The Power of Branding

Tony Sinanis is currently in his sixth year as the Lead Learner of Cantiague Elementary School in Jericho, New York. Cantiague was named a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School and Tony received the 2013 Bammy Award for Elementary School Principal of the Year. Tony was also recently nominated for the New York State Elementary School Principal of the Year Award. Tony taught at the elementary level for 8 years and he started his career as a 5th Grade Teacher in the New York City Public School. Tony graduated from New York University with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and then went on to receive his Master's Degree in Educational Technology and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership and Technology from the New York Institute of Technology. Tony is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania where he is studying the relationship between active participation on Twitter and the professional development of principals. Tony is active on Twitter (@TonySinanis) and serves as the founder and co-moderator of #NYedchat and co-moderator of #PTChat. Finally, Tony co-hosts the BrandED podcast with Dr. Sanfelippo. Dr. Joe Sanfelippo is the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, Wisconsin. Joe holds a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from St. Norbert College, a MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a MS in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Leadership, Learning, and Service from Cardinal Stritch University. He also serves on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Educator Effectiveness Teachscape Team. Joe is a co-host for the BrandED Podcast, which features great leaders across the country telling the amazing stories of schools. His research interests include Organizational and Systems Change in Schools, Personalized Professional Growth for Staff, and Advancing the Use of Social Media in School Districts. He can be found on Twitter @Joesanfelippofc

Preface by Peter DeWitt Introduction 1. The Importance of Telling Your Story 2. Your Heart = Your Story 3. Building Your Brand & Preparing to Tell Your Story 4. Using Social Media to Tell Your Story 5. Giving Voice to All Stakeholders in the Storytelling Experience 6. Does the Brand Promise Match the Brand Experience? 7. It's a Wrap References

"Great leaders are intentional about everything they do. Tony and Joe's message stresses the importance of being intentional in telling the great stories of schools. Focusing on the positive things happening in schools gives leaders more drive and has a tremendous impact on school culture. This book is a powerful resource for leaders looking to promote the positive things happening in their schools to the community." -- Todd Whitaker, Professor of Department of Educational Leadership "The power of a brand has long defined successful businesses. Tony and Joe not only recognize the significance of branding in education, but they provide an array of examples and strategies that will allow all educators to create a positive brand presence for their schools." -- Eric Sheninger, Principal "This is a must-read for educational leaders around the globe! I can think of no school leaders more equipped to write such a book than Tony Sinanis and Joe Sanfelippo, two veteran school administrators who have led the way in branding their schools in recent years. This practical book will motivate you to start sharing your school or district story in a systematic and multi-faceted way. The authors make a clear and compelling case for why branding our schools is a must in today's society. They then go on to tackle the how by providing specific and practical tips for doing so. This powerful book is extremely easy to read and is organized in a coherent manner; each chapter offers "two takeaways and a tip" that summarize the main points and offer a call to action as a way for others to get started. Our schools are doing amazing things; it is our responsibility to ensure that these stories get told. After reading this book, you will be inspired to proactively share and promote the stories of your teachers, students, classrooms, and schools with your school community-and the entire world!" -- Jeff Zoul, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning "As of now there are about 20 books in the Corwin Connected Educator Series, a seemingly ever-growing set of titles masterminded by Peter DeWitt and Corwin Press. Each book is short enough to be read in one sitting, which makes the collection ideal for book studies and professional development, both during the summer and throughout the school year. Also, each paperback is authored by one or two educators who speak (and blog, tweet, etc.) with a credible voice in the world of connected education. Some of the topics include: Flipped leadership Tools for connecting educators, parents, and communities Blogging for educators Best practices for establishing a makerspace Tools to connect and empower teachers Finally, all of the authors are active on social media, and they regularly present at local conferences, which helps in bringing to life the contents of these books." -- Ross Cooper, Supervisor of Instructional Practice K-12