Sometimes, the most important moments don’t go according to plan. This is the story of how a tribute video honoring a beloved school leader didn’t play on stage... and why that didn’t stop it from reaching the people who mattered most.
In this post, we’re pulling back the curtain on the process: how the video came to life, what went wrong, and how our team stayed focused on what mattered: telling the story with heart.
what makes a tribute video truly meaningful?
A tribute video works best when it doesn’t just list accomplishments: it tells the truth about someone’s impact, in the voices of the people they’ve served.
When Bullitt County Public Schools asked us to create a surprise tribute video for Kristi Lynch, Principal of North Bullitt High School and the 2025 KASA Building Level Administrator of the Year, we knew we couldn’t make it generic. It had to sound like
her...quiet leadership (even though she is far from quiet), bold heart, and an undeniable ripple effect through students, staff, and families.
So we built it from the inside out.
We started with BCPS’s mission and values. Then we shaped the video around real stories that aligned with their Core Values, Aspirations, and Graduate Profile traits. Interview cues were crafted to pull out specifics: how Kristi supported students, lifted her team, and sparked future-focused growth. (Check out the full process
here.)
a tribute should reflect the person: not the performance.
what happens when the “tech fails” at the big moment?
Spoiler: you pivot. You protect the story. You keep your cool and get scrappy.
At the 2025 KASA conference, the stage was set. The lights were on. The crowd was ready. But when it came time to play the video… the screen didn’t cooperate.
No one panicked. We just shifted.
Instead of pushing for a fix that might’ve muddled the moment, our team found another way to share the story. We arranged a quiet showing for Kristi and her family: just a laptop, some tissues, and the people who knew what the moment was meant to be.
what do you do when the spotlight flickers?
You show up anyway.
This is the part we’re most proud of. Yes, we love a polished final product. But we love even more the chance to carry a story carefully, all the way to the finish line, even if that means rerouting mid-run.
And you know what? The private viewing ended up being more personal. More reflective. More… Kristi.
That’s the work. That’s
the alchemy.
want help telling your school’s story?
We help districts celebrate their people, shape their culture, and spotlight what makes them stand out with messaging that aligns and videos that land (even when the Wi-Fi doesn’t).
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