Who are we?

What kind of TV do you own? What made you purchase your TV? Was it the brand, the price, or something else? Companies work hard to cultivate and grow their brand. This is an idea public education seems to forget. We are a brand.

For too long we have sat back and allowed others to tell our story. It is time to make some change. Like the article, The Brand Called You, suggests I feel I need to create my own brand. I need to identify the things that set me apart from everyone else, what do I want to be known for?

These ideas and questions are very important in the education world. Education is very interconnected. You never know who has connections with whom. If you don't have a constant brand, that will get out quickly and you will lose credibility. As an educational leader I need to be intentional when creating my personal brand.

Branding your school is also important. If you are not out sharing who you are as a school and what you value, someone else will do it for you. When creating websites, blogs, tweets, or Facebook posts you need to remember to align them to your school brand.

When working on creating your school brand NETS A Standard 2 is a good starting point. With a focus on modeling, learning-centered environments, creating and promoting digital-age learning culture, rigor, and relevance, this would be a good conversation started with staff.

How do you think brands could be used to positively impact public schools?