How Smore Helped Westside Community Schools Streamline District Communication
For Westside Community Schools, located in Omaha, Nebraska, effective communication is an essential part of their strategic planning. With over 6,200 students and a need for consistent, clear messaging, the district turned to Smore for Teams. The school newsletter platform quickly became a game-changer in creating visually appealing school newsletters, managing distribution, and tracking engagement.
Elizabeth Power, the district’s Director of Communications and Engagement, captures Smore’s value, “Our entire district utilizes Smore, and it is a huge hit. It’s a safe, easy, and comfortable way for our teachers and staff to communicate regularly with families.”
The Smore Advantage: Consistency Across the District
Families thrive on predictability, and Smore ensures that communication remains consistent across grade levels. Westside Community Schools leveraged Smore to align newsletters visually and structurally across all schools in the district.
Ms. Power highlighted this benefit, “When your student starts as a kindergartner, K-6, you know exactly what that newsletter is going to look like. Then they go into middle school, and while so much changes, one thing stays consistent—our newsletters.”
This uniformity eases transitions for families and fosters a strong sense of community.
Empowering Administrators with Insights
Smore for Teams provides oversight capabilities that help administrators monitor communication effectiveness. Ms. Power shared how this feature enables her team to maintain strategic oversight, “At any point, I can jump into the platform to see what has been sent, what’s being sent, and what’s scheduled. It cuts out the gray area.”
This data-driven approach also allows Westside to fine-tune communication strategies, ensuring families aren’t overwhelmed while also improving newsletter open rates. By analyzing engagement metrics, Ms. Power can guide district leaders on the best times to send updates and coordinate district-wide communication efforts.
Building Confidence with Easy Implementation
Introducing a new tool can feel daunting, but Smore’s user-friendly design and exceptional support made the process seamless for Westside.
As Ms. Power explains, “The team at Smore is here to help. Whether you’re a large district or a small one, onboarding doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Someone always has the answer when you need help.”
This supportive environment ensured smooth adoption, transforming the way Westside staff communicate with families.
Teacher-Driven Adoption: A Grassroots Success
What sets Smore apart is its organic adoption by teachers. “All our teachers love Smore,” Ms. Powers shared, “They are always requesting access. I don’t even have to tell them to use it—their peers do that for me.”
This enthusiasm underscores Smore’s intuitive design and its ability to meet educators’ needs for quick, professional communication.
Smore for Teams Transforms District Communication
Westside Community Schools’ success with Smore for Teams highlights its ability to boost family engagement, streamline workflows, and unify district branding. With an easy-to-use interface, powerful analytics, and smooth onboarding, Smore transforms newsletters into a robust communication tool for fostering community connections.
Read the full case study here! And if you’re ready to transform your district’s communication strategy, schedule a demo today to discover how Smore for Teams can make a difference for your schools.
