The Why

Man in a blue suit holding a football outdoors.

Ignite was founded to assist K-12 and nonprofit organizations in building the talent solutions they need to deliver a high-quality educational experience for every student.

We bring expertise in Talent/HR and strategic communications to help you develop, implement, and gain momentum for the initiatives that drive and sustain results.

Getting Started

Our process often begins with building an understanding of your organization’s community, strengths, challenges, and priorities, as well as the views of your project’s primary audiences. These findings inform strategy at all levels.

  • Understanding your needs starts with you and other internal project sponsors.

  • Early engagement from key stakeholders of your work builds a fuller understanding of those with whom your communications needs to resonate most, like parents or educators. Ignite’s partners at The Loran Group are leading experts in market research, focus groups, interviews and surveys.

  • Learning about the current programs, processes and strategies in place, and reviewing available talent data, helps us see the programmatic and communications assets you have to build upon.

  • We can better support you if we understand the language, messaging, and tactics you already use. To do this, we will review recent communications materials, media stories, and/or meet with the organization’s communications team. 

Integrated Strategies

An effective talent strategy is one that works hand-in-hand with interconnected and mutually-reinforcing communications strategy. We collaborate with your team to co-design both elements, resulting in an actionable plan that helps reach and exceed your goals.

Examples of Talent Strategies

  • Teacher & School Staffing Sourcing

  • Candidate-to-Employee Conversion

  • Teacher & Leader Retention

  • Leadership & Professional Development

  • Policy Design

  • Compensation Design

  • Core HR Practices & Processes

  • Organizational Design

Examples of Communications Strategies

  • Messaging Framework Rooted in Authentic Storytelling

  • Internal & External Communications Planning

  • Brand Identity

  • Collateral Materials and Content Development

  • Earned and/or Paid Media

  • Digital Assets, Channels, and Content

  • Digital Strategies (SEO, social ads, etc.)

  • Ambassador Programs

Implementation and Adjustments

Making change is not the hard part. The challenge is making it last. We have experience planning and executing implementation with durability, adaptability, and sustainability in mind.

Durability

We’ll help you intentionally cultivate your base of financial and stakeholder support through communications, marketing, and public relations.

Adaptability

Nothing is perfect at the start. We work with you to assess the early rollout and periodically revisit results so you can learn and pivot to reach your north star goals.

Sustainability

While we can lead ongoing implementation, the work is often best when led internally within the organization. We help build the internal capacity to phase us out. 

Additional Supports

Our team has in-depth experience providing guidance and counsel to leaders and teams. We understand the complex environments in which you operate, and are equipped to help you navigate.

  • Personalized counsel to help educational leaders navigate change, set strategic goals, build high-performing teams, and foster a positive culture in your institution.

  • Tailored leadership training supports designed to equip district and school leaders with the essential skills and strategies needed to excel in today’s dynamic educational environment.

  • Helping teams align, set clear goals, and strengthen collaboration. Through facilitated workshops, we aim to develop action plans, address key challenges, and foster a more positive and engaged team culture.

  • Personalized coaching for individuals or groups to help craft and deliver clear, compelling messages — whether they are to a reporter or a job candidate. Our approach empowers leaders to feel confident sharing the story of their organization, navigate high-stakes communication scenarios, and enhance public image.

Two business professionals reviewing documents at a networking event.

Meet the Team

Man wearing glasses and a white shirt smiling outdoors with green foliage background.

  • Co-Founder

    Matt has more than 15 years of experience leading HR in educational organizations, including as Chief Talent Officer at Chicago Public Schools. His expertise lies in designing and managing talent programs, HR systems, change management, and internal communications within school districts and nonprofits, and developing strategies that help improvements last. 

Woman smiling outdoors with trees in background

  • Co-Founder

    Maureen supports K-12 and higher education clients with their strategic communications and public affairs needs. She provides strategic counsel, project management, and implementation support, and has led communications strategy development and day-to-day support for major school districts on talent strategies, health & benefits programs, and crisis projects for more than 15 years.

Smiling person wearing a black sweater and gold necklaces, sitting outdoors in front of green foliage.

  • Digital Strategist

    Gordon excels in digital strategy with experience creating and implementing social media and digital advertising content and strategies, conducting digital audits, managing online communities and developing and managing websites and databases.

Confident woman in business attire, smiling with arms crossed

  • Research Partner
    Principal, The Loran Group

    With over 25 years of market research experience, Robyn specializes in conducting focus groups, online discussions, and surveys for educational organizations and school districts. She provides insights and recommendations that help educational programs thrive.  Her expertise includes initiatives to attract and retain talent, and to diversify the leadership pipeline.