os5_mastiff

Professional Development Priorities for Communications Officers - convened by Grace Woods

Discussion of where communications staff should be focusing for their professional development. Suggestions included:
 * Photoshop -- lynda.com and Scott Kelby were recommended for online tutorials
 * New Horizons continuing ed programs for InDesign
 * video editing/production
 * SEO skills, Google Analytics, Facebook Insights -- really useful to know these tools
 * social media knowledge and familiarity -- socialmediaexaminer.com

Several people noted that the communications role is evolving more strategically and stepping up higher into the administration. Progressive heads of school are seeing the value in giving the communications officer a seat at the table next to admissions, marketing, development, etc. -- not just reporting to those departments. Communications is being given more decision-making abilities and power.

Possible conferences:

CASE/NAIS annual conference AimHigh Marketing conference

[Note from Ilyssa Frey of Meadowbrook: one thing I meant to bring up was professional development around digital citizenship -- communications playing a role in the school's development of curriculum for students' good online behavior. A possible bridge from "non-educator" to "educator."]