🔥 Ask the All-Stars: Real-World APIs with Brian Gray & Lauren Henderson (June 24–26)

If you’ve ever wondered how to get more from the Blackbaud SKY API for K-12 Schools—or wanted inspiration from peers using it in creative, practical ways—you won’t want to miss this special Ask the All-Stars event! 

This week, from June 24 through June 26, we’re hosting two of our most engaged and knowledgeable community members and All-Stars—Brian Gray, technology systems administrator at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, and Lauren Henderson, Blackbaud implementation and configuration consultant at Phillips Academy Andover—for conversations focused on one of the most powerful tools in your toolkit: the API.  

Brian and Lauren aren’t just API users—they’re power users who have translated API capabilities into real-world solutions that solve everyday challenges. 

This session is your opportunity to: 

• Learn by example 
• Ask practical, hands-on questions 
• Walk away with ideas you can apply 

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand what’s possible, this is a great chance to hear directly from peers who are putting the API to work in meaningful ways. 

Event Details 

📅 Dates: June 24–26 

📍 Location: Right here in the Education Management Solutions for K-12 Schools Community. The event will be featured at the top of the discussions page.

💬 Format: Drop in, ask questions, and follow the conversations. 

💡 Areas of Expertise

Brian and Lauren are ready to dive into how they use the API across their environments—from platform setup to creative problem-solving. Here are a few topics Brian and Lauren can speak to during the session: 

🔄 Data Integration & Warehousing 

• How they copy data from the SIS into a MySQL data warehouse 
• Strategies for keeping data aligned and accessible across systems 

📅 Scheduling & Visualization 

• Building grid schedules that display complex 7-day rotating schedules for students and teachers 
• Turning raw data into something meaningful (and usable!) 

✅ Data Quality & Readiness 

• Identifying missing or incomplete information for incoming students and parents 
• Using APIs to proactively flag and resolve gaps 

⚙️ Automation Wins 

• Semi-automating account creation (email and beyond) 
• Reducing manual work and minimizing errors 

🔗 Beyond the Basics: Integrations with Partners 

In addition to core API use cases, Brian and Lauren can also speak to how they extend their systems by working with Blackbaud partners, including: 

• Ruvna 
• Finalsite Enrollment 
• Magnus Health 
• Orah 

If you’ve been thinking about how to better connect your ecosystem, this event is a helpful place to explore what’s possible. 

📚 New to APIs? You’re Welcome Here. 

Whether you’re just getting started or already building integrations, this Ask the All-Stars session is designed to meet you where you are. No question is too basic—or too deep!