There are great things happening in your schools. We help you tell the story.
Learn how we can help you engage your stakeholders, increase transparency and compete in an increasingly complex public education world.
Your School Communications Partner
A Full-Service Approach
The Donovan Group focuses exclusively on education, delivering school district communications services that help you reach your marketing, public relations and stakeholder engagement goals. We leverage our expertise in communications and apply it to K-12 schools and districts.
Education is our Passion
We’ve become a national leader in school district communications by staying on top of emerging best practices. We come from an educational background and are well-versed in state and federal policy, changes in teaching and learning and new forms of competition.
Proud Partners
You gain access to school district communications services that include everything from consulting and coaching to high-quality deliverables. Our clients are large, urban districts and small, one-building rural schools. We also deliver communications and consulting services to state and national associations.
Now Offering 24/7/365 Crisis Communication Services for Schools & Districts Nationwide
Services Tailored to Your School or District
Communications Planning
Working with you, your team and your stakeholders, we develop a cohesive communications plan that guides your efforts well into the future. This includes identifying stakeholders, creating messages and formulating a clear monthly roadmap.
Referendum Assistance
We believe that a successful referendum or bond measure is one that both passes and fosters a greater sense of trust between a school district and its community. We assist with all facets of a referendum effort, from defining needs through election day.
Surveys
Through surveys, you can gain valuable data and feedback from your staff, parents, students and community members. We provide surveys to establish baseline data, seek residents’ input in advance of a referendum and help guide our planning efforts.
Video Services
Video is an increasingly effective way to reach your stakeholders, especially through digital media. We storyboard, film, edit and produce professional videos on virtually any subject relevant to your school or district.
Crisis Communication
When a crisis situation hits, you must communicate in a clear, accurate and timely manner. We are available 24/7 to take action, helping you gather facts, reach your most critical stakeholders and respond to media inquiries quickly and effectively.
Communication Support
We give you the back-end communications assistance you need via content creation, web and graphic design, copyediting, surveys, reports and more. We advise you on how you can best tell your school or district’s story each day.
Media Relations & Training
We understand how the news media works. (In fact, several of us are former journalists.) We help you and your team prepare for media interviews, while offering professional development on how you can work with reporters to advance your narrative.
Content Creation
Our highly skilled education writers and editors create exceptional content tailored to your stakeholders and key messages. We write articles, news releases, web copy, reports, parent letters, brochure copy and more. You can also turn to us for proofing and editing.
Web & Graphic Design
We staff several talented graphic designers who take your branding and create crisp, attention-grabbing brochures, reports, mailers, postcards and more. We also assist with rebranding efforts, logo creation and web design.
#SchoolPR Insights
School District Surveys Offer Great Opportunities for Two-Way Communication
Beyond collecting data and feedback, surveys can actually help school leaders communicate with their stakeholders. As a school district leader, you are likely familiar with the value a survey can provide for gathering feedback from your stakeholders on a variety of...
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Using Video to Highlight the Great Things Happening in Your Schools
As any classroom teacher can tell you, attention spans are not what they used to be! This is true for people of all ages, which can pose some challenges when school leaders compete for the attention of busy parents, students, staff, community members and other...
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Donovan Group Receives NSPRA Gold Medallion for Referendum Communication
The Donovan Group has received a Gold Medallion from the National School Public Relations Association as part of the team that helped the Howard-Suamico School District communicate effectively around its recent referendum effort. The award, which is the top public...
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Are you ready to join the Donovan Group team?
When we started the Donovan Group, we were a group of one. The name was aspirational. My hope was that I could take my passion for public education, along with my background in educational policy, public relations and marketing, and create a full-service firm that...
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Year in Review: Highlights of Our School Communications Work in 2018-19
Here at the Donovan Group, we are reflecting on what has been a historic school year for our firm and our clients. We have been humbled by the opportunity to work with an increasing number of school districts and talented school leaders throughout Wisconsin, Iowa,...
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How to Find and Hire the Right Communications Director for Your School District
Communications directors are key members of school districts’ administrative teams. They must know how to communicate both proactively and reactively, while maintaining an overarching vision for stakeholder engagement. They should be able to deal with the urgent needs...
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Contact Us to Get Started
Do you need immediate assistance? Call us at 800-317-7147.