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 agendasBe 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

21st 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– @150,000 students, 14th largest in USA

• @102 courses – all authored by GCOC• eCollege LMS since 1999• Elluminate since 2002• 17 full-time staff members• @100 trained adjuncts

YTD 2008 – Total GCOC ScopeHigh School 3713

Middle School Online 13

Middle School Hybrid/Web-Enhanced 325

Middle School Support 968

Staff Development 625

Special Entity Support 600

Curriculum Support 484

TOTAL 6728

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?Who is our intended audience, and who are our advocates?

Virtual VirginiaVirtual Virginia

•Students•Counselors•Mentors•Teachers•District/School Administrators•Parents•State Legislators

How do we market our program?How do we market our program?

Virtual VirginiaVirtual Virginia

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

How do we market our program?How do we market our program?

Virtual VirginiaVirtual Virginia

High Profile Multi-Media Campaign•Press Coverage (NPR, Local Print Media)•Extensive Website•Video Production•Email Blasts•Dept. of Education Support (Superintendent’s Memos)•Direct Mail•Brochures•S.W.A.G. for Brand Awareness

How do we market our program?How do we market our program?

Virtual VirginiaVirtual 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?When do we market?

Virtual VirginiaVirtual Virginia

•During important enrollment periods•Opening of registration/spring scheduling• Start of school•After holiday break

•Periodic follow-up throughout the year

Thanks!