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Imagine Growing Your School's Reach

Our Vision

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Our vision is to create a world where every public school has nothing but positive engagement with their communities, where parents, students, teachers, and local residents feel informed and become our allies. We're dedicated to being the driving force behind this transformation, one school at a time.

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Shawn Patterson

Founder & CEO

Shawn was a special education teacher and program administrator for public schools for 20 years and brought $52 million to his district using creative content before starting K12 Media.

 

Today, he not only mentors school superintendents on the power of organic communication but also leads a team of school communicators who provide traditional and digital support for public schools. You will also see Shawn leading professional development as he is a frequent speaker at educational events, sharing his insights on effectively communicating as a school leader in public education.

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Cari Sinke

COO

Cari is a highly experienced and results-oriented leader with a proven track record of success in education, law, and politics. She has over ten years of experience in public schools, where she managed an elementary school and worked as a communications specialist for an ISD.

 

Cari also has an extensive family and corporate law background, amassing more than 15 years of experience and a remarkable 15-year history in politics, where she directed political campaigns and managed campaign finances for state senators and local county politicians. Today, as the COO at K12 Media, she's a driving force in revolutionizing education through innovative communications solutions.

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Catherine Cost

CFO

Catherine came to K12 Media with 36 years of experience in public schools. First, as a math teacher, AD, high school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent for a large district just outside of Detroit, Michigan. As well as sat on many boards and partnered with school agencies such as MASA, Henry Ford Collage, and The Metro Bureau, to name a few. Today, she manages the fund balance for K12 Media and supports strategic communication for K12 Media and many school superintendents.

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Kim Root

Communications Director

Kim has more than 30 years of experience in communications. She has served as the Executive Director of Communications, School Safety, and Strategic Initiatives for a large district with 15 schools serving over 8,000 students.

 

Kim also led the campaign for her district's Bond and Sinking Fund initiative, generating more than $300 million for capital projects. Kim worked for three other districts and ed agencies, and she is also responsible for the core framework for developing The Michigan State Police Office of School Safety. Today, she leads all of our communication consultants, makes sure we communicate effectively, and is a regular presenter at conferences such as MASA, MASB, and The Metro Bureau.

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Jamie Giera

Director of School Web Development and Engineering

Jamie Giera is a data-driven website manager with expertise in front-end development, CMS management, ADA compliance, SEO, Google Analytics, and website marketing behavior analysis for public schools. Jamie leverages her technical skills and analytical abilities to drive traffic, improve engagement, and increase conversions. With over ten years experience in education, building numerous websites for local districts as well as ISD's. She has a passion for using her skills and experience to make a positive impact on education.

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Nicole DePhillips

Director of Social Media

With over 20 years of experience teaching in public schools, Nicole is a dedicated Special Education Teacher renowned for her expertise in primary/secondary education. Now as the leader of our Social Media Managers at K12 Media, Nicole brings her expertise to the forefront by directing our content managers in partnership with educators and school leaders to craft compelling and informative content for multiple school districts, making a significant impact in the education sector.

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Nicole DePhillips

Director of Social Media

With over 20 years of experience teaching in public schools, Nicole is a dedicated Special Education Teacher renowned for her expertise in primary/secondary education. Now as the leader of our Social Media Managers at K12 Media, Nicole brings her expertise to the forefront by directing our content managers in partnership with educators and school leaders to craft compelling and informative content for multiple school districts, making a significant impact in the education sector.

Welcome

Welcome to K12 Media, where we believe the power of organic communication will change everything in public schools. We're more than just a communications company; we're a team of folks who worked in public education and have decided to become your partners in fostering connections between public schools and their communities in a modern, relevant, different way.

Our Story

Our founder started K12 Media because he used creative content on social media to boost enrollment in a district he had worked for 20 years. After four years of partnering with his superintendent, they brought 52 million dollars to their district using creative content to pass a bond and boost enrollment. While working together, they realized organic creative communication always brought them a high level of positive engagement.

 

Today, we have blossomed into a team of school communicators who help schools with traditional and digital communication. We have helped pass over $1.1 billion in school bonds, boosted enrollment by millions, and helped manage the reputation of schools and school leaders with organic communication. 

 

Our founder, an innovator, married that superintendent, who happened to be a numbers person. Together with their educational partner, Cari, an integrator, they partner in helping superintendents and schools navigate the complex challenges of school communication.

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Scott Sample

Director of Sales & Operations 

Public School administrator, teacher and co-founder of Metro Kids (one of the largest church programs for kids in Detroit). ​

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Kevin Wright

Project Manager
K12 Websites 

Instructional coach for public schools for 15 years.
Currently, IT specialist for K12 schools.  ​

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Erik Hildebrandt

Content Creator/ Director 

15 years of experience creating content for churches, youth groups and kids programs with an attendance of thousands weekly!  Promotions for Little Dresses for Africa and Rain Catchers Haiti

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Halley Karas

Content management and SEO

Previously the head of accounts management at Traveling Teams, a youth sports and travel organization servicing thousands of families for youth athletic programs that are used by K12 schools. 

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Josh Bellers

Creative/Branding/Design/Video 

12 years of content experience for non-profit, churches, youth groups, and local businesses (Including branding, web development, social media campaigns, and large event promotions. 

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Paul
Long

Audio Engineer 

Audio engineer on movie sets, rock videos, arena sound and large events.
Sound Studio owner-operator for music and voice talents, podcasters and commercial cut audio. ​

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Shawn Patterson

Founder- K12 Media 
CEO 

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Joel Sellentine

Director of K12 Marketing and Digital Ad Spend 
 

Went to school for teaching and learned I could affect more children in a different way. Advantage Fundraising- Helped thousands of schools achieve funding goals across the U.S.
Traveling Teams Helped millions of student-athletes attend sporting events across the U.S.

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Cari Sinke

Account Specialist & Content Manager  

10 years of experience in K12 public schools. Specializing in communications, social media campaigns, graphic design, school enrollment, planning, and promoting events.

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Russell Yandura

Graphics Specialist
K12 Sites & Social 

Video, motion graphic and content development for local businesses, nonprofits and streaming services like Hulu and Netflix . ​

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Aaron Helendar

Content Manager 

Swim coach for 11 years, volunteered for OU CARES which teaches kids with autism. Learning coach at the Baldwin Center helping foster a love for learning in children through after school programs. ​

Some of our Friends 

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