Introducing Fine Point Communications
A few things to know about us:
- Our company works with independent schools, and only independent schools, on their communications challenges.
- Fine Point is a communications firm, not a marketing agency nor a design studio.
- We are hands-on partners in the work, counselors who both advise and assist on-campus staff in putting our recommendations to use.
Each of these distinctions matters in a crowded field of vendors, especially the last.
Schools can find plenty of options for producing a pretty PDF, but then these companies step back. They are not available to keep magazine production on track over months, to assist with the urgent late-night crisis or to run the communications office while a school identifies its next director.
Fine Point, though, is here for all of this and more.
How We Work
Since 2020, Fine Point Communications has worked with more than two dozen independent schools across the United States and in Canada. Clients typically engage us for the following assignments:
- Interim leadership of the marcom office. A school regains full directorial capacity during a search or a transitional period without taking on the commitment of a permanent hire.
- Production of magazines and other publications, responsible for writing, editing and traffic control.
- Ongoing communications support on retainer, providing extra bandwidth, skills and experience to navigate the turmoil of an academic year.
- Poised and empathetic crisis communications, helping campus leaders inform their communities and protect institutional trust when the stakes are highest.
How We Support Our Industry
Our annual conference, the Fine Point Off-Site, brings together communications directors from schools around the country for professional development built specifically for the demands of their role.
Our monthly newsletter, Refill, has advised and informed this community for five years running — a record of consistent contribution that few school vendors can match.
Fine Point is proud to support these organizations, which lift up independent education:
- The National Association of Independent Schools
- The National Association of Episcopal Schools
- The Heads Network
- The Advancement Exchange for Independent Schools
- LeadTeam Partners
Meet Our Principal
Scott Butterworth founded Fine Point Communications in 2020 after leading communications at National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C.
The centerpiece of his tenure was an integrated communications program built around the school’s mission statement, “We believe in the power of young women.” This fueled measurable growth in admissions inquiries, annual giving and online audience, and it deepened the pride constituents felt on- and off-campus. He also worked closely with the head of school on crisis communications and represented NCS before neighborhood, educational and governmental leaders.
Scott recognized that schools gain more from ongoing partnerships that build institutional knowledge than from one-off projects. He built this awareness into Fine Point’s operations, and today we are known by clients for our emphasis on trust, candor and partnership.
Before joining NCS, Scott worked in daily journalism, including 14 years at The Washington Post as an editor. He worked with many of the best reporters in the world on deadline and earned a reputation for thorough, calm and astute editing. He has also edited two books.
Clients benefit from this background, gaining access to freelancers keen to team with Fine Point. Our network is experienced at all aspects of publications: reporting, writing, editing and project management. We especially prize storytellers — communicators who document a campus event or trend while framing the moment in a larger context.
Scott lives in Rockville, Md., where he keeps bees in a small backyard apiary.
Meet Our Associates
Fine Point has team members in three time zones. Nearly all were communications directors at independent schools before associating with Fine Point. Here is some of our crew:
Erin Dentmon has worked with Fine Point since 2023, assisting clients with interim departmental leadership, Communications On Retainer assignments and magazine writing.
She played an important role in preparing the inaugural Fine Point Off-Site conference, where she moderated a session.
Erin previously directed strategic communications and marketing for Atlanta Girls’ School, where she later became director of enrollment management, and she worked eight years at The Westminster Schools in several communications roles. She lives in Durham, N.C., where she runs the consultancy Erin Dentmon Communications.
Alison Grasheim has worked with Fine Point since 2025, providing clients with crisis communications counsel.
Alison directed communications at Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., for 11 years, the last two of which she also served as director of external relations. She lives in Colorado Springs, where she runs her consultancy, AG Comms Studio.
Lily Thompson has worked with Fine Point since 2025, assisting clients with magazine production.
Lily directed communications at Sonoma Academy for 10 years, the last three of which she held the title director of strategy and communications. She lives in Petaluma, Calif., where she runs the consultancy Lily Thompson Consulting.