Big Stories, Small Gear

You don't need a production truck or a room full of expensive equipment to create compelling content. In this session, discover how to produce professional-looking videos and tell meaningful stories using gear that fits in a backpack. Learn how a smartphone, wireless microphones, compact lighting and a simple camera rig can help you create engaging content for your school or district. You'll leave with practical tips, affordable equipment recommendations and the confidence to start creating high-quality content with the tools you already have.

Presented by Scott Murray, Communications Manager, Fort Wayne Community Schools

Beyond the School Walls: Building Trust, Visibility and Community Advocacy

Schools need informed, engaged communities now more than ever. In this session, Mooresville Schools and Crown Point Community Schools will share strategies for helping families and community members see the real story of their schools through authentic relationships and consistent visibility.

Learn how to showcase classroom success through staff voices, make your district accessible beyond the school building, and build a network of trusted advocates who help share accurate information.

Participants will exchange ideas with colleagues, explore engagement strategies from other districts, and develop action steps to strengthen trust and amplify the great work happening in their schools every day.

Co-Presented by Brooke Allen, Communications Director, Crown Point Community Schools and Susan Haynes, Communication and Community Relations Director, Mooresville Schools

Branding Through Belonging

In a time when school districts are faced with declining resources and accelerating expectations, how does your school district’s brand create a community that is motivated to invest in your schools? An increasing need for referendums in the state of Indiana has forced superintendents and communications professionals to build a brand strategy that proactively shares the district’s story and connects the schools with their broader community.

Our challenge is in building a comprehensive brand ecosystem that engages all audiences and creates a sense of belonging and a passion for the purpose. You will leave with a better understanding of how to make the school district part of the community’s core identity.

This session will focus on the overall brand-building process from internal engagement to community outreach to staff recruiting and student retention. You will explore various strategies used to connect the community and the schools and have an opportunity to build a tactical guide that you can use for the coming school year.

Co-Presented by Maria Bond, Director of Community Relations at Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation and Janet Mann, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Zionsville Community Schools

Protect the use of your brand and grow your community reach through a comprehensive trademark and licensing process. Learn about the legal, marketing and management pieces of building a strategic brand and promotional products system. Increase brand consistency, community access and revenue while protecting your image and standards. Marnie and Jon have been working together for many years to build a successful, unique program and will share what you need to know in order to create this for your district.

Co-Presented by Marnie Cooke, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, Noblesville Community Schools and Jon Becker, Attorney, CCH+A