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Portfolio
American Association of School Administrators
What happens when you bring together the best and brightest superintendents from across the country? For the last three years, Schoolhouse Communications has served as the lead writer for AASA’s annual National Superintendent of the Year conference. Our work documents the candid insights of today’s top superintendents. Find out what creative strategies superintendents in rural, urban, and suburban districts are using to improve student achievement, strengthen leadership, and build support for public schools.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Children deserve a 21st century education that fully prepares them for college, work, and citizenship. ASCD’s whole child initiative advocates a comprehensive approach to learning that recognizes successful young people must not only be knowledgeable when they graduate from school, but also emotionally and physically healthy, civically engaged, responsible, and caring. Schoolhouse Communications worked closely with ASCD to design and launch the Community Conversations Project, which helps communities explore how to collaborate with schools to support the whole child. Our work included creating a comprehensive how-to guide for local leaders and training state teams.
Believe in a Better Colorado
Believe in a Better Colorado is an unprecedented alliance among Colorado’s three largest education associations to inform more than 40,000 public school employees and school board members about Colorado’s dwindling tax base for essential public services. Schoolhouse Communications is leading the initiative’s communications efforts to deepen understanding about this critical issue among the associations’ members. The ultimate goal is to adopt a new tax system to fund public services that are critical to our state’s future. Schoolhouse Communications has developed a comprehensive communications strategy that includes strategic planning; message development; training; and materials such as a tool kit, video, and new Web site. Visit www.believeinabettercolorado.org for more information.
The Daniels Fund
Public schools are under more pressure than ever before to improve student achievement. Increasingly, businesses and other community partners are stepping in to help. But are these partnerships resulting in higher achievement for students? The Daniels Fund asked Schoolhouse Communications to research programs across the country and develop a model school partners program, which is now in its second year in Denver Public Schools. Our team also developed a reader-friendly guide for educators, business leaders, and other stakeholders to identify seven top strategies for successful partnerships.
Denver Public Schools: Southwest IB Schools
In southwest Denver, three public schools offer an International Baccalaureate education to students in grades K – 12. Sabin International School, Henry Middle School, and John F. Kennedy High School asked Schoolhouse Communications to help them better communicate their programs and services to parents, students, and the community. Our team conducted focus groups and interviews with students, staff, parents, and community members to gauge their knowledge and perceptions about the IB schools. We used our extensive research to create messages and customize communications plans for each school. Schoolhouse Communications also developed a new marketing packet, Web site, and PowerPoint presentation for each school, which cross-promote all three schools and reinforce key messages that resonate with targeted audiences. Download a sample marketing packet by clicking on the cover to the left.
National Education Association Health Information Network
NEA HIN, a recognized national leader in school safety, chose Schoolhouse Communications to research, write, and help promote its new school crisis guide. This step-by-step online resource makes it easier for educators to keep schools safe – so teachers can teach and children can learn. School Crisis Guide: Help and Healing in a Time of Crisis provides action steps, tips, and resources to help educators prepare for emergencies; respond during a crisis; and assist students, staff, and families recover afterward. The guide was featured recently on Dr. Phil.
NeighborWorks America
While most of our clients work in education, some focus on other public policy issues such as affordable housing and foreclosure prevention. NeighborWorks America, a network of organizations in nearly 2,700 communities across America, chose Schoolhouse Communications to develop and implement a media planning and promotions project in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri. The NeighborWorks Regional Media Promotions Program targeted a dozen states in 2007. Schoolhouse Communications also developed a national media training curriculum and how-to media relations guide for organizations selected by NeighborWorks America to participate in the program.
Southwest Educational Development Laboratory Internal Communications Audit
Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) in Austin, TX, selected Schoolhouse Communications in a national competition to conduct an internal communications audit. We conducted in-depth research to better understand SEDL's communications strengths and challenges and designed a comprehensive internal communications plan to help all SEDL staff become more effective communicators. One of the pieces SEDL designed as a result of the audit was a new internal newsletter that contains relevant and timely information important to staff.
