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STEVENS POINT, Wis. (June 27, 2017) - School choice has become a growing trend for families, students, and employees. Recognizing this, an increasing number of school district leaders have started to prioritize their communication and branding efforts to help them attract and retain families and job candidates.
Skyward, a K-12 administrative software provider, sets these districts up to pursue more efficient internal processes and improve school-to-home communications. Leaders at the company say use of their SIS and ERP solutions is helping districts position themselves as forward-thinking learning environments.
“In today’s era of school choice and mobility, most districts have figured out they need to differentiate themselves from the competition,” said Ray Ackerlund, chief marketing officer at Skyward. “A brand is more than just a logo and mission statement; it’s all the ways districts engage with their communities, and that’s where Skyward can really help.”
With Skyward, districts can create a more consistent and personalized experience for students, families, and staff. That experience starts with Skyward’s login screen, which can display a welcome message, mission statement, and links to useful resources. The district’s name and logo, not the vendor’s, become the most prominent visual identifiers. Parents can take advantage of Skyward’s social media-style message board to communicate with teachers, and students are empowered to achieve their goals thanks to features like online assignments and future course requests. Similarly, new student online registration helps stakeholders who are less familiar with a district develop a strong first impression.
On the business and human resources front, Skyward offers districts paperless processes and open lines of communication with job candidates through its applicant tracking feature. With customized workflows, districts can personalize processes to provide employees with procedures unique to the district, increasing positive perceptions. Just as important, business offices can brand their human resources tasks and financial reports, improving visibility and top-of-mind awareness.
Michael Lawrence, communication officer at Seminole County Public Schools in central Florida, credits Skyward for helping his district grow its reputation and strengthen its brand. “Skyward has ensured that our brand identity and processes remain front and center,” explained Lawrence. “Our marketing strategies paired with the district’s adoption of emerging technologies have created a unique online presence that is hard to find anywhere else,” said Lawrence.
More than just a technology firm, Skyward is dedicated to continuous improvement that drives the success of its customers. Districts looking to improve or take that next step with their branding can visit www.skyward.com/buildyourbrand or stop into the Skyward booth (#2528) at ISTE 2017.