Summer Summit Focuses on Building Your Brand and Telling Your Story

The #ieifamily gathered this summer in Traverse City, where professional development focused on empowering educational leaders through strategic branding and leadership development. Dr. Alena Zachery Ross facilitated throughout the conference, and played a key role in connecting us with fellow district leaders in the area.

The opening keynote, delivered by Mike Kleba and James Miles from Leaders Don’t Lead, set the stage for the discussions that followed, emphasizing the importance of authentic leadership in building a personal and organizational brand. They honed in on the idea of “telling your story." Superintendents and district leaders learned that they are the most important storytellers in their district. 

Over the course of the conference, participants engaged in breakout sessions and superintendent round tables, where they exchanged ideas on leadership and branding strategies. Notably, the PR team from Ypsilanti Public Schools shared actionable insights on effective communication within educational communities. The event concluded with Mike Kleba and James Miles encouraging leaders to implement different strategies they learned throughout the conference to make deeper connections with their staff and families.

The "Building Your Brand" Summer Summit offered a comprehensive and enriching agenda that fostered both personal and professional growth. We are looking forward to our next National Summit in Dollywood this fall.