Now, I know what you might be thinking…school personality? Sounds like more marketing nonsense that I just don’t have the time for. But stick with me. It’s actually really important and can be a lot of fun to think about! Not to mention that having a clear brand identity and personality can actually save you time and effort in the long run.
If you want a quick and easy way to communicate your school’s value to prospective parents, having a clearly communicated brand personality is a tried-and-true method to do it!
Think of it like teaching.
We all know the classic pop-culture teacher archetypes: your strict-but-fair teachers like Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World, the warm, supportive teachers like Ms. Honey from Matilda, and not to mention the wacky creative types like Ms. Darbus from High School Musical.
Knowing what “brand” of teacher you are is important — not only to you as a teacher but also to your students. It’s an easy way for students to “get” you and understand what to expect and what’s expected of them in return without having to explicitly say it.
These archetypes are important because it’s how people think and categorize new information into buckets of similar information — “new to known,” as my educational theory friends might call it.
You might think of it like the Harry Potter Sorting Hat Quizzes from back in the day (am I showing my age or my nerdiness here? Classic Ravenclaw move, I know). Saying what house you belong to is shorthand for letting people know what personality traits and values you’re likely to have.
The same goes for your school’s brand and personality.
It’s a simplified way of telling families what they can expect from you and what values you hold without having to explicitly tell them. A brand identity can help shape the perceptions that students, parents, teachers, and your larger community have of your school.
Understanding your school brand isn’t just a fun and creative exercise — it’s an essential part of a successful school marketing strategy.
So you might be thinking, “How can I know what my school brand personality is?”
I’ve got you covered with a handy quiz to help you figure out what classic “school brand” your school most resembles. Click the quiz below, answer a few questions, and see what your school personality is!
Once you figure out what brand personality your school has, you’ll be able to download a branding guide with suggestions on tone, fonts, colors, and more to get you kickstarted on developing your very own brand personality.
Are you a Caregiver? An Innovator? Let us know what result you got in the comments!