How to Bring School Storytelling to Life | Emily Cretella

In this episode, Emily Cretella, founder of Cursive Content, shares her proven framework for helping schools tell stories that actually connect with families. Drawing from nearly 20 years of marketing experience and her recent NAIS article “How to Bring School Storytelling to Life,” Emily explains why schools struggle with differentiation despite having unique stories, and how to overcome the “imposter syndrome” that keeps schools sounding like everyone else.

Learn the difference between your school story (the messaging framework) and school storytelling (bringing it to life), discover how to craft a “big promise” that grabs attention like Loomis Chaffee’s “Make Today Matter,” and understand why simplifying your message doesn’t mean leaving out what makes you special.

If your school knows it’s different but struggles to articulate it, or if your marketing feels like it’s written in institutional language that doesn’t connect, this conversation provides the roadmap to transform scattered messaging into cohesive narratives that attract your ideal families.

Emily Cretella is the founder and owner of Cursive Content, where she serves as a strategic storyteller and content marketing specialist exclusively for independent schools, private schools, colleges, and universities. With nearly 20 years of experience, Emily helps school marketers craft powerful stories that attract ideal families and increase enrollment. Her clients have seen remarkable results, with one school increasing enrollment by more than 50%.