CONNECT Cohort

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this month’s session with Jerry Gallagher, Partner at the Donovan Group. Jerry shared strategies for building trust through transparency and emphasized how intentional, consistent communication can shape positive perceptions both inside and outside of schools.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Sharpen your elevator speech—avoid buzzwords like “academic rigor” and connect directly to your mission and vision
✅ Build a strategic communications plan—calendar everything for intentional timing and flow
✅ Use campaigns with purpose—plan not just when but what and how content flows together
✅ Cross-advertise with one-pagers at school events and games
✅ Highlight the broader community in recruitment and marketing materials
✅ Celebrate a wide range of students and staff consistently—not just athletics
✅ Use optimal times/days for social media (e.g., 6 AM, 12 PM, 2:55 PM, 8 PM, and Sunday nights) while avoiding low-engagement windows like Friday afternoons

🎁 Bonus Resources from Jerry & the Donovan Group:

Social Media Topics Planner for the 2025–26 School Year
Best Practices for Social Media
Best Practices for Video
Best Practices for Photography
Teacher Appreciation Week Toolkit (originally for 2025, can be updated for 2026)

View Resources here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wMr7m7crDtFDGI5L-zje6bzSdXMRmrmh?usp=sharing

🎥You can also access the presentation slides and session recording in the Documents tab of our online CONNECT cohort page:

👉 https://coloradoleague.org/group/connect-cohort/documents.html

We hope to see you at our next CONNECT Cohort Meeting on Oct. 10, 2025 | 12:00–5:30 PM. This will be an in-person gathering at the Leadership Summit, featuring lunch, a panel discussion, workshops, and a happy hour. Don’t forget to use code CONNECTatLS25 for your free ticket!

Created: September 15, 2025 10:09:59 AM