COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 1, 2025) – In partnership with Apptegy and Rhodes Branding, Nassau County School District (NCSD) in Fernandina Beach, FL, is kicking off the 2025-26 school year with a fresh new brand and website.
For the past several months, the teams at NCSD and Rhodes Branding, a strategic marketing and branding agency, have collaborated in a rebranding process to elevate the district’s brand in the increasingly competitive K-12 educational environment.
Developed by Rhodes Branding and selected by NCSD leadership, Nassau County School District’s new visual identity celebrates its role in sparking inspiration in the next generation of learners and leaders. The new brand is a key element of the district’s website, developed by Apptegy and launched Monday, June 30, 2025.
Apptegy works with 5,000 districts in the U.S. and partnered with Rhodes Branding and NCSD. Apptegy gives district administrators and communications staff a robust set of communications tools including a district website, individual school websites, and a district-branded mobile app. The new website makes it easy for the broader Nassau school community to see the daily moments, upcoming events, and recent news stories.
The evolution of the Nassau visual identity comprises core elements that work together to communicate the intended brand vision and personality to students, families, staff, and the public. To shape the creative vision and direction for the rebrand, Rhodes Branding collected feedback from NCSD students, families, staff, and the broader Nassau County community through brand perception surveys.
The theme “igniting a generation” was inspired by survey feedback, in which individuals from the school community described Nassau as “big enough to offer opportunity, small enough to care, and committed to preparing students for life, not just a test.”
“It’s about lighting something within each student,” said Michael Ho, Rhodes Branding’s Executive Creative Director. “It’s about equipping them with the confidence, curiosity, and character to thrive in life.”
An abstract spark serving as the tassel of a mortarboard conveys Nassau’s role in inspiring each student. The new color palette enhances the brand’s professionalism while conveying a focus on the future, and the font in the brand wordmark portrays a sense of curiosity and openness that invites collaboration.
Nassau’s new website includes a bold new gallery and header that prominently displays life across the district and allows visitors to find exactly the resources they need directly from the homepage. The new Live Feed section allows NCSD to share stories and updates simultaneously to both the website and social media, while other sections give families and community members access to details regarding transparency, strategic plans, District statistics and more with just one click. Each of these elements work together to make the new site a one-stop shop for all information related to NCSD.
“As we launch this refreshed brand and new website, our goal is simple: to better serve our students, families, and staff,” said Dr. Kathy Burns, NCSD Superintendent of Schools. “With our previous website platform being phased out, we used this opportunity to modernize our online presence in a way that reflects input from across our community and captures the spirit of our mission to ignite a generation of learners and leaders. We are preparing students for life, not just a test.”
About Rhodes Branding
Rhodes Branding is a full-service strategic branding and marketing agency dedicated exclusively to education. With a deep understanding of the cultural nuances and challenges education faces today, Rhodes Branding empowers institutions to resonate with their communities in meaningful ways. From enrollment marketing to recruitment strategies, the agency delivers culturally relevant solutions that strengthen reputations, build trust, and drive measurable results. Since its inception, Rhodes Branding has impacted over 1.2 million students.
About Apptegy
Trusted by 5,000 districts nationwide, Apptegy empowers school districts to elevate their brands while simplifying their communications strategies. Apptegy’s platform powers district websites, mobile apps, notifications, and teacher-family communication tools. With exceptional client support and intuitive solutions, Apptegy allows educators to focus on what matters most: educating, engaging, and growing their communities. Apptegy transforms how schools connect with their entire school community. Learn more at apptegy.com.
