National & International Testimonials
DAVID CHOJNACKI, GOVERNANCE CONSULTANT
If you want to help school administrators understand the critical importance of messaging and the basics of communicating with their various publics, Jane and Jim Hulbert are the people to contact. Their extensive experience and engaging style make them outstanding presenters.
Jane Larsson, Council of International Schools:
Jim Hulbert was selected as a CIS Affiliated Consultant due to the strong expertise and guidance he provides to the CIS Membership Community, 1,300+ schools and universities globally. He is a core member of the CIS Child Protection Team leading workshops for international school educators around the world. Jim has deep experience advising diverse school communities as they manage allegations of abuse and navigate the complexities that international work brings. He has made a strong, positive impact on school leaders and boards, strengthening their ability to understand legal risks and to communicate effectively to prevent or manage a crisis.
Dr. Alex Curtis, Head of School, Choate Rosemary Hall, CT:
Jane and Jim Hulbert are a tremendous resource to me in many different ways. Their review of our Crisis Communications Plan was extremely helpful and caused us to make some important changes that served us well. Their advice on media relations was also to the point, practical and easy to implement. I would highly recommend to any head of school that they spend a day with The Jane Group being trained in working with the media as it was one of the most useful professional development experiences that I have ever had. Finally, I am grateful to them for being a calm, reassuring voice during crisis situations, helping me to think through some difficult issues. I highly recommend them to heads of all types of schools.
Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw, Head of School, Providence Day School, NC:
A crisis or tragedy can happen at any moment. How you react at the onset will determine how your school successfully navigates the incident. The Jane Group has been invaluable to our school in helping us to be proactive and ready to respond to any potential crisis. Jane and Jim Hulbert are poised and skilled leaders in crises management. Every independent school should invest the time to get to know them in advance and in turn allow them the opportunity to learn about your school. Waiting until a crises hits your community will severely hinder your ability to address and handle the situation.
Dr. Katherine G. Windsor, Head of School, Miss Porter’s School, CT:
Jane Hulbert is a name every head of school absolutely must have on his or her contact list. Jane's experience is deep and broad, and her expertise is exactly what is demanded when facing the uncertainties that are ever-present during a crisis. In 2008, Miss Porter's School faced a difficult lawsuit and unrelenting press attention. Jane instantly provided real-time direction and created a plan for us for our internal and external communications. She explained the cycle for media responses in a way that imposed order and discipline to an otherwise chaotic time. Subsequently, she provided training and professional development that has improved our communications strategy overall. I am grateful to Jane for her immediate response to my needs in 2008 and guidance since then. She is a true professional and a real lifesaver!
DORINDA MARTICORENA, TRUSTEE, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES - LYCÉE INTERNATIONAL, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA:
I believe the school and board’s reputation and sentiment among employees and parents has really grown in a positive direction since we retained the services of the Jane Group because of the guidance and training they provided.
Nathan L. Sheldon, Head of School, Casady School, OK:
Jane and Jim Hulbert pair expertise that can only be gained by experience with an openness that comes from recognizing every school and every situation is unique. Even though they consult to numerous schools each month, their work with us is personal. No school wants to find itself in a crisis, but a crisis is also an opportunity to meet the challenge of living our school's values in the most difficult of moments. Of the many roles we fill as head of school, you want to get those decisions right. When the stakes are high, timelines are short, and our community is depending on us, there are no partners I would rather work with to inform the clarity of our process and the quality of our decisions.
Dr. Laura Konigsberg, Head of School, Turning Point School, CA:
We really enjoyed working with you and came away from our time with you feeling more confident about facing unpredictable circumstances. I hope that I don't have to be in touch with an SOS for crisis support, but it is such a comfort to know you are a resource for us.
Laura Reff, Director of Marketing and Communications, Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, Chicago:
At the Jane Group, Jane and Jim are more than just consultants; they are true partners who feel like an extension of our team. Over the last five years, they have been instrumental in preparing our leadership through media training and navigating complex, exciting organizational changes. They are incredibly flexible, responsive, and bring a positive energy that makes them a genuine joy to work with. I have recommended them to my counterparts at other schools without hesitation!
PAUL DRUZINSKY, OVER 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE AS HEAD OF SCHOOL:
Simply the best in the business. When things go wrong, call The Jane Group and you will immediately see things going right. Both Jim and Jane bring the calming confidence and skill set that one wants from their surgeon--their understanding of how to communicate in a crisis, how to advise Trustees and administrators, and how to provide hope and optimism to a community when it is most needed. This is what I have experienced working closely over the years with Jane and Jim Hulbert. Their deep knowledge of our school business, combined with their professional experiences in the corporate world of communications, business law and marketing, make the Jane Group second to none in crisis communications. And one huge bonus--Jane and Jim are great people whose values and approach align strongly with NAIS and accrediting bodies across the country, and world. The advice you receive will resonate and reinforce the best practices and optimal standards of governance that independent schools strive to achieve.
