Community Education program brochures Metro North ABE - Consortium newsletter, Oct. 2018 | Page 2

The Best Kept Secret
The value of marketing in ABE and
the part we all play.
It often seems that ABE is the best kept secret around. We
offer high quality, free, and flexible classes and have
proven to help people improve their lives. We know there
is great need out there with many people lacking
appropriate credentials/skills to enter college or improved
employment. So what's up? Certainly, lack of awareness is part of the issue, as is the hot job market that may lead
people to think that they don’t need further education.
Marketing can help address these issues, and there is a role to play for all staff and partners in successfully promoting
our program. There are three main pillars to a marketing plan: Product, Price and Promotion. We certainly have the
second one down pat--who can beat free?! We need to make sure the other pieces are in place, too.
Metro North has an excellent reputation in the area of “product”–staff continuously do professional development to stay
state-of-the-art with ABE standards and are dedicated to implementing them. We also offer a wide variety of schedules,
locations, and options, such as distance learning, to provide flexibility for our students. Students report liking the
atmosphere of classes and feel they are learning; this leads to our most important marketing–word of mouth. So
“product” is a strength–with constant vigilance.
So that leaves “promotion”–are we good at “tooting our own horns”? And how do we best do that? Over the past year
staff have looked into what we should communicate, how best to communicate, what our target audience is, and how
best to reach them. Since we all communicate with and listen to current and potential students, we all have a role to
play. With a recently updated website, a new Facebook page, new print materials and strengthened relationships with
local programs like Early Childhood Family Education we are expanding our reach throughout our program
communities.
There are many more people in our communities who would benefit from our work and we are going to help them see
that.
About Metro North ABE Location Supervisors & Site Coordinators
Our mission is to inspire and
challenge all learners to reach
their full potential. In a safe,
supportive environment, we
will teach the skills needed to
succeed as responsible citizens
in our changing world. Tammi Bernard: Site Coordinator, St. Francis
Our vision is to provide
programs that effectively
develop the skills needed by
individuals to achieve their
goals.
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METRO NORTH ABE CONSORTIUM
Patrick Hobot: Supervisor, Anoka sites & GED® testing
Molly Liberto: Supervisor, Blaine and Anoka County Corrections
Kathleen Moriarty: Supervisor, Columbia Heights/Fridley &
Brooklyn Center
Pam Moriarity: Site Coordinator, Elk River
Cori Sendle: Director of Community Education, Centennial
Theresa Zingery: Community Education Asst. Manager,
Anoka-Hennepin