BrandED: Tell Your Story, Build Relationships, and Empower Learning

by Eric C. Sheninger, Trish Rubin

Praise for BrandED

-Branding instead of being branded. Defining instead of being defined. Innovative educators must stand up for their ideas and actions instead of being judged and branded by external agencies using standardized measures. Eric Sheninger and Trish Rubin present an excellent guide for educators and education leaders to tell their stories through BrandED.-
--Yong Zhao, PhD, Foundation Distinguished Professor, School of Education, University of Kansas and author of Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon?

-A great resource for educators who want to strengthen their connections with students, teachers, parents, and the wider community. These two innovative leaders don't just capture how to tell the story of a school--they show how to create it.-
--Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

-Every day in every one of your schools, great things happen. How does your community know? Schools that are Future Ready boldly engage their community to build relationships and empower both students and families. Powerful yet practical, BrandED is the perfect resource to help your school share its story with the world.-
--Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation, Future Ready Schools

-Eric and Trish demystify what it means to brand one's school by providing eight compelling conversations that not only lead to a deeper understanding of branding, but provide relevant ways for school leaders to frame their work... . In the vast sea of information in which we currently reside, using the BrandED Leadership methods described in this book will help school leaders reach their audiences in ways that create trusting relationships and loyalty.-
--Dwight Carter, Principal, New Albany High School

-Disruption is the new normal. And the great disruptors of our time are shaping the culture itself in innovative ways. Eric and Trish's book BrandED sends a very compelling message to school leaders that developing and executing a smart, innovative brand strategy can disrupt the best practices' conventions of the existing school system. Like great disruptive brands from Apple to Uber, educators now have the ability to get the community engaged and immersed in the school's brand equity--and BrandED provides the roadmap for getting there.-
--Scott Kerr, Executive Director of Strategy and Insights, Time Inc.

Genres: Education

320 pages, Hardcover

Published April 24, 2017

About the author

Eric is a Senior Fellow and Thought Leader on Digital Leadership with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE). Prior to this he was the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implementation of several sustainable change initiatives that radically transformed the learning culture at his school while increasing achievement.

His work focuses on leading and learning in the digital age as a model for moving schools and districts forward. This has led to the formation of the Pillars of Digital Leadership, a framework for all educators to initiate sustainable change to transform school cultures. As a result Eric has emerged as an innovative leader, best selling author, and sought after speaker. His main focus is the use of social media and web 2.0 technology as tools to facilitate student learning, improve communications with stakeholders, enhance public relations, create a positive brand presence, discover opportunity, transform learning spaces, and help educators grow professionally.

Eric is a Bammy Award winner (2013), NASSP Digital Principal Award winner (2012), PDK Emerging Leader Award recipient (2012), winner of Learning Forward's Excellence in Professional Practice Award (20 12), Google Certified Teacher, Adobe Education Leader, and ASCD 2011 Conference Scholar.

He has also contributed on education for the Huffington Post, co-created the Edscape Conference, sits on the FEA Board of Directors, and was named to the NSBA "20 to Watch" list in 2010 for technology leadership. TIME Magazine also identified Eric as having one of the 140 Best Twitter Feeds in 2014. He now presents and speaks nationally to assist other school leaders embrace and effectively utilize technology. His blog, A Principal's Reflections, was selected as Best School Administrator Blog in 2013 and 2011 by Edublogs.

Eric began his career in education as a Science Teacher at Watchung Hills Regional High School where he taught a variety of subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Marine Biology, Ecology) and coached several sports (ice hockey, football, lacrosse). He then transitioned into the field of educational administration as an Athletic Director/Supervisor of Physical Education & Health and Vice Principal in the New Milford School District. During his administrative career he has served as District Affirmative Action Officer and was the president of the New Milford Administrator’s Association. During his tenure as high school principal he successfully implemented numerous initiatives including a new teacher evaluation system (McREL), oversaw Common Core implementation, and initiated a new grading philosophy. Eric received his M.Ed. in Educational Administration from East Stroudsburg University, B.S. in Biology from Salisbury University, and his B.S. in Marine/Environmental Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided this book as part of a school PR conference, and it took quite a long time for me to finish it. In retrospect, I started this book and then allowed it to sit for awhile simply because it is a lower-level primer than what I needed. For more than 8 years, I have worked daily in public education communications and social media (in a progressive, suburban district). I certainly underlined some key ideas in the book that I will pass along via professional development training for our district staff. I also plan to share my copy of this book with a few school principals who will find value in the content. As for me, personally and professionally, I was not blown away.

[Dave Moyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book and a must read for educators. We have to communicate the message better before they eradicate public schools and this country dies.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a brief line on it, but I think the valuable thing about this book is that it really covers an area that's neglected in education. And it's written by an author who really did 'walk the walk.'

[Steven Strothman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great ideas were presented in the book. Unfortunately, they were presented in a very repetitive manor. The book could have been at least cut down by a third without all of the repetition.