What was it like to present at the 2024 AWSP/WASA Summer Conference?
It was such a great experience. I loved connecting with a room full of other school leaders who are all working to find new ways to communicate with our unique communities. It felt good to share what’s working in school districts that we support, while also learning from others. We walked away with new ideas, new connections, and inspiration to keep telling hopeful stories.
What message did you want people to walk away with from your presentation?
We wanted people to leave feeling inspired to tell more of the good stories happening in their schools, because there are so many! Our message was simple: when we lead with hope and put students at the center of our communication, we build stronger connections with families and communities.
We also wanted to leave attendees with clear tips and next steps for expanding on their own school district’s digital storytelling. The presentation included information about shifts in where US adults, especially young parent audiences, are looking for information. With more adults getting their news from the internet and social media than ever before, storytelling with video is crucial.
What tips did you give school leaders about video as a storytelling tool?
It’s hard to ignore the role of video in modern-day news and storytelling. According to a 2020 Pew Research survey, 26% of US adults get news from YouTube. Another Pew Research study found that 47% of US adults prefer to watch their news, compared to 34% who prefer reading it and 19% who prefer listening to it. In Washougal School District, the open rate for weekly ParentSquare posts from the school district increased by about 50% in 2023-24 after integrating student-centered video into the messages.
Here’s my favorite video storytelling tip: Start your video with a bang! Use your most visually engaging clip in the first three seconds of your video. Most viewers will decide whether or not to watch your video within the first three seconds.
What tips did you offer for picking which stories to share?
When considering which stories to spotlight, I ask myself: Is this student-centered? What are the most visually engaging elements of this story? Does the story reflect our school district’s values?
What has been most valuable to you about attending and presenting at regional conferences?
Presenting allows us to reflect on what’s working in our own districts, while also learning from one another. I always leave feeling energized, better equipped, and reminded that we’re all in this work together.
I really value the opportunity to collaborate with and present alongside our partners, like Washougal School District. These partnerships strengthen our work and help us to achieve a common goal of sharing authentic, student-centered stories that not only build trust and connection, but also support our collective mission of equalizing educational opportunities for all students.
