CONNECT: Ho-Ho-Hold on to your students ❄️

Season's Greetings

As we wrap up November’s “Family and School Partnership in Education Month,” look forward to the fast-approaching holidays and say goodbye to 2023, we’d like to thank you, our communications leaders and thought partners, for your valiant efforts in championing school choice. There is no task too small or ask too big that you as school leaders, engagement officers, marketing directors, family and community liaisons, enrollment leads, registrars, and the like haven’t explored for the sake of your school families and the hopes for a better, brighter educational future.

Now is a wonderful time to offer your appreciation to a colleague by nominating them for the Colorado League of Charter Schools annual Hall of Fame, honoring outstanding members, leaders, and supporters of the charter school movement. Finalists will be announced in January 2024 with the award ceremony set for February 26 during the opening night of the 2024 Annual Conference. Don't miss this chance to spotlight those who shine in Colorado's charter community. Nominate today!

Below you’ll find a quick recap of last month’s CONNECT activities as well as upcoming opportunities through February, including the much anticipated Annual Conference with a pre-conference session and a plethora of additional sessions dedicated just to enrollment and marketing. We round out this issue with resources on student retention as we continue to examine its influence on school community engagement and enrollment initiatives.

Peeking Back

CONNECT Lunch & Learn
Empowering School Communications through AI: Less Time, Better Outcomes
Nov. 9th | Virtual
The November 9 CONNECT meeting was a wonderful peek into the world of AI led by GroundFloor Media’s Adrienne Schafer. We touched on the magic behind the machine and its ethical considerations before exploring more of its superpowers in the when and why to put it to work for you. Thanks to all of you who offered up some great questions, comments (“AI is my coworker!”) and use cases in the chat. If you missed it, you can find the recording link on the discussion page of our online community.

Leveraging Community Engagement to Drive Continuous Enrollment (Session 3)
Building Momentum: Community Engagement and Recruitment Planning
Nov. 14th | Hybrid
This third session in our free, six-part extended series explored best practices in fostering true partnerships with families and communities that appreciate, value, and support the social, emotional, and wellness needs of your students. This approach helps to simultaneously build collaborative and authentic regional connections while supporting the neighborhoods surrounding schools.

Looking Ahead

CONNECT Lunch & Learn
How to Turn Market Research Into a Marketing Campaign with the Power of AI
Dec. 14 | Virtual, 12:00-1:00 PM
Building off both the marketing and enrollment frameworks we discussed in October and the AI piece we explored in November, we’ll explore how to best utilize AI to build or improve upon your marketing campaigns, including how to conduct extensive, unbiased market research in just seconds. This online conversation will be led by Truth Tree’s Founder & Principal, Trevor Waddington, a former teacher and school marketing director who serves as a champion in the school marcomms space. Save your spot today!

CONNECT Open Office Hours
Jan. 11 | Virtual | 12:00-1:00 PM
The League’s marketing support team will be on hand to answer any League, cohort or marcomm industry questions you may have. We can offer guidance in a particular area or simply serve as a sounding board for any marketing, communications, enrollment, or other similar in-house projects you are currently tackling. Jump on the call any time that best suits your busy schedule! Bookmark the date.

Regional Gatherings
Join your charter school peers at an upcoming regional happy hour hosted by the League. These regional gatherings provide an opportunity for you to connect and network with other charter leaders in your area, as well as members of the League staff. Specific locations will be determined based on registrants’ location, so please register early. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided by the League.

Southern Colorado Regional Gathering
Dec. 11 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM | 15 S. Tejon St Colorado Springs, CO 80903
For Charter Leaders located in El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Pueblo, or Prowers. Register today!
Jefferson County Regional Gathering
Jan. 8 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM | TBD
For Charter Leaders located in Jefferson County. Register early.
Douglas County Regional Gathering
Jan. 16 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM | TBD
For Charter Leaders located in Douglas County. Register here.

Leveraging Community Engagement to Drive Continuous Enrollment (Session Four)
Drive to Results: Improving enrollment through Community Engagement & Recruitment metrics
Jan. 17th | Hybrid
This fourth session in our free, six-part series will focus on driving results and change management around community engagement as a whole team practice by leveraging extreme ownership and effective delegation. Book now.

Advocacy Day
Feb. 1 | 8:30 - 1:30 PM | McNichols Building & Colorado State Capitol Building
We’re excited to host charter students, teachers, and leaders from across the state for this unique advocacy and leadership opportunity. Attend this event to learn about the legislative process, garner helpful tips about effective advocacy, understand current education bills and how they could charter schools, and visit the Capitol to directly engage with your elected officials. Learn more.

CONNECT Lunch & Learn
The Power of Student-Driven Storytelling
Feb. 8 | Virtual | 12:00-12:55 PM
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Class Intercom’s Dr. Jill Johnson who will lead this session on student-led digital storytelling. You’ll learn not only how to build real-world skills but also school community and retention by connecting with and engaging students on their level. Add it to your calendar.

CONNECT Workshop
Closing the Numbers Gap: Refining Strategies Between Open Enrollment Rounds
Feb. 26 | 12:00 - 4:00 PM | Marriott Denver Tech Center
A lot can happen between rounds one and two of open enrollment and remaining agile is key to converting those families who are on the cusp while continuing to recruit new ones. Join our guest speakers for a pre-conference working session where we’ll explore best practices for using data-driven planning to encourage commitment from families going into round two of open enrollment. By using data to understand your audience, you can better leverage your marketing tactics and avenues. Free to CONNECT members; includes lunch. Speakers to be announced soon. Register here using the free CONNECT pre-conference workshop option.

2024 Colorado Charter Schools Conference
Feb. 27 & 28 | 8:00 - 5:00 PM | Marriott Denver Tech Center
The 2024 Colorado Charter Schools Annual Conference is a highly anticipated event that brings together educators, administrators, and advocates from across the state to explore innovative ideas, share best practices, and collaborate in shaping the future of charter education. We’ve got five workshops dedicated just to enrollment and marketing, as well as nearly 75 more topics across sixteen strands. Save your spot.

News & Resources

How Social Media Can Improve Student Enrollment and Retention
Schneider B Media
Your social media networks are a valuable way to attract prospective families to your school and an effective tool for improving student retention rates. You can share announcements, highlight special events, and build community related to shared values. Most importantly, social media is an excellent way to listen and respond to questions and concerns from parents. Read more.

Step 7: Improving Student Retention
SchoolMint | October 4, 2023
We don’t like to say it out loud, but let’s be honest — the higher your student count, the larger your budget is to deliver a great educational experience for your students. It’s okay to sometimes focus on activities like enrollment that will allow you to offer students better experiences. Read more.

Key Internal Marketing Strategies for Retaining Independent School Families
Easy School Marketing | September 30, 2023
Among independent and private school leaders, discussions around marketing often center around attracting new families, seeking fresh faces to join the school community. However, amidst these conversations, a key strategy often remains unexplored: internal marketing for retention. Read more.

Building a customer experience culture in K-12 schools
DigiStorm | July 20, 2022
Customer Experience (CX) is essential to your school's retention strategy! Learn how to create a culture of CX at your school. Read more.

Unlock Three Ways To Improve K-12 Student Retention
Schola | February 16, 2022
What can be better for your ROI than getting a new student enrolled? Maintaining your current ones. We know that acquiring a new student is attractive, but student retention is essential for the long-term success of your school. Read more.

Shout Outs

Flagstaff Academy’s Green Team takes on compost challenge
Longmont Leader | November 20, 2023
Flagstaff Academy formed a Green Team in 2017 when a group of students realized how many items were being thrown into the trash instead of properly sorted. Since then, students in this group have tackled major problems in their school in the hopes of making a larger difference. Read more.

Two Rivers Community School students enriched by hands-on financial literacy
Glenwood Springs Post Independent | November 30, 2023
Eighth graders from Two Rivers Community School took a break from traditional classroom learning to participate in Finance Park, a hands-on financial education program hosted by Junior Achievement of Roaring Fork Valley at the Glenwood Springs Community Center on Tuesday. Read more.

Have any tips or resources you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

The Stories We Tell: Get to Know the Group

Tiffany Blakley, Community Engagement Coordinator, Jefferson Academy

This Colorado born and raised more ‘midday’ bird (although her 11pm weekday bedtime has us thinking otherwise!) and boy-mom of three (explains the bedtime!), is also a pizza-all-day- all-the-time gal if she was only allowed one meal for the rest of her life.

A former 90’s Barbie fan and one-time childhood trumpet player, Tiffany’s now a self-proclaimed clean freak with a super sniffer (old broccoli - a yuck; clean rain - a plus) and a reserved (as in modest; her talent, off the charts!) vocalist who would likely sing the praises of vacuuming often under furniture and wiping out your fridge on the reg. Nothing old in hers, other than some Kraft cheese singles (and those don’t ever expire! Do they?).

She has a very real fear of tight spaces and revolving doors, and maybe parallel parking (who doesn’t!). The zombie apocalypse? Not for her, but protection from her action star celeb crushes Jay Hernandez and Shemar Moore would change her mind.

In her free time (what’s that she says?), you’ll find her singing, dancing or listening to an eclectic mix of music (or any combo of the three, as long as it involves the latter!), activities that earned this Metro State alum a scholarship to the American Musical & Dramatic Academy of Manhattan her senior year of high school. Next up, The Voice? You’ve got our vote!

Connect with Bill in our online CONNECT Community or on LinkedIn.

“If you’re not eliciting an emotional reaction, you’re not properly marketing yourself.” (1).png

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