CASE STUDY
The Eagle Academy Foundation
The Challenge
The Eagle Academy Foundation, a nonprofit that provides funding and strategic direction for the Eagle Academy for Young Men schools, wanted to inspire schools across the country to adopt its successful educational model and generate media attention for President and Founder David C. Banks. The Eagle Academy schools are public, all-boys high schools located in the five New York City boroughs and Newark, NJ which have pioneered a self-affirming approach to educating young men of color. The revolutionary education model has produced graduation rates that are nearly double the national average for young men of color.
Our Strategy
TASC worked to generate media coverage for Banks and the schools’ education model at the national and local levels. Our strategy was to position Banks as a national thought leader and major educational reformer whose approach to educating young men of color could be adopted in schools across the country. TASC worked to set up brown bag meetings with national journalists, generate op-eds, prepare remarks, build out Banks and Eagle’s social media platforms and help Eagle create extensive white papers and reports that would elevate their voice in the education reform movement.
Results
TASC positioned Banks as a local and national thought leader on educational equity and elevated Eagle as a premier model for educating young men of color. TASC generated 300+ media placements for Banks and Eagle in print, TV and online outlets both nationally and locally. TASC secured thought leadership opportunities for Banks in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Chalkbeat and more, solidifying him as a go-to source on education issues in the city. In December 2021, David Banks was selected to serve as New York City schools chancellor. TASC coordinated media around his announcement and secured an abundance of positive coverage. Banks’ appointment was covered in a feature piece by The New York Times, national publications like AP News and Bloomberg and leading education publications, such as Chalkbeat. Banks appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and on all local TV networks. This influx of positive coverage and TASC’s extensive messaging work allowed Chancellor Banks to begin his tenure at the DOE on a strong footing.
300+
MEDIA PLACEMENTS
MEDIA COVERAGE
