School is becoming more hyper-localized. Parents’ choice is expanding, and public schools are already having to court new families to choose them, and this is going to become even more important as time goes on. John Mihalyo joins me to discuss how to improve your school’s branding. 

• Your identity and brand is an individualized school decision. 
• How to look at a school from a parent perspective
• What is the last parent perspective? 
• If you have a problem with enrollment, retention, and engagement, it might actually be a branding problem. 
• What are your teachers’ elevator pitch? 
• Give them topics of conversation. 
• Give people opportunities to discuss great things happening in your school. 
• Kids who start at your school want to finish at your school! 
• Two ways to look at things: “Tuition is so expensive” and “I’m getting all that for just $X in Tuition? Sign me up!”
• Word of mouth opportunities. 
• If you are not telling your story effectively
• Chaos to alignment to integration! 
• How to be a transformative principal? Ask this question: What is causing things to not go well? 

About John Mihalyo:

John Mihalyo is a distinguished education professional and the visionary founder of Elementary Advancement Solutions, a premier consulting firm dedicated to empowering Catholic and faith-based school leaders, and host of the excellent Catholic School Leaders Podcast. 

With over 20 years of administrative experience and 15 years as a Catholic school principal, John has become a trusted expert in navigating the complexities of Catholic education, including leadership development, advancement, and enrollment growth.

Throughout his career, John has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to supporting Catholic school leaders as they address the unique challenges of faith-based education. His extensive collaborations with pastors, bishops, superintendents, and dioceses across multiple states highlight his ability to develop innovative strategies that align with Catholic mission and values while driving measurable success.

John’s expertise in advancement is evidenced by his instrumental role in establishing two successful Advancement Offices, securing over $1.8 million in funding, and leading impactful initiatives such as a $6 million renovation project. Under his leadership, schools have experienced transformative growth, including an average enrollment increase of 24%, all while building stronger communities rooted in faith and mission.