I focus on supporting organizations committed to making our education system far better. I gravitate toward those who fight for equity and opportunity. I don’t work with people who are primarily interested in applying public relations ‘spin’ to significant issues.

Today’s world is messy; filled with disinformation and short attention spans. Education leaders are trained to speak in nuanced footnotes while much of the world wants blaring headlines. Jargon can trample clarity.

Clear, compelling communications takes effort and practice. But learning to tell engaging, sticky stories makes it possible to lead people, to create movements and to navigate in today’s uncomfortable political environments.

If this is your world, and you need help, keep reading.

People are too easily put into boxes with shorthand labels that are rarely useful or accurate. We are all more complicated than that.

I am a confident, caring professional who offers clients plain-spoken advice and humor.

I am a father of five, a grandfather of eleven. My oldest granddaughter graduated from university a couple of years ago; the youngest hasn’t started school.

I grew up on military bases around the world. I was born in Newfoundland, started school in Bermuda, had a Bar Mitzvah in Minot, North Dakota, most of high school in Germany with my senior year in California. We moved a lot. Five decades ago, I settled in Annapolis, Maryland, and haven’t left.

I was less than diligent as a student, flunked out of college, served in the military, went back to school on the GI Bill. I spent nearly 20 years as a journalist covering policy and politics, most of it in Washington, DC. For the last 35 years, I’ve worked with people trying to improve public schools. I’ve been lucky enough to serve amazing clients who deeply care about students and schools and communities. I’ve worked in all 50 states.

I’m married to a former math teacher who was at the center of the standards movement. We hike, kayak and travel. I started playing ice hockey in my late 40s and competitive golf in my mid 50s. We trained our dog, Kiwi, to soothe people and to walk the golf course with me.

I despise bullies and don’t much care for people who reduce life to sound bites.

I’ve done plenty of successful work that ranged from strategic communications planning to crisis communication handling to writing and media outreach to executive coaching.

These days, the menu is pared down:

Coaching. I advise and coach organization leaders and their senior staff. I help them tell their organization’s story mixed with their own story. I help them share the passion they have with audiences who can help them make a difference. I help them understand and navigate today’s crazed politics.

Crisis Consulting. Nobody likes dealing with a crisis, but most organizations occasionally have them. I’m old enough to have been through too many crises. My blood pressure is reliably low enough to sensibly handle uncomfortable moments.

Connections. I’ve been fortunate to work with a great many people around the country, from superintendents and chief state school officers to philanthropists and advocates. Where appropriate, I’m happy to make introductions. (“If you want to go far, go together.”)

My clients prefer me at their leadership table; onsite rather than online. Today’s reality tends to require a mix to make consulting efficient and immediate.

I provide results delivered with value and customer service. I choose to work with clients who make a difference for young people. I prefer to work with people I like and admire. I expect potential clients to be equally choosy with me.

The list of all the clients I’ve worked with is long. What is below is a sample of the organizations with whom I’ve worked:

Philanthropies including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wallace Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Stuart Foundation.

Non-profit constituent organizations including the Business Roundtable, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Education Commission of the States, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association.

Non-profit education organizations including the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning, the BARR Center, the Collaborative for Student Success, ETS, National Center on Education and the Economy, the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools, the School-Based Health Alliance, the New Teacher Center.

For-profit education companies including SAS, MetaMetrics, NWEA/HMH.

Universities including the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, the Akron University School of Law.

States including California, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, Wyoming.

Special Message from Kiwi

Kiwi is an excellent communicator and knows how to tell his own story.

AndyList

I have been e-mailing education-related news clips to friends, colleagues, and clients daily since the Internet's infancy.

What started as a way to share interesting stories with a few colleagues turned into something much bigger. There are now several thousand 'friends' subscribing to andylist.

The clips are my eclectic reading, and occasionally come with a bit of sarcasm or humor.

There is no charge to subscribe. If you want to be added, just send me a message at andy@plattnercommunications.com.

Contact

andy@plattnercommuniations.com
410 340-1623

1573 Millersville Road, Millersville, MD 21108