Hi WOL Friends,
As you listen in to our second episode, we are to introcuce Michael Ho - the Executive Creative Director of Rhodes Branding. We have been grateful to re-think our messaging and reframe our mission to not only help folks get the courses they need anytime, anywhere. We are excited to be able to articulate that more than anything - we bring a human connection - as a public school entity.
We are here to help!
Cheers,
Pat
Podcast Summary: World of Learning, Reimagined – Why We’re Evolving and What It Means for You and the Future
In this episode of We Do This Every Day, we share the story behind the program’s rebranding journey and how a fresh, authentic identity is helping us to improve the story we tell about the WOL’s purpose, so schools and families across Pennsylvania and beyond know who we are.
The episode highlights our commitment to providing certified teachers and meaningful virtual learning experiences, especially when schools struggle to fill hard-to-staff positions. But over the years, WOL has often been mistaken for a cyber charter or commercial content vendor. That confusion prompted a thoughtful decision: it was time to clarify the story and realign the message with WOL’s core values.
Enter Michael from Rhodes Branding
A key voice in this transformation was Michael, a brand strategist from Rhodes Branding, a firm that specializes in working with K–12 organizations.
Michaell, Ginny, and the Rhodes Branding team brought deep listening and strategic insight to the process. Rather than rushing to design solutions, they began by facilitating brand insight sessions, conducting perception surveys, and hosting collaborative discussions with staff, teachers, and stakeholders. This process revealed what WOL already knew—but hadn’t always clearly communicated:
“At the heart of the World of Learning is human connection.”
Michael helped surface the language that now anchors WOL’s messaging—words like authentic, relational, real teachers, and real connection. Michael and the team at Rhodes rejected traditional visual cues (like graduation caps and tech icons) and instead helped shape a warm, human-centered identity that reflected the heart of WOL’s mission.
You can contact Michael at 408-416-8522 or michael.ho@rhodesbranding.com
The Rhodes Branding Contributions
Michael, Ginny and the team helped the WOL with these contributions!
Clarified WOL’s Identity: Helped distill what makes WOL different from vendors or cyber charters.
Framed the Brand Story: Encouraged a messaging shift toward clarity, simplicity, and relational values.
Led Collaborative Discovery: Guided the WOL team through surveys, listening sessions, and co-creation processes.
Shaped Visual Identity: Moved WOL away from corporate edtech visuals and toward branding that emphasizes warmth, movement, and care.
Michael Ho is the Executive Creative Director at Rhodes Branding, a full-service strategic branding and marketing agency focused exclusively in K-12 education. Rhodes Branding partners with schools, districts, educational leaders across the country to strengthen their identity, increase engagement, and drive measurable impact. At the heart of every project is a belief that education changes lives- and that great branding helps tell that story.
The Takeaway
The episode reflects on how powerful it can be to pause, listen, and reflect—and how partnering with people who “get” education, like Michael and the Rhodes team, can help educators better tell their story, especially in times of transition.
“Branding is not just a logo—it’s how people feel about you.”
Thanks to Michael’s insight and collaboration, the World of Learning Institute now has a clearer voice, a stronger presence, and renewed confidence in how it shows up for schools, students, and families.
Resources & Contact:
Visit https://worldoflearninginstitute.com/contact-us/
Contact:
Olivia Grugan – World Language Single Enrollments
Lauren McMinn – K–12 Extended Campus Program
Check out our Course Catalog for options for your students!
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