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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Enhance your brand with partnerships

One way to give your brand a boost of positive attention is to work with other local brands to enhance your market. Economic Development groups, Departments of Tourism, Chambers of Commerce, and other entities are ripe pickings for joint efforts to help your and their brand. So, you might consider a brand initiative that uses…
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What does your brand feel like?

Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” She was right. When you boil it down, a brand is the culmination of everything everyone has ever felt about your school district. As such, you…
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Your brand is leaking

Don’t lose your raving fans For simplicity’s sake, let’s define brand as the cumulative feeling people have when they interact with your district. People tend not to remember specific incidents, but they will always remember how you made them feel. People who have fond memories of their interactions with the people in the district are…
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Know your key voting audience

When I voted on the Jackson County, Mo. sales tax to fund a new stadium for the Kansas City Royals, I noticed something interesting that is common every time I go vote. I’m always the youngest person there. And I’m not talking about the volunteers (who are also older); I’m talking about the voters. Everyone…
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Use patron relationships as an early warning system for concerns

Patron input matters.  School districts are increasingly having to address new issues and concerns from students, staff, and parents that general patron relationships might end up on the back burner.  One way to help districts navigate trying times is to have an early warning system in place, like a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). These patrons…
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Empowering education and the community through data

By: Dr. Jaret Tomlinson, Superintendent, Excelsior Springs School District Since embarking on a journey to harness the power of data to transform our schools and strengthen community bonds, we reflect on the progress made by engaging our stakeholders. It’s inspiring to witness the positive impact data-driven decision-making has had on education and community engagement. Empowering…
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Printed newsletters can reach a critical audience

Almost every school district reports the same findings when it comes to how patrons receive district information. The number one source is almost always friends and neighbors. This is often followed by social media/Facebook. Additional findings can include media resources (newspaper) and district-initiated communications, such as the district website, email blasts, etc. The piece of…
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Where do you stand?

It’s always good to know where you stand. Is your school district respected, beloved, and held in high esteem? Or do staff, students, parents, and patrons simply tolerate you? If you don’t know where you stand, it’s hard to have a plan of action that will move the district forward. Remember, when it comes to…
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