PASSION FOR EDUCATION:

BRAND STRATEGY + IDENTITY:

“MP+G crafted a branding campaign themed ‘Building Future Leaders’ that not only gave us a refresh of our logo, but also enhanced and connected all of our other communication platforms. Ongoing communication with our stakeholders is critical in todays’ times. I recommend MP+G for your rebranding needs.”
Brian J. Phillips | Superintendent | CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOL

“MP+G is well-versed in school branding. Not just outstanding logo design work, but an entire platform that provides direction and key communications guidance. They have a unique process that helps schools get to the heart of their brands and they really listen. We feel confident that our new brand platform communicates the type of school we are and that we aspire to be.”
Timothy R. Schochenmaier | Superintendent | CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“As a top-ranked public charter school, Nova Classical Academy was in need of a brand update that not only accurately depicted our competitive academic position but also reinforced our brand values. MP+G took the time to listen and learn about our culture. They developed a total brand package: a messaging and values platform along with a new brand identity system and a website redesign that will serve us well into the future.”
Dr. Brett Wedlund | Executive Director | NOVA CLASSICAL ACADEMY

“It has been a pleasure working with MP+G Marketing Solutions on MSBA’s rebranding campaign and marketing plan efforts…They pushed us outside of our comfort zone and helped us to get to a place that is enlightened and sustainable. They’ve done quality work and we’re excited to launch the NEW MSBA Brand.”
Kirk Schneidawind | Executive Director | MINNESOTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION

“The marketing pieces you developed for our inaugural launch of Prouty i•Will really resonate with our target audience in a visually captivating way. The one-pagers and brochure spoke to the hearts of potential participants we were hoping to reach, and the logo you created uniquely and distinctively sets us apart in the marketplace. Your knowledge, creativity and flexibility were invaluable as we debuted Prouty i•Will in record time! Well done!”
Adrienne Jordan | Senior Consultant | THE PROUTY PROJECT

“MP+G brought a tremendous amount of insight and experience to our brand refresh campaign. Mary Pat guided us in developing a point of differentiation for Robbinsdale—something to distinguish the district and its students from other similar districts. “RAS Remarkable” is a multi-platform campaign that brings recognition to students and staff members who aren't the usual athletes and honor roll students one usually hears about in district coverage. The response to this campaign has been overwhelming - people appreciate hearing these interesting stories. There are close to 12,000 students in this district, and thanks to Mary Pat, we were able to help better tell their stories in a thoughtful way. We enjoyed working with Mary Pat very much.”
Joseph Palmersheim | Marketing and Communications Specialist | ROBBINSDALE AREA SCHOOLS

“MP+G helped us expand the district's brand message and capitalize on our new tagline. We were looking to create a campaign that creates a visual splash and brings the brand message to life. The Robbinsdale Area Schools Remarkable campaign does just that. Mary Pat developed a comprehensive communications plan and worked with our designer to create a multi-platform campaign that embodies the district's core values. #RASRemarkable sets Robbinsdale apart from other similar districts in the area.”
Latisha Gray | Marketing and Communications Manager | ROBBINSDALE AREA SCHOOLS (now Atlanta)

“MP+G worked closely with our administration team to help define who we are and what differentiates us from other school districts. They really listened to us and got to know what makes us unique in the educational marketplace - developing a brand strategy and identify that truly reflects our personality. They showed us how to embrace and implement our new positioning and prepared us for launching our new brand identity. From the new district identity to the website, videos, and marketing materials, they partnered with us to quickly get us up to speed and ready to live the Kaleidoscope brand in time for the new school year.”
Brett Wedlund | Superintendent | KALEIDOSCOPE CHARTER SCHOOL

WEBSITES + ON-GOING COMMUNICATIONS:

“Mary Pat has performed a great service for the Westonka School District. Her efforts have improved the quality and effectiveness of our communications…I encourage you to go to our website and look at our videos, eNewsletter and website to see the quality of her work. You will be impressed.”
Kevin Borg | Superintendent | WESTONKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

“Mary Pat was masterful with crafting positive and compelling messages about our school system directed to our community through weekly e-newsletters and newspaper articles. Along with effective writing skills, her strengths include developing brand marketing for organizations and developing websites that provide easy access to information for end-users.”
Mark Femrite | Assistant Superintendent Teaching and Learning | WESTONKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

“I was just talking about your work with our website and other PR to some teachers and telling them that you had such good vision for our district AND the ability to do something about it. Thank you very much for all of your hard work! It has been much needed for many years and we needed someone like you to get it going.”
Anitra Trapp | Media Specialist | MOUND WESTONKA HIGH SCHOOL

MARKETING CAMPAIGNS:

“MP+G brought a great deal of experience to the billboard campaign she completed for the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Mary Pat was extremely thorough in all phases of the project, which resulted in an end product that was a credit to Anoka-Hennepin. Bravo! Mary Pat is prompt, efficient and accommodating. She is a joy to work with!”
Mary Olson | Director of Communication and Public Relations (retired) |ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 

“MP+G Marketing Solutions is a one-stop shop for developing an email communications plan. With (Mary Pat’s) insight and direction, we felt confident in carrying out our communication plan.”
Julie Sweitzer | Executive Director | College Readiness Consortium | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 

REFERENDUM CAMPAIGNS:

“I have now worked with MP+G on two successful referendum campaigns. Their services were essential to our success. The pandemic made it more challenging to engage our community. Parents had different concerns. Our staff simply did not have the bandwidth to complete the scope of work necessary to educate our public. Mary Pat and Jeff helped us pivot to find new ways to engage, and to shape messages to meet the needs of the community.”
Bill Adams | Superintendent | NEW LONDON-SPICER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“In the last three years, we have successfully passed both an operating levy and a building bond referendum with help from MP+G . Their services were key to our success. While the pandemic made it more challenging, they helped us find new ways to engage with our community, and to communicate our needs in meaningful messaging that resonated with our parents and residents.”
Timothy R. Schochenmaier | Superintendent | CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“MP+G brings significant knowledge and skill sets to the referendum process. Other districts may ask why would we hire a consultant team to help with almost zero increase project? We felt it was vital to reinforce trust in the district’s financial decision-making process. We wanted to ensure this referendum was done right in order to set ourselves up for the best possible outcome now and for the future. MP+G helped showcase our commitment to transparency and built on our reputation for conservative and honest use of taxpayer dollars. Their expertise and hard work paid off in a big way for Crosby-Ironton.” 
Jamie Skjeveland, Ed.D. | Superintendent | CROSBY-IRONTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

“MP+G used best practices based on their extensive experience. When I say they are persistent in their approach it might be misconstrued as a negative – but let me assure you, in my view it was a positive. Everything they did had a purpose and everything they did worked. Let’s face it referendums are a boatload of work not just for superintendents but for everyone involved – from support staff to your citizens group. Their persistent guidance served as a reminder of the importance of this referendum and the fact that if it doesn’t pass, my job becomes that much more difficult. They kept me on track and focused. And they delivered a win. Without question I’d hire them again.”
Bill Adams | Superintendent | JANESVILLE-WALDORF-PEMBERTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

“MP+G played a significant role in getting our building bond referendum passed. After 3 failed attempts on our own, their guidance and communications campaign strategy along with key talking points, a custom designed theme, direct mail pieces and emails, helped us demonstrate our needs. Our school community is excited and looking forward to planning our next steps.”
Joel Whitehurst | Superintendent | WATERVILLE-ELYSIAN-MORRISTOWN SCHOOLS

“I am grateful to MP+G for their talents and support in this bond process. Having failed the last two bond referendums, we needed them to re-energize our team and give us a new focus moving forward. They were able to help our team find and market the right message for our school. They worked with us to find the right strategies and to use the multiple media methods to communicate ‘our story’ to our taxpayers. They took our ideas and converted them into well produced flyers, newsletters and videos. They were instrumental in helping us pass our bond project.”  
Brian J. Phillips | Superintendent | CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOL

“There is no doubt that the ideas and work MP+G provided for our school district were critical components to getting community and voter support for our recent Bond Referendum. They brought ideas and strategies that our schools had never used and never really considered. We felt we had good community support, but it is clear in today’s current social and political climate, those old traditions are not enough. We had to dive into new strategies and new ways to frame our message. If were not for their guidance, we would not have achieved our desired outcome.”
George Weber | Superintendent | PIERZ SCHOOL DISTRICT 484

“Our referendum was dependent on strong (Herculean!) efforts from the district, from our Yes committee and from our communications consultants. It truly was an "All In" effort by everyone! MP+G set the strategy, the tone, and the pace for our information campaign. We needed their expertise to create the plan, and their time to create all the communications materials needed to get our message out.” 
Dave Bernhardson |Superintendent | INVER GROVE HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT

“Hiring MP+G Marketing Solutions was a smart investment for the district, its students, and its staff. Their shared experience helped us make pragmatic decisions from the start and deliver the information to our neighbors in a way that they remembered at the polls. As a one-person communications department, I really appreciated their action plan as well as their help staying on top of deadlines, especially in the midst of another busy school year.”
Katie Sheridan | Communications / Marketing Manager |
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT

“MP+G created a distinctive, custom campaign for our referendum, they helped us better understand our audience and developed a sound informational campaign strategy to reach our goals. We added 1,200 total voters since last May...and a staggering 1,000 of them were Yes voters. Statistically, that is impressive no matter how you look at it...Regardless of the margin, (this) is a huge win! The district’s relationship with the community is stronger now than before the election and our community is better informed and better prepared to meet the needs of our students.”
Stephen Jones | Superintendent | LITTLE FALLS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

“MP+G Marketing Services helped our district craft key messages that gave our referendum campaign a clear identity. The results of their work created a more informed and engaged community. This amounted to 1,200 more voters going to the polls - and the first bond passed in our district in almost 25 years.”
Aaron Sinclair | Assistant Superintendent | LITTLE FALLS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

“MP+G Marketing was a true asset in our referendum process. Mary Pat helped with website information, communications, and the design of a perfect logo for our scenario. St. James had 6 failed attempts at a building bond (without a consultant). With the help of Mary Pat, we got it passed on the 7th attempt! We are very appreciative of the work that she did.”
Becky Cselovszki | Superintendent | ST. JAMES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“MP+G Marketing provided communication and marketing strategy for our high school facility bond election that passed after having failed only one year ago.  Mary Pat was tireless in her efforts to aggressively develop effective strategies in a variety of mediums (print, video, website, email, social media) that were very well received by the public and critical in the passage of our project. Especially in light of a very unusual campaign season (November of 2016) there is no doubt in my mind that MP+G was crucial to the success of our election.  I highly recommend her.”
Edward J. Harris | Superintendent | CHATFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“Thank you Mary Pat…We are very pleased by the results of the vote and we had a short window to celebrate before we began the rush into the project.” 
Deb Wanek | Superintendent | PELICAN RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

“I really liked working with MP+G. It is challenging to communicate the actual value they provide – the prep work that goes into the communications materials is hard to define. What you are purchasing is the time that superintendents don’t have to put this all together plus the intangibles that give it a professional polish. My messages to the staff were clearer because of the talking points they helped craft. The Constant Contact emails were well done and the referendum brochure was “the end all and be all” for the whole campaign. Their price was right and it was definitely money well spent. My board was so impressed with their work, they are asking if we need a marketing person on staff because the referendum was so successful.”
Timothy R. Schochenmaier| Superintendent | CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS