Using Story in Public Schools

Tom Page is a former director of communications for a public school system in Holland, Michigan. He’s also co-founder of a community that helps communication professionals in schools, called School Communicators Network. Tom is an entrepreneur working to help schools tell a better story.

Tom says at SCN they’ll listen to you, clarify your needs, and then create a clear and actionable roadmap that will grow support with your key audiences and community.

Whether it’s website design, content development, crisis messaging, or election or marketing campaign planning, the SCN team has many years of experience in school PR and the know-how to effectively boost your online and offline strategies and tactics.

This is the best line of Tom’s site: “We believe the story of your district’s purpose, people, and programs deserve more than from random blips and blurbs.”

In addition to helping craft story, Tom often gave advice to new teachers each school year.

“I always say that if you want to be known as a great teacher, go to your student’s soccer games, show up at the hospital… in 30 years that was how I saw parents evaluate who good teachers were. They were just good people showing up.” - Tom Page on great teachers

The Real Power of Story

In a moment of vulnerability, Tom shares his experience of a business failure, mounting debt, depression and surviving suicide. During this dark time early on in his adult life, Tom ended up in a mental health facility where he connected with a group of people who shared their stories.

The women in this group all had fathers who died by suicide. Some of the dads weren’t stand-up guys who the daughters “should have” missed. And yet, they had to pick up the pieces of missing their dad.

For Tom it was an eye opener. He knew he wasn’t perfect, but he knew that he had to be there for his children. He realized that his own story wasn’t enough to help himself. It took the stories of other humans to help him understand his place in the world.

“I don’t have to be discouraged. I don’t have to view myself as a loser. My two daughters still need me.” - Tom Page on the power of story

Connect with Tom:

• School Communicators Network Website

• SCN on LinkedIn

• Tom on LinkedIn

• Tom on Facebook

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 The Storytellers Network with Dan Moyle publishes every Monday at 7 AM EST.