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| An environmental experience room at the Springmill Learning Center in Mansfield |
When people ask me what makes MPS Foto different from other school photography companies, one of the things I often note is the fact that we're quite a bit smaller in size than some of our nationally based competitors like Interstate Studios and Lifetouch. I explain that we consider this an advantage for our schools, because we deliver a more personal experience for them. Instead of putting them in our system, we wrap our system around them.
This is a significant difference when placed into practice. Typically, it leads us to seek a deeper understanding of the unique needs of a customer and then help them create a photography program that - while streamlined and efficient - fits really well with their organization and families. It isn't easy to do school and sports pictures this way. There is a lot more work involved. We have to listen much more carefully, and being open to change and criticism is a requirement.
Interestingly, the environment that envelops public education these days is not altogether different. 21st century learning standards and the new Ohio core curriculum are encouraging (and demanding) more and more differentiation from instructors. Educators at all levels must provide adaptation to the unique learning styles of the students being served. Schools have to be leaner, run more efficiently, and improve the educational environment for all learners. And just like businesses keep score in dollars, schools are held to account through state testing - earning grades and rankings which have a huge impact on enrollment. In other words, schools are being asked to listen to their customers and deliver an experience that fits their individual needs. Oh yeah, and they have to do it with less money and more accountability. Sounds awfully familiar.
Recently, I had the good fortune to tour the Springmill Learning Center; an incredible new facility being constructed by the Mansfield City Schools. It is going to be a fantastic experiential learning center that will combine COSI-like science, math, and engineering workshops with interactive history exhibits, and more than 20 acres of land for outdoor education. What was most heartening is that I walked through this facility with the president of the local teacher's union who -- in the moments between explaining how everything was geared toward creating an environment where kids could learn in unique, engaging, and individual ways -- talked about how (and I admit I love this) he just believed. He believed that Mansfield's schools would be rated excellent soon, believed in the administration's vision for the schools, believed that the district was going to succeed if for no other reason than to prove that it could. As I drove home, I couldn't help but be happy for our hometown schools and the kids who go there. It has been a long way back for Mansfield and there's lots of work to be done, but I could relate. MPS Foto is growing amid a rapidly changing business environment. We have a lot of work yet to do. We work hard every day to take care of our each and every individual customer, and, well, we believe.
