Storytelling IS your marketing

Storytelling is a powerful tool for educators in creating engaging learning experiences for students that are relevant, memorable, and result in deep learning. There is SO much brain science that backs up this claim, and I love working with educators to embed more storytelling into everyday teaching and learning.

Another way that stories can transform a school is in marketing and communications. When we tell our learning stories in more purposeful and authentic ways, we help prospective families connect with genuine student experiences, and we also have the opportunity to share how everyday teaching and learning align with our school mission and vision.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Andreas Koini, head of school at Antwerp International School in Belgium, about his school’s decision to replace all marketing strategies with storytelling. Creating a position of “reputation manager” (whose full-time tasks are to capture and tell learning stories from PreK-12 classrooms) allowed Andreas and his team to celebrate the school’s stories and culture. Through the stories, prospective families can easily understand the values and aims that underpin all teaching and learning.

Check out this interview with Andreas to get a sense of how his team uses storytelling to showcase the school’s identity and brand.

Storytelling really IS the way of authentically sharing what is special and purposeful about your school.