Empty Seats at Powerful Tables

 Exhibit Reflection:

This project demonstrates how strong project management, combined with strategic communication, can transform research into influence, shaping not just awareness, but the direction of national dialogue.

  • Employer: School Board Partners

    Project Scope: National research report development, communications strategy, media relations, and cross-functional project management

    Goal:

    • Publish a first-of-its-kind national report on school board member demographics, retention, and equity

    • Elevate awareness of systemic gaps in representation and leadership

    • Drive national media coverage and position School Board Partners as a thought leader in education policy

    Stakes:
    At a time of increasing political tension around education, this report highlighted a critical shift: a mass turnover of school board members and a lack of representation reflective of student populations. The findings had national implications for equity, governance, and the future of public education leadership.

  • As Communications Director, I led the end-to-end coordination and execution of this national report, managing a complex network of internal teams, external contractors, and media partners.

    This project required both strategic storytelling and disciplined project management to bring research, narrative, and design into alignment under tight timelines.

    Key elements of the approach included:

    • Cross-Functional Project Leadership:
      Managed contracted writers, a PR agency, and a graphic designer—streamlining workflows, clarifying deliverables, and ensuring consistency across all outputs

    • Editorial & Narrative Development:
      Contributed to shaping the report’s narrative, translating complex research into compelling, accessible insights

    • Media Strategy & Execution:
      Co-developed and executed a national media strategy that secured coverage in major outlets including Newsweek and USA Today

    • Data Storytelling & Design Oversight:
      Directed the visual presentation of data to ensure clarity, impact, and alignment with the report’s core message

    • Integrated Campaign Approach:
      Coordinated report release with digital, PR, and social strategies to maximize reach and influence

    The guiding principle was:
    How do we turn research into a narrative that not only informs but also drives national conversation?

    • Secured national media coverage in major outlets, including Newsweek and USA Today

    • Elevated School Board Partners as a leading voice in education equity and governance

    • Amplified awareness of representation gaps and school board turnover nationwide

    • Delivered a high-impact, multi-channel report launch through coordinated project management

    • Created a scalable model for future research-driven communications campaigns

 Artifacts (Visuals & Media)

Artifact I: Landing Page

Artifact II: Full Report in ISSUU

Artifact III: Social Media Ad