Blog | Kelly E. Middleton Educational Services

Food Service For the Win: How a Cafeteria Renovation Transformed Our School Culture

Kelly E. Middleton

Jan 21, 20204 min read

Food Service For the Win: How a Cafeteria Renovation Transformed Our School Culture

When time, creativity and an eye for customer service go into revamping cafeterias, we can have great results.

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Kelly E. Middleton

Mar 27, 20194 min read

Exit Surveys - Dos and Don'ts

I was recently reading an article by customer service guru Shep Hyken about the importance of making sure the customer has a positive end...

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Under-Promise, Over-Deliver and the Roast Beef Broken Promise

Kelly E. Middleton

Dec 14, 20183 min read

Under-Promise, Over-Deliver and the Roast Beef Broken Promise

In my most recent book, Competing for Kids, I talked about the customer service concept of under-promising and over-delivering. What that...

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Why Customer Service is the Answer to Saving Public Education

Kelly E. Middleton

Oct 21, 20183 min read

Why Customer Service is the Answer to Saving Public Education

In the past, public education thrived because it was the only schooling option for the vast majority of families. Few could afford...

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Never Ruin an Apology with an Excuse: Concept #15 Recover Well

Kelly E. Middleton

Oct 12, 20184 min read

Never Ruin an Apology with an Excuse: Concept #15 Recover Well

One of the most overlooked yet crucial practices in customer service is the apology. People's egos just don't want to admit they were...

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Utilizing Multiple Communication Channels for Customer Service

Kelly E. Middleton

Oct 4, 20183 min read

Utilizing Multiple Communication Channels for Customer Service

In today's technologically advanced world, timely communication is critical in order to give great customer service. Historically, the...

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Celebrate National Customer Service Week by Recognizing Your Staff!

Kelly E. Middleton

Sep 28, 20182 min read

Celebrate National Customer Service Week by Recognizing Your Staff!

Those of us who follow the news in the customer service world know that the first week in October is National Customer Service Week...

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Trader Joe's - A Model for Customer Service

Kelly E. Middleton

Sep 19, 20183 min read

Trader Joe's - A Model for Customer Service

Trader Joe's ranks among the top companies in customer service (and tops among grocery stores) every year. Who would ever think that a...

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Concept #7 - Collect Reliable Information About Your Customer Service Practices

Kelly E. Middleton

Sep 11, 20184 min read

Concept #7 - Collect Reliable Information About Your Customer Service Practices

When it comes to providing great customer service, it's important to make sure that you're actually helping the customers with issues...

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Only 15 Cents Short: Why Does Customer Service Elude So Many in Public Education?

Kelly E. Middleton

Aug 29, 20184 min read

Only 15 Cents Short: Why Does Customer Service Elude So Many in Public Education?

Recently, a public school in Florida made the national news when a mother reported that her child was denied lunch for owing 15 cents on...

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Professional Learning Communities: The Intersection of Customer Service and School Culture

Kelly E. Middleton

Aug 16, 20183 min read

Professional Learning Communities: The Intersection of Customer Service and School Culture

I'd like to dedicate this post to the late Richard DuFour (February, 2017) and Rebecca DuFour (July 2018) and their incredible, inspiring...

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Student Advocates: A Public School Twist on Data Mining

Kelly E. Middleton

Aug 9, 20183 min read

Student Advocates: A Public School Twist on Data Mining

When it comes to customer service, Cheers got it right: "You want to go where everybody knows your name." But how they know your name can...

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Kelly E. Middleton

Aug 1, 20182 min read

Concept #17 Don't Do Dumb Things

We've all made silly mistakes. It happens; we're human. But when it comes to making decisions without using common sense, I have a hard...

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20 Tips for Improving Your Home Visit Program

Kelly E. Middleton

Jul 25, 20183 min read

20 Tips for Improving Your Home Visit Program

It's home visit time again in Newport Independent Schools. Last year the Kentucky School Board Association honored Newport Independent...

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The Importance of Lagniappe, or, Giving A Little Bit Extra

Kelly E. Middleton

Jul 19, 20183 min read

The Importance of Lagniappe, or, Giving A Little Bit Extra

In J.D. Power and Associates' book Satisfaction, a study on what makes a consumer rave about a company asked participants what quality...

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Creating a Seamless User Experience: How Schools Can Use Technology to Complement Existing Protocols

Kelly E. Middleton

Jul 16, 20184 min read

Creating a Seamless User Experience: How Schools Can Use Technology to Complement Existing Protocols

I recently bought tickets to a movie theater online. I hadn't done it before but was running late for the movie and wanted to ensure I...

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