MNTC Superintendent and Marketing Staff Earn OKSPRA Awards

The Oklahoma School Public Relations Association has announced awards for publications and communications and its annual Administrator Award. All awards will be given at the annual OKSPRA Conference this week at the Quartz Mountain Arts & Conference Center.

Moore Norman Technology Center Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer John Hunter earned the Administrator Award in recognition of his excellence in communication, and for his work in leading MNTC through a period of unprecedented growth, increased internal accountability and innovative initiatives such as:

• Reduced average program cost from $157,000 (FY03) to $130,000 (FY05). The statewide average is $127,000.
• Addition of 14 new 600+ hour instructional programs and services, 2004 - 2008
• Construction of a 90,000 sq.ft. South Penn Campus, including a business incubator - 2005
• Attainment of the Achievement Level of the Oklahoma Quality Award - 2007
• Implemented administrative and staff communication training programs - 2008
• Initiation of ISO certification process for the entire district - 2008

In addition, Hunter achieved these objectives because of his commitment to establishing strong communication programs and channels throughout the district since his hire in 2003, including:

• District-wide Monthly Update Meetings for all employees
• Superintendent’s Monthly Blog - “Inside-Out”
• Communication Council - employees elected by their peers to advise Administration
• Communication Council “Question of the Week” e-mailed to all staff members to encourage anonymous feedback on district initiatives
• Strategic Planning pipelines for employee feedback

Most notably, Hunter served as the chair for the CareerTech Superintendents Council, representing and communicating to all 29 CareerTech superintendents to reach a common goal, and Hunter worked to implement a new statewide CareerTech campaign: Elevating Oklahoma in 2007, in which Elevating Our Economy has lead as phase one of the multi-phase campaign.

The Marketing Communications staff at MNTC designs, copy writes, photographs and develops all internal and external communications tools used for marketing and recruitment. For the 2007 Publications and Communications Awards, MNTC’s Marketing group earned Awards of Excellence and Merit in the following categories:

Award of Excellence
Image/Identity Package: Future Now! High School Recruitment campaign
Image/Identity Package: CareerTech Scholarship package
Before & After: MNTC External Website:  www.mntechnology.com
Before & After: MNTC Student Handbook 2007-08
Brochure 3-4 Color: MNTC High School Viewbook 2008
Brochure 3-4 Color: CareerTech Scholarship package
Calendar/Schedule: August-December 2007 At-A-Glance Class Schedule
Internet/Intranet: www.mntechnology.com
Print Newsletter: Technically Speaking:  MNTC Parent Newsletter Series

Award of Merit
Annual Report: MNTC Report to Taxpayers FY07
Brochure 3-4 Color: College Credit Opportunities brochure
Image/Identity Package: College Credit Opportunities poster & brochure
One-Time Publication: MNTC Adult Development Postcards
One-Time Publication: MNTC Full-Time Courses Postcard

Members of the Marketing Communications staff are:  David Joplin, director; Robyn Castleberry, outreach coordinator; Anna Trowbridge, media relations & marketing planner; Harini Subramanian, designer II, Susana Rubio, graphic & web design specialist I, and Kristin Rattan, marketing assistant.

OKSPRA is an award-winning state chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), the nation’s leading school communications organization. OKSPRA is a knowledge-based organization that seeks to serve, motivate and educate school administrators, school staff members and boards of education about the importance and necessity of effective school public relations. For information about the Oklahoma School Public Relations Association, or about how to join, visit www.okspra.org.

For more information about MNTC visit www.mntechnology.com.