Our Journey with

Our Journey with PBS TeacherLine

Year 1 – Began as a Promotion Station

Year 2 – Completed a Needs Assessment

Year 3 – Developed an Extensive Marketing Plan

Year 4 – Became a Local Course Provider

Step 1 – WQLN’s Needs Assessment

COMPONENTS OF THE ASSESSMENT

Educator survey distributed by Intermediate Unit

Educator focus groups

Educator discussion groups

Step 1 – WQLN’s Needs Assessment

Survey conducted from September 1 – December 15, 2006

Hundreds of educators respondedParticipants were Pre-K – Grade 12

educators in the Northwestern Pennsylvania Region

Participants were recruited via email and printed promotional flyers Each participant received $10 WQLN Education gift

certificate for participation and chance to win Borders $50 gift certificate

Step 1 – WQLN’s Needs Assessment

WHAT WE LEARNED…

Educators in Northwest Pennsylvania need more professional development opportunities

School administrators support participation in online courses

Educators like the flexibility of online coursesMost educators have never taken an online courseWe need to spend significant time educating our

local learners about the quality level of TL courses

Step 2 – WQLN’s Marketing Plan

Attend marketing seminars held by the Non-Profit Partnership of Erie County.

Produce a promotional interstitial to air on WQLN TV- 54 and WQLN Radio as well as on local ABC affiliate television station WJET TV- 24.

Develop a system of contacts for local school districts with one individual from each school serving as the liaison between WQLN and the school.

Publish articles in LakeErie LifeStyle Magazine.

National/State Initiatives

Localized Initiatives

Target Areas of Focus

F.A.M.I.L.I.E.S. - Family Literacy Initiative

Professional Development for Childcare Providers through PA Keys and Teachers through PDE

PBS TeacherLine: Online Professional Development for Educators

Outreach Event and Contest Highlights

2nd Annual Corporate Spelling BEE Funds help purchase over 16,000 books for underprivileged children.

Sesame Street LIVE A hands-on workshop and pictures with Sesame Street characters.

Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest Approximately 300 entries were received for grades K-3.

Making a Difference: Great Teachers 3 teachers were honored and 3 students received $500 scholarships

How to be a Good Friend: Art Contest Over 600 entries were received and winners were recognized at an event

with the Duchess of YorkTown Hall Meetings

Topics include: health issues, politics, learning disabilities, etc.

• Data reflects July, 2007- May, 2008

Community Outreach Highlights

Erie FREE Taxes, a program led by five local non-profit organizations and funded by the Erie Community Foundation, is striving to make a difference in the lives of working families through financial literacy education, free tax preparations sites, and promotion of the economic benefits of the EITC both to individuals and the community at large. Increased free tax filings from 703 in 2007 to

1115 in 2008 Increased refund dollars from $880,902 in 2007

to $1,488,432 in 2008

GED for Me! Highlights

63 GED graduates to dateWinner of new award created by the Central PA

Technology Council: Making a Difference Award

At times during the evaluations of submitted nominations, the committee encounters an exceptional person or organization that exceeds the scope of the awards of recognition. This award was given to recognize the great work that WQLN is doing to advance the completion of GEDs for adults through distance learning in Pennsylvania.