Georgia Superintendent Barge Launches Branding Campaign

ATLANTA (AP) - Superintendent John Barge is launching a marketing campaign intended to improve perceptions about Georgia schools.

The effort will feature traditional public relations outreach. But it also will include a Web TV show patterned after the TV series "Modern Family." It's a Georgia schools version called "Modern Teacher."

The state has spent $60,000 developing the campaign. Barge will unveil a "Modern Teacher" on Tuesday in Buford. He wants to raise private money to produce full episodes.

Georgia has ranked poorly in certain school metrics for years. But it is the only state this year where students have increased their average ACT and SAT scores for prospective college students; the number of AP college credits earned; and the math, reading and science portions of the National Assessment of Educational Progress test.