The podcast for education innovators. Join Jacob Hanson for conversations with PreK—12 school and district leaders about ed-tech, curricula, and the big decisions they make every day. PRP Group, a HAWKE Media Company, is a premier public relations, marketing intelligence, and strategic communications firm serving the preK-12 and higher education markets for over 20 years. Learn more at www.prp.group.
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September 24, 202521 min
Outsmarting the Algorithm: PR + GEO for the Win
When was the last time you asked ChatGPT for a recommendation—and wondered why your brand wasn’t mentioned? That’s the problem at the center of this episode of The Education Insider.Host Jacob Hanson brings together PR thought leader Kristen Plemon and SEO/GEO expert Rachael Bly to unpack Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — a term that still makes most executives respond with, “What the heck is GEO, and why should I care?”What you’ll learn in this episode:What GEO actually isHow AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are reshaping brand visibilityWhy PR is mission-critical for feeding the “AI answer bot”How freshness, FAQs, and superlatives can make or break your discoverabilityPractical next steps to test and improve your brand’s visibility in AI searchIf you’re in education marketing, PR, or district leadership, this episode is both a warning and a playbook: now is the time to act, or risk being invisible in the age of AI search.Resources & Links:Connect with Kristen Plemon on LinkedInConnect with Rachael Bly on LinkedInLearn more about PRP Grouphttps://www.prp.group/Learn more about Hawke Mediahttps://hawkemedia.com/ Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review, share it with a colleague, and subscribe to The Education Insider wherever you get your podcasts. For more insights on education branding, visit PRP Group.
June 17, 202521 min
Why Branding in Education Can’t Be an Afterthought: A Conversation with Joey Yorba
Episode Title: Beyond the Logo: Why Education Needs Bold Brands and Smart StrategyGuest: Joey Yorba, Managing Director, Super Top SecretGuest Website: wearetopsecret.comGuest LinkedIn: Joey YorbaHost: Jacob HansonAbout Joey Yorba:Joey Yorba is the Managing Director of Super Top Secret, a creative agency that’s helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands—from Nike to Xbox—cut through the noise with bold, emotionally resonant storytelling. With a deep background in creative direction and brand psychology, Joey now brings that global expertise to the education space, helping mission-driven organizations lead with authenticity and impact.At STS, he leads multidisciplinary teams that develop everything from foundational strategy to full-scale campaigns—all with one goal: building brands that don’t just look good, but feel unforgettable.Key Topics Covered:What a brand actually is—and why most education orgs get it wrong “A brand is what someone says about you when you're not in the room.”The high cost of reactive communications and under-invested branding “We still have people who think, ‘We’ll just do the logo now and figure the rest out later.’ That’s how you waste money.”The importance of emotional resonance and design systems “Every touchpoint matters. You can't say you care about equity and then have a clunky, inaccessible website.”Why brand strategy is foundational—not optional “This isn’t a nice-to-have anymore. If you’re not shaping the narrative, you’re being shaped by it.”Quick tests to assess your messaging clarity “Ask five people to explain what your company does. If you get five different answers, you’ve got a brand problem.”Resources Mentioned:Super Top SecretSTS LinkedIn
May 13, 202528 min
Education in Flux: Finding Opportunity in Localized Markets
"It’s not the sky falling—it’s the ground shifting."Federal restructuring. State budget cuts. A surge in school choice and local control. The education landscape is undergoing a seismic shift—and companies that cling to national-only strategies risk being left behind.In this episode of The Education Insider, host Jacob Hanson is joined by Michael Campbell, President of Advancing Global EDU, to break down why localization isn’t just an adjustment—it’s a survival strategy. They explore how hyper-targeted messaging, state-by-state go-to-market plans, and community-centered PR can help education companies not only keep pace, but lead the way.Packed with real-world examples, tactical guidance, and bold predictions, this episode will reshape how you think about scaling in education. If you’re wondering how to turn policy chaos into market clarity, this is your roadmap.
March 19, 202547 min
The Future of Standardized Testing – Disruption, Innovation, and Opportunity
As universities move toward test-optional admissions, the standardized testing industry is at a crossroads. While critics argue that the SAT and ACT perpetuate inequality, others question how colleges can fairly evaluate students without a common metric. If standardized tests disappear, what replaces them?Host Jacob Hanson sits down with Adil Husain, founder of Emerging Strategy, and PR expert Kristen Plemon to explore the uncertain future of high-stakes testing. They dissect the industry's failure to control its own narrative and the risks of abandoning standardized assessments without a clear alternative. Despite decades of influence, organizations like the College Board and ACT have been surprisingly silent in the debate over their own relevance."What we always counsel clients on in terms of PR is when you leave a void, others are going to fill it,” says Plemon. “So you lose that thought leadership. And they have spent decades building this expertise, this trusted brand and credibility. And if they're letting others step in to take that, that's going to erode their brand over time.”Meanwhile, as test-optional policies become common, data is becoming more skewed—leading to an even more competitive and subjective admissions process. “What’s happening now with test-optional policies is that only students with the highest scores are submitting, which is skewing data and making the admissions process even more competitive,” Plemon adds. “Colleges need a way to fairly compare students, and without a standardized measure, that becomes much harder.”Without a strong voice from the industry, critics of standardized testing are shaping the conversation. As Husain says, “The criticisms that they're biased or ineffective should be addressed either through improvements or better communication, but simply accepting the criticism and backing off from the debate altogether seems to be a disservice, not only to their business and their employees but to the institutions trying to make objective decisions from a growing number of applicants.”The future of standardized testing isn’t just about whether the SAT and ACT survive. It’s about whether the education industry can define a better way to assess student readiness—or if test-optional policies are simply shifting the advantage to those with more resources.Listen now for a candid discussion on what’s next for testing, equity, and college admissions. Questions? Ideas for our next episode? Drop us a line, jhanson@hawkemedia.com Guest Links:Emerging Strategy: www.emerging-strategy.comAdil Husain’s LinkedIn: LinkedIn ProfileKey Topics Covered in this Episode:The consequences of test-optional policies: who benefits, who losesWhy the SAT and ACT are struggling to defend their place in college admissionsHow the lack of industry leadership is leaving space for critics to control the conversationThe role of AI and adaptive assessments in reshaping student evaluationWhat happens when there’s no standardized measure—how do universities fairly compare students?For education professionals, policymakers, and anyone invested in student success, this episode is essential listening.
March 4, 202540 min
The Power of a Strong Brand Identity in Schools: Communicating Through Crisis, Change, and Enrollment Challenges
The Value (and Necessity) of a District’s Strong Brand Identity In an era of declining enrollment, school choice expansion, and crisis management, a strong brand identity is more crucial than ever for school districts. In this episode of The Education Insider, host Jacob Hanson sits down with Dr. Kecia Ray, former superintendent and founder of K20 Connect, to discuss why school districts must take control of their narrative.From branding strategies to crisis communications, Dr. Ray shares insights on how districts can build trust with their communities, proactively engage stakeholders, and ensure families recognize the value of public education. The conversation also touches on lessons from Nashville’s school system, the role of AI in education communications, and the importance of messaging around national policy changes.Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or policymaker, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to strengthen school identity and communications in uncertain times.Guest: Dr. Kecia Ray, Founder & CEO of K20 ConnectGuest LinkedIn: Dr. Kecia RayResources Mentioned:K20 ConnectAASA Conference Booth #458 – Meet Dr. Kecia Ray & PRP Group in New OrleansArticle: 3 in 4 District Leaders Expect a Cyberattack Soon (The Journal)Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe and leave a review! Share this episode with your network and connect with us at jhanson@hawkmedia.com.#EducationLeadership #NCE2025 #PR #Storytelling #Edchat
August 19, 202418 min
Hawke Media CEO Erik Huberman on the Art, Science, and Technology of Marketing
In our first episode since we became PRP Group, a Hawke Media Company, Jacob Hanson interviews Hawke’s CEO Erik Huberman, who has built Hawke into a marketing powerhouse that includes a venture capital arm and a proprietary AI platform for marketers. Erik (who also stars opposite Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer on the reality show “Kings of BBQ”) shares his insights into how marketing does and doesn’t affect revenue, why PR is the “biggest trust-builder” for any company, and how AI is like having “an army of 17-year-old interns.”
June 5, 202423 min
A Transformative Superintendent’s Thoughts on Budgets, CTE, and the Future of Education
Join PRP’s CEO Jacob Hanson for the second part of his wide-ranging conversation with Ulster BOCES Superintendent Dr. Jonah Schenker. As Dr. Schenker shares Ulster’s journey toward a Deeper Learning mindset, the discussion takes a deep dive into the pivotal role of innovative leadership in transforming education. Hear Dr. Schenker’s thoughts on how budget allocations reflect districts’ values, the responsibility of the private sector in education, how to sustain CTE programs, and the importance of preparing students for unknown challenges.
May 3, 202424 min
Re-Imagining Education takes Strong Leadership, Innovation, and Human-Centered Design
As a student, Dr. Jonah Schenker thrived outside the conventional classroom. As Superintendent at Ulster BOCES, he’s creating a productive, inclusive learning environment where everyone's uniqueness is celebrated.
In November 2023, Ulster earned the Deeper Learning Designation and will be hosting the first ever Leading for Deeper Learning conference in July. This is the first Deeper Learning conference to focus on how leadership can create environments conducive to meaningful, impactful change.
Listen as Dr. Schenker discusses the importance of human-centered design and how that “North Star” is what leaders and educators should be using to guide the next generation of learners and solutions for those learners
April 9, 202416 min
Talking About Mergers and Acquisitions in the Education Sector at ASU+GSV
After the twists and turns of the COVID years, 2023 was a stabilizing period in the education sector, even with fewer deals and tightened valuations. 2024 is now looking brighter, as capital markets show signs of recovery, making this an opportune moment for companies that have been biding their time—especially if they’re attending the ASU+GSV Summit on April 14-17.
Whether you’re an educator, an investor or an entrepreneur, you’ll learn a lot from our recent conversation with Taylor Smith, a managing director at Tucker Capital. In this episode, he shares valuable advice that can help potential acquirers and acquirees navigate the mergers and acquisitions landscape with confidence and clarity.
You can meet Taylor and the Tucker Capital team as well as Jacob from PRP at the AIR and ASU+GSV events this weekend! You can reach them at: tsmith@tuckercapital.com and jacob@prp.group
February 16, 202421 min
What Every EdTech Company Needs to Know About AI
PowerNotes’ founder and CEO Wilson Tsu, who writes with passion and clarity about the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence in education, says every company needs a clear AI usage policy. Tsu also schools PRP’s Chris Piehler in the developing art of “prompt engineering” and shares his hope that AI will improve education (and work) for people suffering from “writing anxiety.”
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