In this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we are joined by Bob Thomas, Head of School at the Walden School in Pennsylvania. Bob shares his journey through school leadership, emphasizing the impact of diversity, equity, and servant leadership. He recounts an inspiring letter about his father’s achievements as an African American leader and the significance of servant leadership principles learned from Robert Greenleaf. The conversation also covers the importance of listening, storytelling, and creating inclusive school environments. Bob offers insights into how independent schools can foster a more supportive climate for leaders of color and emphasizes the community’s role in driving systemic change.

Mentioned in the episode:

PDF of letter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oEx56yunICiZv2BFwRLbFC4QS8-cKyrt/view?usp=sharing

Volvo Ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42ZMi0DnMtE

In this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we dive into the world of branding for schools with Madison Carr, a branding expert who specializes in helping schools align their identity and connect with the right audience. Madison shares insights on the critical role of brand strategy in standing out in a competitive educational landscape, the importance of internal alignment before focusing on visual design, and how a thoughtful brand strategy can build trust and drive enrollment. Whether you’re a school leader or marketing director, you’ll walk away with actionable tips on creating a unified and effective brand presence.

In this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we sit down with Tesha McCord Poe, founder and CEO of Joy Raising. Tesha shares her inspiring journey from a successful legal career to building her own consultancy, where she blends fundraising with principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). We dive into her unique approach to creating joyful, mission-aligned fundraising strategies, the importance of understanding donor backgrounds, and how to tap into the joy of giving. Tesha also shares practical examples of impactful campaigns and actionable advice for schools looking to incorporate DEIB into their fundraising practices.

On this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we welcome Jen Danish, head of Grace Episcopal Day School, who brings over 30 years of experience in independent schools. Jen’s commitment to fostering nurturing and inclusive school communities is at the heart of her work at Grace. In this episode, she introduces us to Grace’s pioneering Community Tuition Model, designed to make independent education more accessible and welcoming. We explore how this model redefines traditional financial aid, allowing families to pay tuition based on their means, fostering a balanced and inclusive school environment. Jen also shares the research and strategy that support this innovative approach, offering a roadmap for other schools looking to embrace inclusivity and affordability in their tuition models.

To learn more about Community Tuition at Grace: https://geds.org/admission/tuition/

In this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we sit down with Nicole McDermott, an independent school leader with over two decades of experience. Nicole shares insights into her work as a facilitator and certified leadership coach trained in Brene Brown’s ‘Dare to Lead’ program. We dive deep into how courage, vulnerability, and clarity play a critical role in educational leadership. Nicole shares how integrating mindfulness and leadership principles can positively impact school communities, from supporting teachers to strengthening relationships with parents. We also explore how schools can better market their unique approaches to stand out.

In this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we sit down with James Riley, a former high school math and statistics teacher of 20 years who now runs Forward Dataworks, a company with a goal to address the growing need for schools to make data-driven decisions. James brings some fascinating insights on how independent and private schools can tap into the power of data for smarter decision-making, especially when it comes to admissions and strategic planning. We dive into everything from quick surveys and demographic analysis to targeted marketing strategies.

In this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we speak with Scott Butterworth, principal of Fine Point Communications, about the importance of strategic messaging for independent schools. Scott draws from his crisis communication experience to advise school leaders on preparing for and navigating crises, stressing transparency, understanding community needs, and student-centered communication. He shares practical steps for crisis planning, mindfulness in tough situations, and avoiding common pitfalls to ensure clear, trusted communication during challenging times.

In this episode of the Mindful School Marketing Podcast, we are joined by Dale Seabury to discuss the critical importance of tuition pages on school websites. Dale shares insights on why this page is highly visited and provides strategies on showcasing the school’s value proposition. The conversation covers effective ways to present tuition information, the role of social proof, and the importance of financial aid transparency. Dale also offers practical tips on engaging prospective families, optimizing user experience, and making the information easy to access and understand. 

In this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we chat with Jenny McKee, an astrologer with Sky Whisperers Astrology and a practicing lawyer for over 30 years. Jenny shares her passion for helping people align with their authentic selves through astrology. Despite astrology’s mixed reputation, Jenny discusses its practical applications, especially in educational settings, and how understanding astrological signs can enhance interpersonal relationships. The conversation delves into the nuances of astrology readings, overcoming skepticism, and the potential for meaningful change. 

In this episode of Mindful School Marketing, we speak with Rebecca Drobis, a passionate photojournalist specializing in educational photography. Rebecca shares her insights on capturing authentic and impactful images for independent schools and she emphasizes the importance of strategy, composition, diversity, and effective lighting in school photography. Rebecca also offers practical tips for schools taking their own photos and discusses the significance of managing and organizing images thoughtfully. Throughout the conversation, the importance of mindfulness in her photography practice is highlighted, underscoring the value of being fully present to capture genuine moments.