Be Focused. Be Present. Be Somebody.
I helped lead a major shift in how Marietta City Schools handles personal smart devices—supporting the launch of Yondr pouches across the middle grades. We focused on clear, consistent messaging—so families and staff understood what to expect and why it mattered.
The goal: fewer distractions. More learning.
We didn’t treat this as a rule change—we treated it as a culture shift. Our team focused on clear communication, practical guidance for schools, and steady outreach to families so the rollout felt consistent, reasonable, and grounded in what students need most: time to learn.
13.1M
Broadcast audience reached
2.9M
Social impressions
7,000
Post
shares
7–0
Board
approval
Leadership sets the tone.
Marietta City Schools launched a middle grades personal smart device initiative to reduce distractions and strengthen learning environments. The message was clear and consistent: protect learning time so students can be focused, present, and ready to learn.
Communicating the shift
Parents
Clear expectations and practical guidance—so families understood what to expect and why it mattered.
Students
Messaging built for middle schoolers: direct, relatable, and focused on learning.
Media
Proactive coverage and consistent framing to reinforce outcomes and build public confidence.
Public
Research-backed context that kept the conversation grounded in student focus and well-being.
Outcomes
95%+ of middle grades families accessed the FAQ resources online
Teachers reported a significant drop in disruptions and a rise in student focus
2.9M social impressions, 7K shares, and 4,200+ comments/replies
Positive media coverage positioned Marietta as a statewide model (NBC News, AJC, NPR, local TV)
Third-party evaluation support through Emory University + Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Policy impact: Superintendent Rivera’s leadership contributed to Georgia’s unanimous passage of HB 340