Independent Schools
Independent Schools play a vital role in our society by shaping the minds of young individuals for promising futures. Like any specialized field, they encounter unique challenges such as:
- Building and preserving a positive reputation, ongoing support, and strong trust with key stakeholders, such as parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and the local community.
- Maintaining a balance between providing high quality education to students and managing higher operating costs with fluctuations in financial support.
- Responding to institutional crises – some decades old – that can erode the goodwill of stakeholders.
These challenges confronted by independent schools are not novel, but they are steadily growing in complexity with each passing year. AKCG is here to collaborate with independent school leaders on media relations services, thought leadership campaigns, and crisis and preparedness communication strategies.
PR Services for Independent Schools
AKCG excels in independent school PR, whether it involves crafting customized public relations strategies or equipping schools with crisis communications plans for potential issues.
Media Relations
In constructing media relations programs, we align our plan to be strategically consistent with the mission and goals of the institution itself. Through deliberate media engagement, independent schools can significantly impact their brand awareness, set themselves apart from other institutions, and position themselves as trusted leaders in the community and the greater education landscape.
Our approach to earned media includes:
- Purposeful content strategy: Our specialized team will develop targeted pitches, press releases and media alerts to underscore your institution’s key messages, spotlight significant initiatives, and position students, alumni and faculty in the media.
- Media coverage and partnerships: We focus on gaining visibility across all mediums, including television, print, radio and online news sources. This coverage is secured by building meaningful relationships with journalists and outlets.
- Industry tracking: Our team is on top of trends and conversations in the education sector. We use this knowledge to present potential story ideas to marketing and communications teams.
By positioning independent schools as thought leaders in the education space, it not only enhances the school’s reputation but also fosters engagement and influence within its own community.
We help position your institution as an authority in the independent school sector, and elevate your team as subject matter experts in their respected areas, through:
- Strategic content development: We are skilled at writing influential content, designed to reach your targeted audience, share your specialties, enhance credibility with stakeholders, and attract students, families, and partners to your institution.
- Networking and speaker opportunities: We will identify speaking engagements and platforms for your school leaders to share insights and knowledge while connecting with peers and influencers.
- Community partnerships: Our team can facilitate collaborations and alliances with educational leaders, policymakers, and media personnel to amplify your school’s impact and influence.
Crisis Preparedness and Response
An institution’s ability to weather crises successfully relies on the preparedness of its communications and leadership teams. We aid institutions with effective planning and training to lessen or even avoid the potential damage a crisis can cause.
Our team also specializes in responding to crises and issues with a strategic approach to uphold and restore reputations. AKCG can provide support in:
- Crisis communications planning: A crisis communications plan is vital for schools to manage unexpected situations swiftly, maintain trust with stakeholders, and minimize reputational damage. It provides a structured approach to handling momentous occasions, ensuring consistent messaging, and demonstrating responsible leadership during critical moments.
- Media training for spokespersons: Our team offers media coaching for your school’s key personnel, ensuring their ability to communicate confidently and effectively with the media during challenging times.
- Crisis management & reputation recovery: Should a situation arise; we’ll work closely with your institution to determine the most effective approach on how to respond to the crisis.
Get in Touch with AKCG
Whether your team seeks support in refining your communication strategies, elevating your brand’s reputation, or increasing visibility for your faculty and student achievements, AKCG is ready to partner with you. Contact us to learn more about how we can help build a strong, enduring reputation for your independent school.
News
Recent Articles
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The Reputational Minefield of COVID Relief for Independent Schools
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Case studies
Learn About Our Work
In 2019, a prominent East Coast liberal-arts college faced a significant reputational challenge during a lengthy student protest. But, by prioritizing direct communications with its most important audiences and keeping pace with a fast-moving, global news cycle, the college, in partnership with AKCG, was able to mitigate the impact on admissions and advancement efforts. (This campaign was recognized with first-place honors by Philadelphia PRSA.)
AKCG has guided more than 30 independent schools through the phases of investigating, communicating, and, utlimately, moving forward from instances of sexual abuse. Through its partnership with law firms and its relationships with national and regional trade organizations, AKCG has executed such programs in every corner of the United States.
After a senior living community fell victim to a deadly and devastating fire, AKCG – Public Relations Counselors helped client Barclay Friends — a Kendal affiliate — manage and maintain the reputation of the longstanding facility and retain the trust of its most important audiences. Today, the community is thriving once again.