This is the first in a 5 part series on the types of marketing research that prove to be most effective for Christian schools and how to think strategically about research. This blog series will explore the following elements of marketing research: Let’s start with pricing research – maybe the scariest of the five elements. Christian schools read much more … Read More
Marketing Research: When is it Healthy to Compare?
I am a marketing researcher by profession and training. I have been conducting research and leading teams that do research for 20 years. Prior to that, I studied statistics and research methods and used what I learned (sometimes with difficulty) for my own research, not realizing that as a student in a political science graduate program, I would actually use … Read More
Christian Education and the Argument
If a biblical worldview is the shared distinctive of all Christian schools, regardless of other distinctives unique to a particular school, then it makes sense for Christian schools to spend time thinking about what that looks like. Even in schools where worldview integration is more aspirational, schools generally know what they are aiming for—instruction that reflects the notion of creation, … Read More
Being Biblical in our View of Leadership
Anyone that is familiar with marketing messages of Christian schools can attest to the fact that leadership is high on the list of promised deliverables. In fact, developing leaders, probably more than any other objective, is nearly universally promised. While there are some good opportunities to talk about the challenges associated with what are, at times, wildly optimistic promises, I … Read More
Who Are We Trying To Reach?
I recently worked with a school that was in the process of uncovering key factors in school choice for their current school families. At the same time, they were exploring key drivers that target families when making decisions about school. My research, in addition to normative research from around the country, indicates that most Christian school parents use academic quality … Read More
When Satisfaction Doesn’t Mean Happy Parents
We often hear talk about satisfied customers when we are considering customer service. Customer service is a relatively new concept to Christian schools so it may be helpful to consider what other businesses look at when they work on customer service and satisfaction. Though many of the techniques and motives that schools use are different from other businesses, the main goal … Read More
What Do We Deserve?
I recently read two articles that spurred my thinking on this “what do we deserve?” as it relates to Christian schools. I don’t want these sources to take responsibility for my thinking, but I do want to acknowledge them. Chad Dirkse, recently wrote a blog on the CACE website entitled, “But I’ve Earned the Right To…” It was a great reminder of … Read More
Affordability & Christian School Choice
School choice is a popular conversation with Christian parents of school age children. A common element of discussion is often related to the parent’s views on mission as it relates to their involvement with the public school and the public square in general. It is interesting to see how this view of engagement can be influenced by or related to … Read More
Playing at Eternal Things
I am sorry to say that I had not read any book by Frank Gaebelein until I recently picked up a copy of Exploring the Bible off of a friend’s library shelf. Reading this work reminded me of the value of the Christian classics just as we see the value of other classics in literature. Gaebelein’s ideas on Christian education … Read More
Integrating Faith Outside of the Classroom: Part 2
How we operate and build our facilities is another way we can do things in a distinctly Christian way. Our values of community and fellowship ought to be evident in the way we plan and build. Both aesthetic value and biblical virtue should be considered. “Frugality” is not often heard in the church today and perhaps because we hear it … Read More