This is where GLA’s 16-year media dominance began.

While GLA’s leaders were preparing to break ground for their new building, Sylvia Marketing & PR, a leading Philadelphia public relations firm for charter schools and nonprofits, was at work telling their story.

Within days, major interviews were secured.

In August 2010, we secured a live TV interview for GLA Founder Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker on CBS 3’s Talk Philly with Ukee Washington. That defining moment set GLA on a 16-year course to become the most publicized K-8 school in Philadelphia and a household name across the region.  What began as one media engagement grew into a media magnet that recently attracted more than 70 media placements. 

In January 2011, GLA suffered a crippling fire that wiped out its “Wings” campus. The students were then housed in temporary classrooms for months before GLA moved into its new building at 4601 W. Girard Ave. During that time, we secured newspaper and radio interviews to help GLA raise funds incurred by the loss. 

After generating extensive media coverage for the new building’s August 2011 ribbon-cutting ceremony, Sylvia Marketing & Public Relations continued to promote GLA’s fundraising messages, which shifted toward establishing an endowment to ensure scholars from financially struggling families could participate in all excursions.

To that end, we gained front-page coverage in the Philadelphia Business Journal (PBJ) as part of our strategy. This story, along with subsequent features, opened the door to the city’s corporate and philanthropic communities. 

We are far more than relentless newsmakers; our work opens doors that fund missions.

After the excitement of the new building had subsided, Sylvia Marketing & PR  focused on the school’s new narrative. We wanted to make sure GLA did not become simply recognized as “the school that bounced back from the historic fire.” To that end, we launched a plan to promote GLA’s identity as the:

“Global Excursion School that Prepares Future Leaders of the World“

Through media coverage that showcased classroom lessons coming to life during learning excursions, we promoted the school’s motto,  ‘Preparing Future Leaders of the World.’  By securing media coverage of scholar expeditions to destinations such as the Bahamas, Canada, and the Southern States, we transitioned the GLA brand from a local disaster recovery story into a narrative about an expeditionary school worthy of philanthropic support. Today, GLA is a household name in Philadelphia.

We don’t stop at securing news coverage; we secure legacies.

Each year, hundreds of Philadelphia’s most accomplished women compete for the Business Journal’s most prestigious honors. In a city bustling with commerce, standing out among competitors requires more than just superior performance—it requires a  strategic narrative. 

Sylvia Marketing & PR authored the powerful, multi-layered narratives that secured ‘Woman of Distinction’ honors for  Dr. Naomi Booker [5.1] and again, eight years later, for Dr. Tamika Evans. By capturing their impact through a lens of institutional excellence, we successfully positioned the models they set as the gold standard of Philadelphia leadership. 

Sylvia Marketing & Public Relations also contributed to gaining GLA programmatic recognitions. Over time, we helped the school secure various prestigious awards, including recognition as a “Healthiest Employer” and Dr. Booker as a “Philadelphia Magazine Health Hero.”

We do far more than produce frequent media hits; we cement our clients into the public record.

Securing airtime on the first day of school is the ultimate test of a school publicist’s reach. Yet, each year, Sylvia Marketing & PR secures back-to-school coverage for some of our clients. We often do so in unique ways that go well beyond seeking a typical 20-second clip of students getting off the bus. We’ve secured chopper shots, anchor “shoutouts,” and morning show spots.

This school year, we went way over and above for GLA. We pitched the school’s unique model and helped the reporter conceptualize classroom footage. This partnership earned GLA a three-minute feature on the city’s top-rated station.

We treat every annual GLA event—from Alumni BBQs to its “Rites of Passage” 8th-grade graduations—as a strategic opportunity to showcase the school’s core messaging. And it pays.

Narrative control is far more than managing messages. It involves identifying media opportunities in regular and everyday events. Time and again, Sylvia Marketing & Public Relations transformed routine GLA traditions and events into news stories.

Keeping GLA in the news is critical for two primary reasons: first, Pennsylvania requires charters to apply for renewal every five years. The Philadelphia School District has a reputation for hostility toward charter schools. So, a charter school that demonstrates vast public support will be less likely to become a non-renwewal target by the SDP Charter Schools Office and the Board of Education. 

Second, philanthropists like to see the organizations to which they donate money generating positive press. Because GLA has developed a $1 million endowment so no scholar misses an excursion due to financial challenges, it is essential for the school to grab as many headlines as possible. 

Whether it was the elegance of the 5th Grade Ballroom Dancing showcase, the legacy of a New Library Dedication, or a  Black History Month living wax museum, we ensured the press was there to record GLA’s scholars in action.

We don’t just wait for the news; we identify everyday opportunities that make headlines.

What would frequent and strategic media coverage do for your charter, private school, or nonprofit?

Sylvia Marketing & Public Relations is a top PR agency in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania for nonprofits, schools, and socially conscious businesses. Contact us to discuss how we can raise awareness for your issue or organization.

Contact us today at results@sylviamarketing.com or 215-817-3095 to discuss!