Alex Lee and the Story of Education (#103)
Telling the Story of Education with Communications Veteran Alex Lee
Alex Lee spent more than 20 years as a storyteller for a public system. As the Executive Director of Communications for Kalamazoo Public Schools, Alex was instrumental in telling the story of the Kalamazoo Promise, among many other great stories. In addition to that career, Alex spent a few years in communications for the United States Navy – specifically on the radio airwaves.
Alex has been telling stories his whole life, and now that he’s out of education he does it for a small village in Southwest Michigan, where everything from a massive development (The Mill at Vicksburg) to small town legislature and more is part of his daily storytelling.
“The story of education is individual students, in their challenges, in their backgrounds… so the story of education should be your success stories.” - Alex Lee on story in education
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Alex Lee and the Story of Education (#103)
Spreading Your Story: Spheres of Influence
Alex has helped spread stories through his career in communications. The channels may change—newspaper, radio, TV, social media—but the way in which you spread your story does not. You have to build an audience, develop relationships and tap into peoples’ spheres of influence.
A great example of this is how Alex help Kalamazoo Public Schools build its Facebook presence. Long before social media community managers had it all figured out, Alex was sharing news from the district to the public through a Facebook page.
From news on bonds to stories on students, the communications director simply shared stories and built trust. Then when things went sideways, as they’re apt to do in dealing with the public, Alex had built enough influence equity that the audience would come to the district’s defense. It helped spread the story of KPS.
When a community comes together to tell your story, it’s more powerful than you speaking for yourself.
“I can tell your neighbors a story. If they don’t have a personal connection I’m like every other voice… but if I tell you and you’re in their sphere of influence and you share it, it’s much more credible.” - Alex Lee
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