Nonprofit Communications & PR Firm | Nonprofit Marketing Agency | Forthright Advising

I recently chatted with a central office staff member who was headed to one of her district’s elementary schools…to teach for the day. She shared that in the past year, everyone from the superintendent to school nutrition workers have filled in in the classroom.

As the national teacher shortage rages on, more and more districts are struggling to hire talented team members. As a matter of fact, a recent Gallup poll showed that 61 percent of superintendents strongly agree that recruiting talented teachers is a major challenge.

That’s why today, we’re sharing tips to help your district market your open positions so you can hire the right teachers for your district.

School District Marketing, Hiring and PeopleNiki JuhaszMarch 8, 2022education

Avoid this ESSER III spending pitfall

By showing your community how you’re spending the federal funds and how you’re helping students learn during uncertain times, you can build trust and important relationships in your district. Here are four easy ideas.

School District MarketingKatie Test DavisFebruary 3, 2022education

Calm the chaos and boost student enrollment

Through her work with district Public Information Officers throughout the pandemic, Forthright senior advisor Lauren knows the challenges districts are facing. Today, she’s sharing a few key tips for how to reach parents amidst the chaos, with the end goal of increasing your enrollment numbers.

School District Marketing, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisJanuary 12, 2022education

Can we just...not?

We, as the smart, amazing people who work on behalf of families and children, are no longer going to spend our precious time on projects that don’t have a proven return on that time investment.

Instead, we’re going to ruthlessly prioritize, and that begins by deciding what we’re going to say no to.

To make saying no as easy as possible, the Forthright team created a new quiz tool to help nonprofit professionals like you figure out what to take off their list.

4 ugly holiday sweaters only education leaders will understand

When we were thinking about what school leaders like you could use for the holidays, the first thing that came to mind was a big belly laugh.

You’ve endured a doozy during the past two years, and beyond napping, endless hot chocolate and a break from scrolling Twitter, we figured you could use a little bit of lolz.

And what’s sillier than ugly holiday sweaters?

School District MarketingKatie Test DavisDecember 14, 2021education

Easy ways to meet ESSER III consultation requirements

The massive influx of federal funds meant to help schools recover from COVID-19’s effects—known as ESSER funding—is a lifeline for districts. But, as any seasoned public employee knows…there’s no such thing as free money. The ESSER III funds come with a few strings attached.

School District MarketingKatie Test DavisNovember 16, 2021education

School-based communications is an equity issue

Now more than ever, it’s time to invest in our principals, our assistant principals, our front desk staff and everyone in a school who communicates with parents. Our school-based communicators deserve thoughtful leadership from our district offices, clear expectations about communications and the tools they need to do a good job.

School District Marketing, AccessibilityKatie Test DavisNovember 3, 2021education

Our #1 favorite messaging trick...

In many communications initiatives, you just KNOW your target audience is going to find fault with your campaign. They are going to have questions, concerns or downright oppose your work.

Once you explain your vision, they’ll say “what I’m worried about is...” and launch into why they don’t support you. What comes after the “what I’m worried about...” is the concern—in other words, the challenge you need to overcome to gain your opposition’s support.

PART ONE: What to do when your communications director quits

Americans are quitting their jobs at a record rate. Korn Ferry calls it an “unprecedented string of walkouts”. News headlines nicknamed it “the great resignation.” However you describe it, the employee turnover in every industry, including ours, is so real right now.

3 tips for your social media marketing plan

As the seasons change, we’re all craving a bit of new. Here are a few things to think about as you hit refresh on your social media marketing plan for the rest of the year.

Why you need both "push" & "pull" communications

As communicators, our job is to get really great at both push and pull communications, because our audiences need and deserve both.

What does “hold your horses” have to do with equity?

We asked a few members of our team what they imagine when they hear the phrase “hold your horses.” The results were nothing short of hysterical.

Why your district needs a communications audit…now

Here’s a brief 101 on Communications Audits to get you started…

See You At NSPRA?

One of the things I’ve missed most in the past year is meeting with partners, clients, and fellow school communicators in person. As I look at the conference lineup—from sessions about bond campaigns to equity in leadership—I’m filled with excitement to learn from one another as we work together to serve students.

Your ultimate guide to year-round student enrollment marketing

Plummeting public school enrollment numbers are keeping educators up at night nationwide. That’s why Forthright Senior Advisor Ashley Peterson-DeLuca is sharing strategies for how to build strong relationships with families all year-round.

Our Favorite Rule for Successful Media Relations

If you’ve ever been a Forthright client, you’ve probably heard us say this a million times: “You don’t talk TO the media, you talk THROUGH the media!” While we value journalists for all they do, a simple conversation with an individual reporter rarely accomplishes an organization's end goal. That’s why we’re sharing our favorite rule for successful media relations!

2 Easy Metrics Your District Should Track On Social Media

The good news is, tracking engagement (and building measurable goals) doesn’t have to be hard. That’s why today, we’re sharing our tips for the two key metrics you should always track on social media.

Listen Now: Insider Advice For Building Trust For School Leaders

We share actionable tips and tricks for how to build trust with families and with school staff, talk about the long-term need for meaningful community engagement, and reflect on what the future holds.

Write the perfect graduation speech

As we approach graduation season, I know many of you are planning speeches, from drafting your own to ghostwriting for your district’s leadership. We’re sharing a few tips to help you along the way!

4 Research-backed Tips to Crafting Motivating Stories

By making storytelling an integral part of your communications, you can build strong relationships with your community, funders and partners. And, you can highlight stories across any channel—sharing them on social media, incorporating story call outs in your annual report or including them when pitching media contacts. Check out our four research-backed tips (and examples) for effective storytelling.

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