New Storytelling in a Changing Admissions Landscape

​How can schools tell their stories in ways that feel authentic, compelling, and responsive to what families are actually saying? This session will examine the admissions experience from start to finish - from gathering and reflecting on feedback, to planning for the year and thoughtfully shaping every family touchpoint. Participants will explore how emails, conversations, events, and other communications can work together to convey a clear and consistent story, build meaningful connections, and create an intentional experience throughout the admissions process.

​SPEAKERS: Elizabeth Bacon and Jessie Saunders are partners at SB Independent, a communications consultancy that helps independent schools articulate their identities, strengthen relationships with their communities, and navigate increasingly complex communications challenges.

​Elizabeth brings more than 25 years of experience working with the leadership of New York City independent schools in admissions, communications, advancement, and administration. Her previous institutions include The Buckley School, The Cathedral School, The Chapin School, and Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School. She has also served for more than a decade as an adjunct reader in Columbia University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

​Jessie is an author, editor, illustrator, and communications strategist who has created print and digital materials for schools including Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, The Cathedral School, and School of the Holy Child. Her work encompasses admissions materials, websites, alumni magazines, school histories, case statements, viewbooks, annual reports, and institutional branding.

​Together, Elizabeth and Jessie draw on deep experience inside independent schools to help leaders communicate with clarity, authenticity, and a nuanced understanding of school culture.