Build It and They Will Come?

Yes! Probably too many!

But just in case!

Panel Presenters Kristie Clements, Moderator, Connie Ratcliff, Meagan Taylor-Booth Matt Waymack,

Marketing strategies that work.

MVPS targets: 1.Rural areas that cannot offer higher level courses and electives 2.AP courses for schools that have low interest or no certification 3.Credit Recovery 4.Alternative choice 5.Teacher shortage

Talk to: Parents Counselors District representatives Administrators

Platform: Target your information to your audience Counselors Technology Administrators etc. Get on strategic PTO meeting agendas Be wise with your time. Don’t attend Elementary teacher meetings if your VS is middle and above.

Partnerships!

Sponsor conferences, booths, printing, and other marketing strategies. 16-State collaboration Free-media resource for educating legislators, superintendents, principals, site coordinators Partnerships! Institutes for Higher Learning Community College Consortiums Technology Coordinators Districts School Improvement 21 st Century Goals Dropout Prevention School Awareness

Media: Parents brochures Student posters School booklets outlining goals Free AP Exam Preps, ACT Preps, Tutorials Conference Give-A-Ways (some partner sponsored) Sponsor at the Superintendents Summer Conference meeting

About Gwinnett Online District-level program started in 1999 Gwinnett County Public Schools, Metropolitan Atlanta, GA students, 14 th largest in courses – all authored by GCOC eCollege LMS since 1999 Elluminate since full-time staff trained adjuncts

YTD 2008 – Total GCOC Scope High School3713 Middle School Online13 Middle School Hybrid/Web-Enhanced325 Middle School Support968 Staff Development625 Special Entity Support600 Curriculum Support484 TOTAL6728

Local School Site Coordinators Site-Coordinators at all 20 high schools Paid small stipend from Gwinnett Online Liaison between GCOC and schools, online teachers and local students Promote Gwinnett Online locally – School Announcements – Distributes promotional materials – Local school websites/newsletters Make available local student resources

County Level Support Communication With Local School Administrators Communication with County Leaders Strong Board Support

Marketing Site-Coordinators – Contact at all 20 high schools – Disseminates information – Local promoter of Gwinnett Online – School announcements Local School Counselors GCPS TV - Locally airs on cable TV Promotional Flyer – Created by GCPS communications department – Distributed to all schools and students Website

Local School Relations Since 2005, Gwinnett Online earns FTE within county Pushback from On Ground Principals Concerned they will lose students, staff and funding to Gwinnett Online Gwinnett Online is not in competition with local schools No school has lost anything to GCOC Perception has improved

Strategies Promote being cost-effective Serve maximum number of students possible Provide good service School communication

Who is our intended audience, and who are our advocates? Virtual Virginia Students Counselors Mentors Teachers District/School Administrators Parents State Legislators

How do we market our program? Virtual Virginia High Profile Multi-Media Campaign Press Coverage (NPR, Local Print Media)NPR Extensive Website Video (local school cable, public TV, movie theaters) Blasts Dept. of Education Support (Superintendent’s Memos) Direct Mail Brochures S.W.A.G. for Brand Awareness

How do we market our program? Virtual Virginia High Profile Multi-Media Campaign Press Coverage (NPR, Local Print Media)NPR Extensive Website Video Production Blasts Dept. of Education Support (Superintendent’s Memos) Direct Mail Brochures S.W.A.G. for Brand Awareness

How do we market our program? Virtual Virginia Grassroots/Word-of-Mouth Effort Presentations and exhibitions at state and national conferences Student/Mentors/Parents as advocates Counselor and Student/Parent Newsletters (see handouts) S.W.A.G. for Students

When do we market? Virtual Virginia During important enrollment periods Opening of registration/spring scheduling Start of school After holiday break Periodic follow-up throughout the year

Thanks!