New Marketing Course at North

A look into the new

sports marketing elective, taught by Mr Connor Pratt

By Gabby Lopes

Word is quickly spreading across Plymouth North of a new and enthusiastic marketing teacher, Mr Connor Pratt

As a former PNHS student and coach for the freshman baseball team, Mr Pratt is extremely involved with the school community He is now beginning his first year at North as a teacher for a new elective class, sports marketing, in replacement of Mrs. Harrison’s computer science elective Students are loving the new curriculum, and their positive feedback is giving the course an extremely promising future at Plymouth North

Mr Pratt teaches a total of six sections throughout the school year, with three classes for each semester He is the only sports marketing teacher at Plymouth North High School The average class size ranges from about 20-25 students per section

The curriculum looks at all aspects of sports marketing

Whether it be athletic promotion, marketing management or ticket sales, Mr Pratt integrates relevant business skills into his immersive curriculum

Students will dive deeper into the sports and entertainment marketing industry.

Some topics include ticket pricing, sponsorships, player management,” Mr Pratt said The course incorporates lessons of branding, finance and communication - skills that are necessary in any field of business Students run online simulations and software within the curriculum to enhance their learning experience Knowledge

Matter’s Virtual Business simulation is a marketing program-wide platform that is also included in the sports marketing course Online modules help develop students' understanding of stadium staffing, ticket and product pricing, sales promotions, and their real world applications

“Right now we are working on a media guide project We get to use Canva and make media guides for athletes,” senior Mark Mckay said.

The class has access to Canva, an online graphic design program Mr Pratt teaches students how to effectively design sports marketing advertisements for social media use, as well as analytical observation of sports teams’ online platforms

Sports marketing has replaced the computer science electives, previously taught by Ms Harrison before transferring schools at the end of the 2022 school year

Sections of intro to animation, basics of computer science, and game design were discontinued to make way for more marketing-based courses within North

“It’s awesome that we’re keeping some of the content Mrs. Harrison focused on, but also opening another door for students to learn about a different topic they may see themselves doing one day,” Mr Pratt said

The sports marketing course is not a part of the marketing education (DECA) program However, the material taught in Mr Pratt’s class is similar to the sports and entertainment units integrated into the tech curriculum As marketing subjects grow more prevalent within Plymouth North’s program of studies, more and more students are thinking about pursuing a career in business.

“A major benefit of taking any marketing class is that it can apply to any industry [students] need to have an understanding of how businesses work and how to market themselves against their competitors Marketing unleashes student creativity and their ability to present themselves,” Mrs Jennifer Figlioli, head of the marketing program, said

The versatility of business and marketing education has been a core reason for the addition of the sports marketing course

Sports marketing is linking together student’s personal interests with applicable 21st century skills such as graphic design and content creation

Students enrolled in Mr. Pratt’s class are able to work on projects that specifically captivate themselves but are also relevant to the sports marketing industry This flexible and effective teaching style has resonated with North students as the sports marketing elective gains popularity

Mr Pratt’s ability to connect with his class along with his real world experience in the sports industry allows his new elective class to stand out from the typical marketing curriculum With business and marketing becoming increasingly growing fields, electives such as sports marketing are vital towards developing these communication and management skills

His lively personality paired with the classroom setting makes the sports marketing elective a student favorite Ask any student - they will tell you that Mr Pratt not only makes their day, but is helping to shape their future