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At SB Independent, We Speak School.

Independent schools nationwide depend on us to strategize and execute their communication needs.

 

With over 30 years of experience working with the top independent schools in the country, we understand their cultures and anticipate their needs, and have the experience to help navigate them.

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Heads of School trust that we understand the increasing complexity and nuance of their positions and the importance of clear, concise messaging through multiple platforms. ​

 

We collaborate with Heads and their administrators to articulate a school's individual spirit. We understand that often, less is more. Independent school communications need to be flexible and nimble. Our communications efforts are purposeful and considered.


Simply stated, we speak school.

About Us.

We established SB Independent in 2020 when we realized that Heads of School across the country were facing similar challenges, including softening enrollment, evolving and more complex home/school relationships, more pronounced and frequent disciplinary issues, more divisive political climates and increasing professional and emotional needs of their administrators and faculty.

 

Crucially, the way things had "always been done" definitely wasn’t working anymore. They were looking for new solutions, the experts that could implement them -- and rely upon to be there at the other end of a text, call or email. We are those experts. 

 

With our combined know-how, we work directly with school heads, division, admission, advancement and communication directors to create bespoke solutions to these issues that resonate with each school’s individual culture, history and complexity.​

Elizabeth Bacon

Partner

Elizabeth has more than twenty-five years’ experience working full time with the leadership of Manhattan’s oldest independent schools, including The Buckley School, The Cathedral School, The Chapin School and Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School to better serve their constituents and bring about change in the areas of admissions, communications, advancement and administration. In addition, for the past twelve years she has served as an adjunct reader in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions of Columbia University. Elizabeth graduated from Bryn Mawr College with an AB in English. She lives in Carnegie Hill with her husband and has two young adult children. She has been a parent and volunteer at The Brick Church School, The Buckley School, Grace Church School, Horace Mann School, Johns Hopkins University and Wesleyan University.

Jessie Saunders

Partner

After writing and illustrating two cookbooks and a career in the magazine industry, Jessie began working for independent schools, including Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School and The Cathedral School in New York City and The School of the Holy Child in Rye, New York, executing conventional and digital publications. Jessie has produced, written and edited alumni magazines, websites, school histories, case statements, view books and annual reports. She has worked in collaboration with branding firms to execute style guides and roll out extensive style updates. She is a graduate of the Trinity School in New York City and has a AB in Art History from Princeton University. Jessie lives in Harlem with her husband and twins and is currently a parent at the Nightingale-Bamford School in Manhattan and Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, New York.

Services.

We offer a range of services for Heads of School and top administrators, and work on an hourly, retainer or project basis. Please contact us for our rates.

Strategic Partnership

  • Head of School communications

  • Communications audits

  • Communication "30,000 foot" strategies 

  • Voice documents

  • Strategic Plan collateral & execution

  • Admissions marketing & communications

  • Leadership team communications support & training

  • Event strategy, planning & execution

Project Management

  • Websites, including audits, strategy, content & project management​

  • Admissions marketing, including season structure, communications, event strategy, printed or pdf collateral & more

  • Internal community newsletters and programmatic communications

Crisis Consulting

  • Crisis strategy & communications

  • Board of Trustees liaison

  • Press statements & press strategy

  • Stakeholder management

References available upon request. 
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