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Resources from
Joy as a Communications Strategy
Engaging Families Beyond Announcements
Session Description
Families of PreK-12 students receive countless school messages every week, many of which go unread or only get a quick scan. Too often, these communications feel transactional, filled with details but lacking connection. What if your updates could be both clear and community-driven — something families actually want to open?
In this session, Danielle Sewell, Senior Digital Strategist with Dr. Josie, Inc., guides participants in reimagining family communications as opportunities for meaningful connection. Danielle shares strategies for replacing overwhelming or confusing updates with messages that celebrate student success, elevate voices from the school community, and build trust with families.
Designed for teachers, communications professionals, and education leaders, this session blends practical tools with creative exercises. Participants will learn how to reframe everyday messages so they’re not just informative, but engaging — moving from “need-to-know” updates to meaningful touchpoints that strengthen relationships.
Attendees will leave with concrete takeaways, including storytelling techniques, strategies to make messages more inviting, and examples of how to balance important details with joy and belonging. By shifting from transactional to relational communication, schools and districts can create a culture where every message matters and every family feels connected.
Resources
- Family Messaging Framework (Printable Worksheet)
- Let the Message Match the Medium (Printable Reference Guide)
Meet the Presenter
Danielle Sewell
Senior Digital Strategist
Dr. Josie, Inc.
Danielle Sewell is an accomplished marketing and communications strategist with over 14 years of experience across the education industry and corporate sector. Her expertise spans digital community-building, brand development, organizational storytelling, and data-informed content strategy.
Danielle holds a B.A. in English from SUNY Plattsburgh and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. She blends a strong analytical mindset with a creative sensibility, as evidenced in her thoughtful approach to content development and assessment. She is passionate about coaching and empowering mission-driven organizations to tell compelling stories that foster communities of purpose and belonging.
Dr. Josie Ahlquist
Josie has two decades working in higher education, with the last eight years focused on educating, researching, and writing about building digital communities and the empowerment of digital leadership. Learn more about Josie’s experience and passion, as well as her research, consulting, speaking, publications, and much more!
Keep the joy going.
Discover how Dr. Josie, Inc. supports educational institutions through strategies that build trust, celebrate community, and make every message matter.
