Bringing Your District's Brand to Life by Storytelling

Kristine Jennings

How Are You Telling Your Story?

In her presentation, Bringing Your Message to Life: Shaping Your District’s Identity Through Storytelling, Tempe Elementary District marketing coordinator Kristine Jennings shared the importance of storytelling and how to tell your story in ways that set you apart.  

“We all have a story to tell. The most important thing is to make people care.  People are overwhelmed with information each day, so we must learn to differentiate ourselves,” Jennings said. 

In the world of public education, it can be very overwhelming to figure out how to start telling your story.  By spending time with your “main characters,” students, parents, employees and volunteers, you reach into the human element. This allows you to discover stories that stand out and make people care and want to hear more. 

Once you have your story, how do you share it?  Jennings highlighted several methods to get the word out, including photos (single-image short stories and multiple image stories), videos, websites, social media, newsletters, advertising, blogs, events, email and word of mouth by employees.

These tools should be interconnected to create a larger footprint for your story.  For example, if you are publishing a story on your website, also post it on social media sites and include it in newsletters.  

Jennings concluded the session by encouraging the audience to celebrate and share¬ the stories that are being told each day in our schools. 

ASPRA Reporter Kristine Jennings, Tempe Elementary