PK12 education is a special kind of big business. In the fall of 2021, there were 49.4 million students enrolled in our public schools and 5.5 million enrolled in private schools. Another 3.1 million kids are home schooled each year. Total expenditures in public-education only were $703 billion in 2021, or about $14,295 per student. Even for smaller school districts, running a school is a special kind of business.   The success of any business depends on customers. Who are th

Your school district’s stakeholders are individuals that have (or should have) a vested interest in your schools . They belong to stakeholder subgroups, with each subgroup sharing certain demographic, identity, and behavioral characteristics that shape their  vested interest . Stakeholders include: Students Parents & Guardians Certified Staff (Teachers, Counselors, etc.) Non-certified Support Staff Administrators Community Partners (Social Service Agencies, Local Businesses,

Most of us were taught the importance of listening  in kindergarten because listening is part of the learning process. It is an essential and durable skill. We must learn to listen, so we can listen to learn. In today's business environment we have fancy phrases and sophisticated methodologies for listening to our stakeholders (customers, constituents, employees) including: User Experience (UX) Stakeholder Journey Maps Advisory Panels Surveys, Polls, and Reviews Focus Groups