Chaos to Content: Building Systems That Power School Storytelling - (Highly Rated 2026 Conference Session)

Description

Managing a school district’s content can often feel like trying to keep up with a firehose of requests, updates, and missed moments. What if your team had the tools to not only keep up, but tell better stories, with greater purpose and less burnout? Learn how San Juan Unified scaled their storytelling by adopting a Storytelling Tracker, a content calendar that balances creativity with logistics, and a living content strategy that documents standards, workflow and voice. 

You'll walk away with templates, inspiration, and the confidence to adapt these systems to your own district, whether you’re a one-person comms shop or part of a larger team. 

Participants will leave with:

*A replicable Storytelling Tracker framework to align ideas with strategy and values 

*A visual tour of a working content calendar that supports team-wide scheduling and goal tracking 

*A customizable content strategy and procedures doc that builds continuity and supports onboarding 

*Tips for tracking equity, maintaining consistency, and planning smarter across the school year 

*Templates and starting points to build or refresh their own systems 

About the Presenter: Elyjah Wilbur has worked professionally in video production and photography for the last 13 years. He began working in the public sector in 2015 and, in 2022, joined the San Juan Unified School District as a Communication Specialist. Before his shift in the public sector, Elyjah worked for YouTube channels SMOSH and BuzzFeed. Elyjah studied Digital Film and Video Production at the Art Institute of California – Sacramento, where he earned his bachelor of science. His creative and technical prowess, as well as his understanding of viral content, has been recognized by the California Association of Public Information Officers, Adobe Government Creativity Awards, Public Relations Society of America, and the California Parks and Recreation Society for his work in video, photography, and social media strategy.