Issue 229

Author

Brendan Schneider
March 10, 2025

In partnership with

PROLOGUE
Turn Strategy into Action: The Power of a School Operating System

Ever had that sinking feeling when you look at your school's strategic plan collecting dust on the shelf? You're not alone.

As school marketers, we often find ourselves in a frustrating position: we help craft compelling visions for our schools, but then struggle to turn those beautiful plans into tangible results. The gap between strategy and execution can feel like the Grand Canyon sometimes.

That's why I'm excited to share an upcoming webinar that addresses this exact challenge. My friend Peter Baron (who many of you know from his podcast and work with schools) has developed something called a School Operating System (SOS) that might just be the missing link between all those ambitious plans and actual implementation.

"From Strategic Plan to Strategic Action: Building Your School Operating System"

Date: March 20, 2025
Time: 1 pm ET
Location: Zoom
Cost: FREE

In this one-hour session, Peter will show you:

  • What a School Operating System is and how it transforms lofty goals into day-to-day actions

  • Why every school already has an operating system (intentional or not) and how to optimize yours

  • How to create genuine alignment and accountability across departments

  • The role of scorecards in tracking progress and maintaining momentum

I've seen Peter's work with schools, and what I appreciate most is his practical approach. This isn't about adding more to your plate—it's about creating systems that make your existing work more effective and purposeful.

If you're tired of strategic plans that overpromise and underdeliver, I think you'll find value in these insights.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you found effective ways to bridge the gap between planning and execution at your school? Hit reply and let me know!

Thanks,
Brendan

P.S. Even if you can't make the live session, register anyway—Peter will send the recording to all registrants!

Modernize your marketing with AdQuick

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UPCOMING EVENT

For MarCom Society Members Only

Create a podcast with NotebookLM (and other cool things!)
Monday, March 17, 2025 @ Noon EST

In this Lunch & Learn Live Session, Brendan will walk you through some cool features of Google's NotebookLM tool, including creating a podcast from your report or other document.

RECOMMENDED READING

2025 School Social Media Survey Results

Survey says! Discover key insights shared by #SS4EDU's Andrea Gribble from the 2025 School Social Media Survey.

socialschool4edu.com/2025-school-social-media-survey-results

Making the Case for Your FY26 Budget

How to Align Your Budget Request with Institutional Priorities

kanahoma.substack.com/p/making-the-case-for-your-fy26-budget

How to Support Your School Story with Organic, Authentic Social Media

Want to make your school's social media more engaging and impactful? This article from Cursive Content explores how to craft an authentic, organic social media presence that truly reflects your school’s story. Learn practical tips for showcasing real moments, amplifying your community’s voice, and building stronger connections with prospective and current families.

https://cursivecontent.com/how-to-support-your-school-story-with-organic-authentic-social-media/

Common Sense Playbook to Meta Advertising

Consider this post a common sense playbook for how you should approach Meta advertising that rejects complexity in favor of simplicity...

www.jonloomer.com/common-sense-playbook-to-meta-advertising/?utm_source=blog_alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=remove_the_chaos&inf_contact_key=b46df1e1adf46bfea9eb58cf228fce4a16358d5485884e2f31e6019a0d26c8b0

Brendan Schneider (@schneiderb.com)

I’m on BlueSky. Are you?

If you are, please follow me there, and I’ll follow you back.

bsky.app/profile/schneiderb.com

RECOMMENDED VIEWING

MARCOM JOB

Marketing Production Manager @ National Association of Independent Schools

The Marketing Production Manager plays a critical role in the success of the Marketing, Communications, and Membership (MCM) division, ensuring the seamless execution of marketing initiatives. This position oversees project intake, scheduling, and production planning across digital and print channels.

jobs.marcomsociety.org/job/marketing-production-manager-2

Whenever You're Ready, There Are 4 Ways I Can Help You

Fractional Digital Marketer Program: Our flagship consulting program where we help you get more inquiries by implementing inbound marketing, Google Ads, FB/Insta Ads, SEO, and Blogging for you! Learn more.

SchoolMarketingCRM: My new marketing software for schools. This is the software I wish I had when I worked in schools. It handles all of your marketing functions, including landing pages, email automation, reputation management, appointment scheduling, and much more. Learn more.

The MarCom Society: Join other school marketing and communication professionals in my membership community, which is designed to help you become a better MarCom professional through training, support, and community. Learn more.

Promote yourself to 5,000+ subscribers by sponsoring this newsletter. Email me at [email protected].