. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few best practices for managing School Board relations in ways that foster trust, transparency, and strategic…
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There is no substitute for data

If you are contemplating a bond or levy issue in the next 12 months, think about what kind of information would be helpful in formulating your ballot questions and running a successful information campaign. You might want to know: -Are your patrons happy with the current state of the district?-Where do patrons think you could…
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Unlocking the power of Climate and Culture Studies

In today’s rapidly changing educational landscape, understanding the climate and culture of your school district is more important than ever. A healthy, inclusive, and supportive school culture can significantly impact student engagement, staff satisfaction, and community involvement. However, conducting a meaningful Climate and Culture Study is no simple task. Why DIY surveys aren’t enoughWhile internal…
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Teaching is a craft

Guest column by Lonnie MoserSuperintendent, Hiawatha Schools USD 415 I’m not sure there is a better season than autumn. The fall colors in Hiawatha, known as the city of beautiful maples, is a sight to behold, and schools are fully engaged in their purpose. As we near the end of our first quarter of the…
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Tee up your bond issue 

Have you considered the similarities between playing golf and passing a bond issue? In golf, there is quite a bit of information you need to know before teeing off on the first hole. Some of that information is visual. You can see the fairway and (often) see the green. The flag on the green might…
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