Cedar Falls, IA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/03/2022 -- Two leading firms that serve Iowa school districts in different ways have formed a partnership to enhance the level of service they deliver.

The Donovan Group and Grundmeyer Leader Services (GLS) will work together to help districts and boards communicate clearly when hiring a new superintendent or school leader. This includes community and staff surveys, keeping community members updated as the process moves forward and helping new hires introduce themselves to their new district communities with a personal video message.

"This new partnership with the Donovan Group takes the services we offer schools to the next level. Jerry Gallagher and his team at the Donovan Group are experts at their craft! Schools we serve will benefit directly from our partnership and new hires will also benefit with clear communication, meaningful survey reports and an innovative video introduction to cap off a successful hiring process." said Dr. Trent Grundmeyer, GLS Founder.

"We are thrilled to partner with Grundmeyer Leader Services, a firm with a stellar reputation throughout Iowa for delivering exceptional coaching and consulting related to the superintendent search process," said Jerry Gallagher, Donovan Group Partner. "Through this partnership, we will be able to better support school districts and boards that are embarking on critical efforts to fill their leadership positions. We look forward to expanding on our work in Iowa in this new way."

Grundmeyer Leader Services helps school boards and educational organizations conduct thorough and successful superintendent and administrator search processes. The firm provides 21st century recruiting measures, advanced screening tools, meaningful feedback from interview teams and coaching after the hire. Its team lands the top candidate selected by the board or hiring committee 98 percent of the time.

GLS delivers a personalized and professional approach to the search process, with consultants who are up to date in educational trends, resources and networks. The firm also offers detailed entry plans based on feedback gathered during the search process to set up the candidate for success as they assume their new role. Each new superintendent hire attends an onboarding day to review their district's finances, facilities and student achievement data before they're even on contract.

As the GLS founder says, "The success of the leaders we help hire is our success."

About The Donovan Group
The Donovan Group is a national leader in education-focused communication and community engagement. Over the years, the firm's work has involved some of the most critical and urgent issues facing schools, districts and educational organizations. Its clients range from large urban schools and districts to small, one-school rural districts.

The Donovan Group's services include communication planning, ongoing communication support, surveys, video production, content creation, graphic design, communication audits and bond and referendum assistance. The firm's Iowa office is in Cedar Falls.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Firm welcomes Perry Hibner to expand the firm’s services in Wisconsin, Illinois

Milwaukee, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/06/2021 -- The Donovan Group, a national leader in education-focused communications and community engagement, is expanding its survey, polling, focus group and data analysis services through the launch of Donovan Group Intelligence.

By integrating proven research methods and emerging best practices, technology and experience, Donovan Group Intelligence empowers schools and districts to collect, store, examine and manage data from students, staff, parents, non-parent community members and others.

As part of this effort, the firm has added Perry Hibner, an experienced school communications professional and former journalist, to serve as lead survey strategist in Illinois and Wisconsin. In this role, Hibner will help expand Donovan Group Intelligence.

"While we have provided surveys, focus groups and data analysis to our clients for many years, we are now thrilled to welcome Perry Hibner to our team as we expand this work through Donovan Group Intelligence," said Joe Donovan, president of the Donovan Group. "Now more than ever, it is critical for schools and districts to leverage data to engage stakeholders in more meaningful ways. We are excited to move forward with these efforts in both Illinois and Wisconsin."

Prior to joining the Donovan Group, Hibner served as the director of communications for a decade for the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District. He also served for six years as the executive director of the MCPASD Education Foundation. In those roles, he oversaw communication for both the district and its foundation, taking the lead on fundraising strategies, events, planned giving, newsletters, website management, communication planning and crisis communications.

Hibner has also served as a high school social studies teacher and substitute teacher. He worked for the Wisconsin State Journal for nearly 25 years, including the last 15 as assistant sports editor. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a history minor and teaching certification from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Donovan Group Intelligence offers online surveys on a variety of topics, including virtual learning, climate and culture and referendum and bond efforts, along with quick, dipstick-style surveys. The firm's research methodologies stress engaging the entire school district community and using unique methods for disaggregating data to separate the signal from the noise.

The firm also provides polling, focus groups and analysis, with methodologically appropriate data disaggregation, reports and presentations and password-protected data dashboards that make data come alive and become actionable.

About Donovan Group
Founded in 2004, the Donovan Group delivers a variety of communications and marketing services to public schools and districts nationwide. Over the years, its work has involved some of the most critical and urgent issues facing schools, districts and educational organizations. The firm's clients range from large urban schools and districts to small, one-school rural districts.

To learn more about Donovan Group Intelligence, visit https://www.dgintelligence.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Dr. Mueller will serve as the firm’s Florida associate, helping school district leaders communicate more effectively and reach their key stakeholders

Bradenton, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/01/2021 -- Dr. Lori M. Mueller, an experienced educational leader and superintendent who has been nationally recognized for her work in school communication, has joined the Donovan Group as the firm's lead associate in Florida.

For the past six years, Dr. Mueller has served as district administrator of the School District of Baraboo in central Wisconsin. In that time, she led significant continuous school improvement through district strategic planning processes. She also led efforts to engage community members in successfully passing the two largest capital referendums in her district's history, totaling $63.65 million.

In 2018, Dr. Mueller was widely praised for her handling of a situation in her school district that had gained an enormous amount of national news media and social media attention. In the months after that incident, she was invited to speak about school crisis communication at several conferences and was featured in a February 2020 article in School Administrator magazine.

Dr. Mueller has announced that she is stepping down from her role at the School District of Baraboo and is moving with her husband to Florida to be closer to family.

"Those closest to me know that my extended family is in Florida and that I call that area of the country my home," Dr. Mueller said. "With our son graduating in May from Baraboo High School, we have decided it is time to be closer to loved ones and make this move for our family."

Under her leadership in Baraboo, district educators accomplished top accolades due to collective efficacy, instructional coaching and professional development efforts. Students benefited by gaining access to rich opportunities that prepared them for college and the workforce, such as increased advanced placement coursework, dual-enrollment classes and business-education partnerships.

In addition to her experience as a superintendent, Dr. Mueller has served as a teacher and a director of curriculum and instruction. She has presented at regional, state and national conferences on topics related to grading for communicating student learning, developing assessment literacy, gifted and talented services, implementing a Response to Intervention framework, continuous school improvement, strategic planning, crisis response and engaging the community in advance of a facilities referendum.

Dr. Mueller holds an Ed.D. from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. She also received a master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor's degree in French and Health Education from UW-Whitewater.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Dr. Mueller to our team as we ramp up our school communication services in Florida," said Joe Donovan, president of the Donovan Group. "Over the course of her career, Dr. Mueller has distinguished herself as an incredible educator, administrator and leader, not to mention a great communicator. Her experience and skill in the areas of educational administration, communication and community engagement will prove to be extremely valuable to school and district leaders throughout Florida."

Founded in 2004, the Donovan Group is a national leader in education-focused communications and community engagement. Over the years, its work has involved some of the most critical and urgent issues facing schools, districts and educational organizations. The firm's clients range from large urban schools and districts to small, one-school rural districts.

In addition to Florida, the firm has offices in Wisconsin, California, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The Donovan Group's services include communication planning, ongoing communication support, surveys, video production, content creation, graphic design, communication audits and bond and referendum assistance.

To learn more about the firm and its work, visit www.donovan-group.com/florida.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Holly Henderson to serve as communication strategist as the firm serves more public schools and districts across the United States

Milwaukee, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 04/16/2021 -- Holly Henderson, an award-winning and widely respected school communication professional, has joined the Donovan Group team as a communication strategist.

In her new role, Henderson will work with public schools and districts across the United States, assisting with content creation, communication planning, visual storytelling, social media, graphic design, crisis communication and various other efforts.

Before joining the Donovan Group, Holly served as marketing and communication specialist for the School District of Baraboo. She received the 2019 Wisconsin School Public Relations Association Lighthouse Award, along with 10 Awards of Excellence and four Awards of Merit from WSPRA.

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Holly to the Donovan Group team as we continue to expand our work and services to schools and districts throughout the United States," said Joe Donovan, president of the Donovan Group. "As a district-based communication manager, Holly earned a stellar reputation across the state of Wisconsin for her work on behalf of the students, staff and families of the district she served. We are excited that she will now leverage her expertise, passion and talents to the benefit of our school district clients across the country."

Over the course of her career, Henderson has presented and served as a keynote speaker at numerous conferences and events for WSPRA, the National School Public Relations Association, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.

Before serving in school communication, Henderson was a copy editor and advertising executive for Capital Newspapers. She received a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

About Donovan Group
Founded in 2004, the Donovan Group is a national leader in education-focused communication and community engagement. Over the years, the firm's work has involved some of the most critical and urgent issues facing schools, districts and educational organizations. Its clients range from large urban schools and districts to small, one-school rural districts.

The firm has offices in Wisconsin, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The Donovan Group's services include communication planning, ongoing communication support, surveys, video production, content creation, graphic design, communication audits and bond and referendum assistance.

To learn more about the firm and its work, visit https://www.donovan-group.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Communication firm offers free guidance, templates and a roadmap to help school district leaders communicate effectively with their stakeholders during a challenging time in education

Milwaukee, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/01/2020 -- The Donovan Group has released a new communication plan to help school districts across the country communicate clearly and proactively as they prepare to reopen their buildings in the 2020-21 school year.

The National Communication Plan for Reopening Schools provides a month-by-month roadmap to help drive school districts' communication efforts this summer and well into fall. It includes recommended communication tactics to reach district stakeholders with critical information and updates, along with a series of templates. The plan is available for public school district leaders and communication professionals at no cost.

The Donovan Group's team will also create customized school reopening communication plans for individual states and districts upon request.

"As school districts nationwide prepare to reopen their buildings for the upcoming school year, they must actively communicate with their families, staff, students and community members," said Joe Donovan, president of the Donovan Group. "With this national plan, we aim to give school district leaders the guidance, templates and support they need to keep their communities informed during what is a very unusual and challenging time in public education. We are very pleased to offer this resource as we continue to find ways to support public schools and the students they serve."

The plan is an extension of the work the firm has done over the past several months related to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring education leaders have the resources they need to communicate effectively during extended school closures. It is intended to serve as a guide, as the specific strategies and tactics a district uses may depend on its reopening plan, guidance the district has received from state and local entities and the status of COVID-19 in a particular state or region.

In addition to outlining how district leaders can best communicate in the weeks leading up to the first day of school, the plan provides guidance and templates for responding to a variety of situations. These include a student or staff member testing positive for COVID-19, a change in school schedules and addressing false rumors, among others.

About Donovan Group
Founded in 2004, the Donovan Group is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has offices in Iowa, Pennsylvania and Illinois. The school public relations and marketing firm offers a wide variety of services, including communications planning, referendum assistance, surveys, video production, media relations, content creation, editing and graphic design.

To view the Donovan Group's National Communication Plan for Reopening Schools, visit https://donovan-group.com/reopen/.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Communication firm offers school video editing and production to help school districts share their stories online

Milwaukee, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/18/2020 -- The Donovan Group, a national leader in school communication, has launched a new weekly digital video creation service for K-12 schools and school districts across the United States.

The service features an efficient process that combines in-house video, usually captured by administrators or teachers using their phones, with the firm's high-quality professional editing to address districts' needs during a time when engaging stakeholders virtually is more important than ever.

The videos may include short pieces that convey simple messages or more comprehensive videos that are several minutes in length. Regardless, each video incorporates best practices in grabbing the attention of individuals online and through social media.

"As school leaders continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures and social distancing, they are looking at more virtual ways to reach their stakeholders and keep their parents, staff, students and community members informed," said Jerry Gallagher, Donovan Group associate and the firm's expert on digital video. "We are thrilled to offer an efficient and cost-effective way to share districts' stories, provide updates to their stakeholders and build greater trust in their communities."

The Donovan Group team will work with district staff to determine the subject and approximate length of each video. District leaders, teachers or staff then record video footage using a digital camera or smartphone, uploading the raw files to a folder on the cloud. The firm's experienced school video producers then create an edited and polished version of the video.

The result is a weekly video school districts can share via social media and other platforms. The Donovan Group will also assist in these efforts, providing additional marketing support to ensure videos reach districts' target audiences.

The Donovan Group's team includes video production professionals, video editors and a former TV news reporter. To learn more about the firm's new digital video creation service for schools, visit https://donovan-group.com/video.

About the Donovan Group
The Donovan Group is a national school communication and community engagement firm that focuses exclusively on public education. Over the years, its work has involved some of the most critical and urgent issues facing schools, districts and educational organizations. To learn more about the firm, visit https://www.donovan-group.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Communication School crisis communication expert Jerry Gallagher to cover what school and district leaders can do related to communication about COVID-19 and the likelihood of school closures

Milwaukee, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/12/2020 -- The Donovan Group, a national leader in school communication, will offer a free webinar on Friday, March 13: "Communicating About the Coronavirus in Your School Community." The webinar will begin at 10:30 a.m. CDT.

School crisis communication expert Jerry Gallagher will provide an update on the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) across the United States, as well as what school and district leaders can do as it relates to communication and the likelihood of school closures.

"The spread of coronavirus is an increasing concern for K-12 school and district leaders across the United States," said Gallagher. "At this point, school districts are preparing for all possibilities, including the need to cancel school for an extended period of time. Through this webinar, we provide tips and guidance for keeping your parents, staff, students and community members completely informed about how your district is preparing, how disease can be prevented and what the district will do if classes need to be called off for days or weeks at a time."

The webinar covers how school district leaders should be communicating before a possible or confirmed case of coronavirus hits their community. Gallagher will also offer a comprehensive response plan for communicating with district stakeholders if schools need to close due to a coronavirus case.

As a Donovan Group associate, Gallagher leads Donovan Group's efforts serving the needs of schools and districts throughout Iowa. Before joining Donovan Group, he spent 19 years as a broadcast journalist in Iowa and Wisconsin. He was a news anchor in Waterloo, Sioux City and Eau Claire.

Founded in 2004, Donovan Group is a communications and community engagement firm that focuses exclusively on education. Over the years, its work has involved some of the most critical and urgent issues facing schools, districts and educational organizations. The firm's clients range from large urban schools and districts to small, one-school rural districts.

The Donovan Group is offering free articles, resources and communication templates for public school leaders across the United States. These resources are available at https://www.donovan-group.com/coronavirus.

To learn more about the webinar and to register, visit https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2053884827625311501.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Wisconsin-based school communications firm has helped hundreds of school districts manage a wide range of crisis issues

Milwaukee, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/26/2018 -- A Wisconsin school communications firm that has helped hundreds of schools and districts manage difficult situations is expanding its crisis communications services nationwide.

The Donovan Group provides consulting, coaching and content creation that are vital during times of crisis for a school or district. Its services include a 24/7 hotline staffed 365 days a year and live crisis communications counsel provided by experienced crisis communications professionals. Its team delivers custom talking points, parent letters, news releases, social media posts and other written content when school leaders must communicate quickly.

Member districts also have access to online crisis planning templates, webinars and other key professional development resources.

"Today's schools and districts are often faced with very serious urgent or crisis situations that can arise at any moment and require quick and accurate communication from superintendents, principals and other administrators," said Joe Donovan, president of the Donovan Group. "A rapidly increasing number of school districts in Wisconsin, Iowa and elsewhere have turned to us to help them manage these incredibly difficult situations. We are now taking what we've learned to expand our crisis communications services to schools and districts across the United States."

The Donovan Group's crisis communications services are now available to a wide range of educational organizations, including state associations serving school administrators, superintendents, school boards and principals. They are also available to individual schools and districts.

Now in its 10th year, the Donovan Group is headquartered in Milwaukee and has offices in Iowa and Illinois. In addition to crisis communications, the public relations and marketing firm offers a wide variety of services, including communications planning, referendum assistance, surveys, video production, media relations, content creation, editing and graphic design.

The firm focuses solely on the needs of public schools and districts in the United States. Its team includes education policy experts, former journalists, content writers, website developers, videographers, copy editors, project managers and support staff.

To learn more about the Donovan Group's crisis communication services, visit https://donovan-group.com/crisis.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

One-of-a-kind pieces, custom orders to be available for purchase, direct from designer

Green Bay, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/30/2018 -- Camille Designs Co., a boutique apparel startup from Madison, WI, will be hosting a pop-up shop to introduce the brand and its fashions on Wednesday, August 1 from 10am to 7pm. The event will take place in the Leap Room at Kavarna Coffeehouse, located at 143 N. Broadway in Green Bay, WI. Founder and designer Alissa Donovan will be present.

The Camille Designs Co. pop-up shop will feature more than 25 original pieces, available for purchase at the event. Each piece of women's apparel is vintage, inspired by retro, timeless designs as a way to discredit modern fashion trends that have propelled the industry towards harmful environmental practices.

Pieces available will range from casual and comfortable dresses to unique denim apparel and timeless pieces inspired by the designer's nostalgic emphasis and sustainable focus.

Camille Designs Co. represents the works of founder Alissa Donovan. A Wisconsin native, Donovan is currently studying Apparel and Textiles Design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is focused intently on addressing sustainability issues prevalent throughout the fashion industry. Camille Designs Co. showcases Donovan's voice as a designer and embodies her focus on bringing sustainability to the industry.

"Local and sustainable clothing brands are beginning to take hold, but fast fashion brands are still continuing to grow around the world. Shopping with local and sustainable brands is a great way for people to support their communities, as well as the worldwide effort to cut back on waste and environmentally damaging practices in business," says Donovan.

Visitors to the pop-up shop will also be able to order custom sizes of the pieces on display or speak directly to the designer regarding commissioned apparel or unique alterations on available designs. Vintage-inspired jewelry, handpicked to enhance the designs, will also be available.

In addition to viewing the collected works of Camille Designs Co., visitors are also encouraged to enjoy the renowned Green Bay Farmers Market, taking place just outside the shop on Wednesday evening. Kavarna Coffeehouse is also a destination for local fare and visitors to the pop-up shop are encouraged to explore the eatery's menu.

For more information about Camille Designs Co. and its upcoming pop-up shop, or to consult with designer Alissa Donovan on a custom apparel order, please contact Joseph Donovan via email at info@DonovanGHC.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Gallagher’s addition will allow the firm to deliver its communications services to schools, districts and educational organizations throughout Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/03/2018 -- Jerry Gallagher, known to many Iowans as an investigative reporter and news anchor for KWWL in Waterloo, has officially joined Donovan Group LLC as an associate.

Donovan Group is a Wisconsin-based communications firm focused exclusively on education and educational policy. As an associate, Gallagher will help lead the firm's work in serving the needs of public schools and districts throughout Iowa.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jerry Gallagher to our team," said Joe Donovan, president of Donovan Group. "Jerry is a true professional who has a stellar reputation for his integrity and accurate reporting while serving as a trusted broadcast journalist in the state. He is also a great person and someone we believe will provide exceptional value to school leaders across Iowa. This is a big step forward for our firm."

Gallagher, who most recently anchored "Today in Iowa" for NBC affiliate KWWL, spent 19 years as a journalist. He started his career in 1996 as an intern for KWWL, quickly moving on to serve as a reporter and anchor for KCAU in Sioux City. He later was an assistant news director and anchor at WQOW in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, before returning to Waterloo in 2014.

Throughout his career, Gallagher covered a range of major news stories, including a "Brothers in Arms" profile for which he earned a Midwest Regional Emmy in 2015. He also received accolades as an investigative journalist, including a special report on the state's gas tax in April 2017.

Now, Gallagher will pivot his career to the world of education, an area for which he has long maintained a deep interest. His wife, Kelly, was a public school teacher for 15 years, and she now serves as a school improvement consultant.

"While I truly enjoyed my time as a broadcast journalist, I am incredibly excited to take this next step in my career and fully explore my passion for education," Gallagher said. "Donovan Group is a widely known and respected name in Wisconsin education. My goal is to help the firm provide that same level of value and service to schools and districts here in Iowa."

About Donovan Group
Founded in 2004, Donovan Group is a communications and community engagement firm that focuses exclusively on education. Over the years, its work has involved some of the most critical and urgent issues facing schools, districts and educational organizations. The firm's clients range from large urban schools and districts to small, one-school rural districts.

Donovan Group's Iowa location is in Cedar Falls. To learn more about the firm and its work, visit http://www.donovan-group.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Public relations firm gives schools and districts the ability to launch and maintain a comprehensive social media outreach strategy

Milwaukee, WI -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/13/2016 -- The Donovan Group, a Wisconsin-based public relations and marketing firm that serves schools and school districts, has officially launched its new full suite of social media services.

With the new service area, the firm will give schools and districts across the country the ability to better engage stakeholders through social media. This includes planning social media campaigns, writing and posting original content and managing multiple social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others.

"The challenge that school and district leaders often face is that while they would like to have a robust social media public relations or marketing strategy, they simply do not have people available to make it work," said Joe Donovan, founder and president of the Donovan Group. "Our services now include day-to-day management of school and district social media efforts, giving our clients the ability to launch and maintain a cohesive, interactive presence online."

About The Donovan Group
The Donovan Group, founded in 2008, works with schools and school districts across the country. The firm provides traditional public relations and marketing services, including crisis communication, communication planning, crisis communication, digital marketing, training and content development. In all of its work, the firm focuses on engaging community members in the challenges and opportunities of their local public schools.

Social media management is the latest service the Donovan Group team will offer, backed by experienced digital marketing professionals who have managed social media campaigns for schools, districts, universities and a wide range of other organizations. The firm's team knows how to create content that engages key stakeholders, keeps followers updated on district news and tells each district's story in an effective way.

"Social media is an incredible communications tool for today's school leaders, and it's critical for schools and districts to leverage it as part of their community outreach strategy," said Donovan. "We are thrilled to launch this new service and help more educational organizations reach their stakeholders in ways never before possible."

The Donovan Group's clients range from large urban schools and districts to small, one-school rural districts across the country. The firm also provide communications and consulting services to various state and national associations and organizations.

To learn more about the Donovan Group's new social media management services, along with the various other solutions the firm offers schools, districts and educational organizations, visit http://www.donovan-group.com/services/.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm