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  • The brief
  • Start here
  • Idea portfolio
  • Effort vs impact
  • This week · 6
  • This quarter · 9
  • Big bets · 3
  • Wildcards · 3
  • How we can help
Generated Oct 18, 2026
  1. Programmable
  2. Playbooks
  3. Subject
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growth playbook · Oct 18, 2026

subject.com (opens in a new tab)

Subject growth playbook

Diagnosis

Subject says it serves 1k+ schools across 38 states and has strong, specific proof: 528 teacher equivalents staffed, 51,381 credit-recovery enrollments, $1.36m in funding retained at one district.

Its hiring is entirely about the sales machine: a January class of Austin-based AEs trained to cold call and sell in person, and an Account Director to build renewals and expansion, with no marketing role open.

This playbook gives those sellers better targets (open teacher vacancies, board agendas), better leave-behinds (state proof packs, a CFO worksheet, a board brief), and faster procurement and privacy answers. Several fixes are urgent: a proof line that reads backwards, stray template text on the homepage, and an expired SAM.gov registration.

Growth Score

7/10

Biggest Opportunity

Point the new AE class at districts with teacher vacancies they cannot fill, with Teacher of Record math and same-state proof, and turn single TOR schools into district-wide contracts.

Biggest Risk

Every district deal runs through procurement, privacy review and a board vote on a fixed calendar; without ready answers and a renewal process that starts 9 to 12 months out, a first-year sales team will lose time and renewals to the calendar.

01

Start here

The three moves to make first. Each one is written up in full below.

  1. 1

    A weekly "unfilled teacher vacancy" call list for the January AE class, opened with Teacher of Record math

    Pull every 6-12 math, science and world-language posting open 30+ days in one state and count how many districts it covers.

    High impact First result in 2 weeks
  2. 2

    A renewal list 9 to 12 months out, tiered by district size and health, for the new Account Director

    Export every active contract with its end date and student count.

    High impact First result in 1 quarter
  3. 3

    A one-page proof pack per state, so every territory opens with a district its buyers know

    Sort every named district result on the site by state and count which states have three or more.

    High impact First result in 3 weeks

02

Your idea portfolio

21 ideas, grouped by when to run them. Open any idea for how to run it: the steps, who to approach, copy you can use, and how to measure it.

  • 7 ideas are marked Unexpected: plays you are unlikely to have tried.

Every idea placed by the effort it takes against the impact it could have. Quick wins sit top left; select a number to open that idea. The filters below narrow the list by status, timing, category and what Programmable can build.

Effort vs impactEach number is an idea. Select one to open it.
Impact →
Quick wins · 4Big bets · 7Fill-ins · 5Reconsider · 5
Effort →

Showing 21 of 21 ideas

This week 6

Quick wins with a clear first action.

  • 01

    A district with an open math or science teaching job it cannot fill is the buyer with the most urgent reason to talk to Subject this year. Those vacancies are posted publicly on district and state job boards, so the list builds itself.

    High impactLow effort First result in 2 weeks Account Executive

    First action

    Pull every 6-12 math, science and world-language posting open 30+ days in one state and count how many districts it covers.

    How to measure it

    Meetings per 100 vacancy-triggered calls

    Now
    –
    Target
    8
    By
    end of the January class's first month

    Steps

    1. 1

      Define the trigger

      Secondary core and hard-to-staff postings open 30+ days, from district and state job boards.

      Account Executive 2 hours

    2. 2

      Build the weekly pull

      One sheet per territory with district, course, days open and posting link.

      Account Executive 1 day once

    3. 3

      Match the buyer

      Superintendent, assistant superintendent for curriculum and HR director for each district.

      Account Executive 2 hours a week

    4. 4

      Write the opener

      Name the course, the days open and the cost of an unfilled classroom ($50K+), then the TOR numbers.

      Account Executive 1 hour

    5. 5

      Call first, email second

      Cold call per the training camp, then a short email with the posting link and one case result.

      Account Executive daily

    6. 6

      Log the trigger

      Tag every opportunity "vacancy" in the CRM so the class can compare it against other sources.

      Account Executive ongoing

    7. 7

      Review in week four

      Meeting rate by course type and district size; keep the triggers that convert.

      Account Director 1 hour

    First result
    2 weeks
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Executive

    Smallest test

    One AE calls 40 districts with vacancies open 30+ days and compares the meeting rate with their usual list.

    Why it works

    Every Monday, pull secondary-teacher postings that have stayed open 30+ days in each AE's territory, match them to the district's central-office contacts, and open with one line of math: what the vacancy costs, and what the Teacher of Record program has already replaced (528 teacher equivalents, $28m saved).

    The January AE class is trained to cold call in week one and sells district by district; a vacancy is a specific, dated trigger that beats a generic territory list. Subject already sells "fill open courses without hiring", so the first call can name the exact course that is closing.

    Ready to use

    ScriptVacancy cold-call opener

    Hi {name}, this is {AE} with Subject. I saw {district} has had a {course} opening posted since {date}. One unfilled classroom usually costs a district $50K or more before lost enrollment funding. We staff courses like that with state-certified teachers of record: 528 teacher equivalents across 40 schools right now. Would it be worth 20 minutes to see whether {course} could run this spring without the hire?

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Vacancy postings go stale or were filled

      Confirm the posting is live the morning of the call and lead with a question, not an assumption.

    • Districts may read it as replacing teachers

      Frame it as keeping the course open until they hire, with their staff in charge.

    Evidence

    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
    • Your websiteTeacher of Record page: "528 full-time teacher equivalent staffed through Subject", "$28m saved vs. the cost of full-time hires", "40 schools across 9 states currently running the program", "3k students receiving full instruction", "+29pts increase in student attendance", "$300k funding retained" at Forest Hills Public Schools, MI.Source
    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
  • 02

    Superintendents forward Subject's pages to their boards. The Cut Absenteeism page says "72% chronic absenteeism rate at Farragut Career Academy after adopting Subject", which reads as a bad result, and the homepage shows leftover template notes and a typo.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 1 week CEO

    First action

    Ask the Farragut, KIPP King and Del Norte contacts for the before figure behind each number.

    How to measure it

    Proof lines shown as before and after

    Now
    –
    Target
    100%
    By
    2 weeks

    Steps

    1. 1

      List every number

      All proof tiles and stats across the 12 pages.

      CEO 1 hour

    2. 2

      Get the before figures

      Ask each district contact for the baseline and the date.

      Account Manager 3 days

    3. 3

      Rewrite as change

      "Chronic absenteeism fell from X% to Y%" with the school year.

      CEO 2 hours

    4. 4

      Remove the stray text

      Delete the template notes and fix "can't till".

      CEO 15 minutes

    5. 5

      Add a share image

      One social card for the homepage and each solution page.

      AI Producer 2 hours

    6. 6

      Check on a phone

      Read each page on a phone the way a board member would.

      CEO 30 minutes

    First result
    1 week
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    CEO

    Smallest test

    Fix the Farragut line and the homepage text today.

    Why it works

    Rewrite every proof line as before and after with a date ("from X% to Y% in the first year"), remove the stray text, fix the typo, and add a social share image so links pasted into board emails show a proper card.

    There is no marketing hire, so these pages are the AEs' leave-behinds. A single confusing number in front of a CFO undoes the strongest claim on the page.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • A district declines to share its baseline

      Drop that tile rather than leave it ambiguous.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteCut Absenteeism page: "Five more students enrolled is $50,000 in district funding"; students "voluntarily spend an average of 101.6 minutes per day"; it lists "72 % chronic absenteeism rate at Farragut Career Academy after adopting Subject", which reads as a high absenteeism rate, not a reduction.Source
    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
    • programmable.infoSite scan: 12 pages in the sitemap; YouTube channel with 4 subscribers and 1 video; Mozilla Observatory grade D-; layout shift (CLS) 0.26 for real visitors; DMARC set to "none"; no social share image; the SAM.gov registration for Subject Technologies, Inc. shows as expired (expiry 2026-09-09).Source
  • 03

    Subject's proof is spread across pages and states: Michigan (Hazel Park, Forest Hills), Kentucky (Bullitt County), Illinois (Wheeling, Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley), California (Oceanside, Parlier, Upland, Chaffey). A superintendent trusts the district one county over more than any national number.

    High impactLow effort First result in 3 weeks Account Executive

    First action

    Sort every named district result on the site by state and count which states have three or more.

    How to measure it

    Opportunities using a same-state reference

    Now
    –
    Target
    60%
    By
    end of next quarter

    Steps

    1. 1

      Sort results by state

      Every named district and number from the website and case notes.

      Account Executive 2 hours

    2. 2

      Add state approvals

      Course approvals and procurement notes that matter in that state.

      Account Executive 2 hours

    3. 3

      Find reference contacts

      One district per state willing to take a peer call.

      Account Manager 1 week

    4. 4

      Design one page

      Same layout for every state; numbers with dates.

      AI Producer 1 day

    5. 5

      Give it to the class

      Part of training camp week two.

      Account Director 1 hour

    6. 6

      Track usage

      Note in the CRM when a reference call happens.

      Account Executive ongoing

    First result
    3 weeks
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Executive

    Smallest test

    Make the Michigan and Illinois packs first and use them in ten calls.

    Why it works

    Build one page per state with every named result in that state, the courses and approvals that matter there (UC A-G in California, NCAA everywhere) and a contact who will take a reference call, and hand it to each AE before the January class goes into the field.

    AEs are told to be "the CEO of your territory" and to multithread five buyers in a district. A state pack gives each of those buyers a peer to point to, and it costs nothing to make from results already published.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Thin states have no proof yet

      Use the nearest neighboring state and say so.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
    • Your websiteTeacher of Record page: "528 full-time teacher equivalent staffed through Subject", "$28m saved vs. the cost of full-time hires", "40 schools across 9 states currently running the program", "3k students receiving full instruction", "+29pts increase in student attendance", "$300k funding retained" at Forest Hills Public Schools, MI.Source
    • Your websiteDrive Graduation page: "51,381 credit recovery enrollments completed last school year"; graduation at Wheeling High School "rebounded to 90%" after adopting Subject in March 2025; Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley adopted in October 2024.Source
    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
  • 04

    Subject's strongest argument is money: an unfilled classroom costs $50K+, five more enrolled students are $50,000, Portage Township kept $1.36m. The CFO is one of the five people an AE must win, and they want their own numbers, not Subject's.

    High impactLow effort First result in 1 month Account Executive

    First action

    Draft the worksheet with Portage Township's numbers as the worked example.

    How to measure it

    Win rate on deals with a completed worksheet

    Now
    –
    Target
    +15 points
    By
    end of spring

    Steps

    1. 1

      List the inputs

      Per-pupil funding, open sections, credit-recovery counts, students lost to virtual providers.

      Account Executive 2 hours

    2. 2

      Build the sheet

      One page, a spreadsheet version and a PDF.

      Account Executive 1 day

    3. 3

      Worked example

      Portage Township with their permission.

      Account Manager 2 days

    4. 4

      Train the class

      A role-play with a CFO persona in training camp.

      Account Director 1 hour

    5. 5

      Leave it behind

      Send the filled sheet after the call for the board packet.

      Account Executive per deal

    6. 6

      Compare outcomes

      Win rate with and without the worksheet each month.

      Account Director monthly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Executive

    Smallest test

    Use the draft sheet on five live second calls this week.

    Why it works

    A one-page worksheet: the district's per-pupil funding, open sections, credit-recovery students and students lost to cyber charters, with Subject's cost beside it. The AE fills it in on the second call and sends it as the business case for the board.

    AEs are asked to build Mutual Action Plans and negotiate contracts that "protect margin". A worksheet in the CFO's numbers moves the conversation from price to funding retained.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Funding formulas differ by state

      Let the CFO enter their own per-pupil figure; never assume it.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
    • Your websiteCut Absenteeism page: "Five more students enrolled is $50,000 in district funding"; students "voluntarily spend an average of 101.6 minutes per day"; it lists "72 % chronic absenteeism rate at Farragut Career Academy after adopting Subject", which reads as a high absenteeism rate, not a reduction.Source
    • Your websiteVirtual School page: districts launch "a district-branded virtual or hybrid program in weeks" to keep families from leaving for "a cyber charter, homeschool program or neighboring district"; Portage Township "planned for 50 virtual students and welcomed 200+".Source
    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
  • 05

    The scan shows Subject Technologies' SAM.gov registration as expired since September 9, 2026. AEs are expected to "navigate procurement vehicles", and every district deal ends in a procurement office asking for the same documents.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 1 month CEO

    First action

    Start the SAM.gov renewal today.

    How to measure it

    Median days from verbal yes to PO

    Now
    –
    Target
    -25%
    By
    end of spring

    Steps

    1. 1

      Renew SAM.gov

      Renew the entity registration for Subject Technologies, Inc.

      CEO 1 day

    2. 2

      Collect documents

      W-9, insurance, sole-source letters, vendor numbers.

      Account Director 2 days

    3. 3

      List contracts

      Every cooperative or state contract Subject is on.

      CEO 2 hours

    4. 4

      Publish one page

      A plain page linked from the demo follow-up email.

      CEO 1 day

    5. 5

      Add it to the MAP

      The procurement step in every Mutual Action Plan links the page.

      Account Executive per deal

    6. 6

      Keep it current

      Review quarterly; registrations expire yearly.

      Account Director quarterly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    CEO

    Smallest test

    Send the document bundle by email on the next three deals in procurement.

    Why it works

    Renew the registration, then publish one procurement page: W-9, insurance certificate, sole-source letter where it applies, state vendor numbers, cooperative contracts, accessibility statement and the student-data privacy agreements already signed.

    Procurement is where K-12 deals stall after the yes. A page the AE can send the same day removes a week of emails from every deal.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Registration renewal takes weeks

      Start now; it is independent of everything else.

    Evidence

    • programmable.infoSite scan: 12 pages in the sitemap; YouTube channel with 4 subscribers and 1 video; Mozilla Observatory grade D-; layout shift (CLS) 0.26 for real visitors; DMARC set to "none"; no social share image; the SAM.gov registration for Subject Technologies, Inc. shows as expired (expiry 2026-09-09).Source
    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
  • 06

    The Account Director owns net and gross retention across districts from 70,000+ students to sub-200 rural systems, and is asked for a renewal playbook that starts 9 to 12 months out. The first version is a list, not a document.

    High impactLow effort First result in 1 quarter Account Director

    First action

    Export every active contract with its end date and student count.

    How to measure it

    Gross revenue retention on the 2027 renewal cohort

    Now
    –
    Target
    95%
    By
    September 2027

    Steps

    1. 1

      Export contracts

      End date, value, students, AM owner.

      Account Director 2 hours

    2. 2

      Add usage

      Minutes per day and completion by district.

      Account Director 1 day

    3. 3

      Tier the list

      By value and health: red, amber, green.

      Account Director 2 hours

    4. 4

      Find the vote date

      Board meeting calendar for each red and amber district.

      Account Manager 1 week

    5. 5

      Assign plays

      A QBR before budget season for every red account.

      Account Director 1 hour

    6. 6

      Review weekly

      Movement between tiers in the Monday forecast.

      Account Director weekly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Director

    Smallest test

    Score the 20 largest renewals first.

    Why it works

    List every contract renewing between July 2027 and October 2027, tier by size, score health from usage (minutes per day, course completion) and add the board meeting date when the renewal will be voted on.

    K-12 renewals are decided in spring budget meetings for a July 1 fiscal year, so a renewal noticed in May is already lost. Starting from the list lets the AMs act this quarter.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Usage data is uneven across districts

      Use AM judgment where data is thin and mark it.

    Evidence

    • HiringAccount Director: leads the Account Managers ("the AEs for our current customers") across districts "serving 70,000+ students down to sub-200-student rural systems", concentrated in the South, Midwest and Northeast; owns net and gross retention and expansion; builds "a renewal playbook that starts 9 to 12 months out", account tiering, health scoring and a clean AE handoff; reviews calls in Gong.Source
    • Your websiteCut Absenteeism page: "Five more students enrolled is $50,000 in district funding"; students "voluntarily spend an average of 101.6 minutes per day"; it lists "72 % chronic absenteeism rate at Farragut Career Academy after adopting Subject", which reads as a high absenteeism rate, not a reduction.Source

This quarter 9

The core plays for the next three months.

  • 07

    District sales happen in board meetings as much as in offices. Agendas and minutes are public and name the exact problems Subject solves.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 month Account Executive

    First action

    Pick 50 districts in one territory and read the last three months of agendas for the phrases.

    How to measure it

    Opportunities from board-agenda matches

    Now
    –
    Target
    25
    By
    end of quarter

    Steps

    1. 1

      Choose the phrases

      Teacher vacancies, credit recovery, virtual academy, chronic absenteeism, enrollment decline.

      Account Executive 1 hour

    2. 2

      Set up the watch

      A weekly check of agendas and minutes per territory.

      Account Executive 2 days

    3. 3

      Route matches

      Each match goes to the AE with the agenda link.

      Account Executive weekly

    4. 4

      Write the board brief

      Five slides in board language.

      CEO 2 days

    5. 5

      Attend or present

      Public comment or a scheduled presentation where allowed.

      Account Executive as needed

    6. 6

      Measure

      Opportunities and wins from matches.

      Account Director monthly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    $0 to $300 a month for an agenda service
    Owner
    Account Executive

    Smallest test

    One AE tracks 50 districts for four weeks.

    Why it works

    Track board agendas in each territory weekly for a short list of phrases, route matches to the AE, and give AEs a 5-slide brief written for a board audience (cost, results from a nearby district, how it works, privacy, timeline).

    The AE post names board meetings as a sales venue, and boards approve the budget. A brief that answers a board's question in its own language shortens the cycle.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Showing up uninvited looks pushy

      Contact the superintendent's office first and offer the brief.

    Evidence

    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
    • Your websiteVirtual School page: districts launch "a district-branded virtual or hybrid program in weeks" to keep families from leaving for "a cyber charter, homeschool program or neighboring district"; Portage Township "planned for 50 virtual students and welcomed 200+".Source
    • Your websiteDrive Graduation page: "51,381 credit recovery enrollments completed last school year"; graduation at Wheeling High School "rebounded to 90%" after adopting Subject in March 2025; Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley adopted in October 2024.Source
  • 08

    AEs multithread superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs and CFOs, and each group has its own state and national conferences. Subject already sells in person at conferences.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 event Account Executive

    First action

    List every state superintendent and school business officials conference between January and April in the top five territories.

    How to measure it

    Pipeline created per conference attended

    Now
    –
    Target
    $250k
    By
    each event

    Steps

    1. 1

      Map the calendar

      Events by buyer and state, January to June.

      Account Executive 1 day

    2. 2

      Pick by overlap

      Events covering the most territories and target districts.

      Account Director 2 hours

    3. 3

      Book meetings ahead

      Ten per event from target accounts.

      Account Executive 2 weeks before

    4. 4

      Bring proof packs

      State packs and the funding worksheet.

      Account Executive per event

    5. 5

      Follow up in 48 hours

      A note with the worksheet and next step.

      Account Executive per event

    6. 6

      Review cost per opportunity

      Keep the events that pay.

      Account Director after each event

    First result
    1 event
    Cost
    $3,000 to $10,000 per event
    Owner
    Account Executive

    Smallest test

    One state school business officials conference with ten booked meetings.

    Why it works

    Map the spring calendar by buyer (superintendent associations, curriculum and instruction, technology directors, school business officials) for the 38 states, choose the events where territories overlap, and book 10 meetings before each one.

    Spring is budget season, when Subject's AEs build pipeline. A pre-booked meeting at a conference turns travel into pipeline.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Booth traffic without meetings

      Do not attend an event with fewer than five booked meetings.

    Evidence

    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
  • 09

    Most of Subject's proof is a number on a tile. The Account Managers sit in QBRs where districts review exactly these numbers and could approve them as case studies.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 month Account Manager

    First action

    Add the result-and-approval step to the QBR template.

    How to measure it

    District-approved results published

    Now
    –
    Target
    6 a month
    By
    end of quarter

    Steps

    1. 1

      Change the QBR template

      A results slide and an approval question.

      Account Director 1 hour

    2. 2

      Agree the number

      Before, after, date, in the district's words.

      Account Manager per QBR

    3. 3

      Get written approval

      Email confirmation from the district contact.

      Account Manager per QBR

    4. 4

      Publish

      State pack and website within two weeks.

      AI Producer per result

    5. 5

      Thank the district

      Share the published page with them.

      Account Manager per result

    6. 6

      Count monthly

      Results approved per AM.

      Account Director monthly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Manager

    Smallest test

    Run the new QBR step on the next five QBRs.

    Why it works

    Add a closing step to every QBR: agree one result with the district (before, after, date), get written approval to publish, and add it to the state proof pack and the website.

    The Account Director is building QBR and renewal standards anyway; adding one approval step creates new proof every month without a marketing team.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • District communications offices are slow to approve

      Ask for approval of the number only, with no quote, to start.

    Builds on

    Evidence

    • HiringAccount Director: leads the Account Managers ("the AEs for our current customers") across districts "serving 70,000+ students down to sub-200-student rural systems", concentrated in the South, Midwest and Northeast; owns net and gross retention and expansion; builds "a renewal playbook that starts 9 to 12 months out", account tiering, health scoring and a clean AE handoff; reviews calls in Gong.Source
    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
    • Your websiteDrive Graduation page: "51,381 credit recovery enrollments completed last school year"; graduation at Wheeling High School "rebounded to 90%" after adopting Subject in March 2025; Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley adopted in October 2024.Source
  • 10

    The Teacher of Record program runs in 40 schools across 9 states. A school that has replaced vacancies for a term has the proof every other school in the district needs.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 2 months Account Manager

    First action

    List the 40 TOR schools and their districts' other secondary schools.

    How to measure it

    TOR districts on district-wide agreements

    Now
    –
    Target
    10
    By
    end of quarter

    Steps

    1. 1

      Map each district

      Other secondary schools and open postings.

      Account Manager 1 week

    2. 2

      Pull the school's results

      Sections covered, attendance and completion.

      Account Manager 1 day

    3. 3

      Joint review

      Principal and district HR together.

      Account Manager per district

    4. 4

      Propose sections

      A district number of sections with a price per section.

      Account Manager per district

    5. 5

      Use the existing contract

      Amend rather than restart procurement.

      Account Director per district

    6. 6

      Track expansion

      Bookings per AM monthly.

      Account Director monthly

    First result
    2 months
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Manager

    Smallest test

    Propose a district agreement to the three strongest TOR schools.

    Why it works

    For each TOR school, map the district's other secondary schools and their vacancies, run a joint review with the principal and district HR, and propose a district agreement with a set number of sections.

    The Account Director owns expansion bookings. Expansion inside a district reuses the procurement already done and the proof already earned.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Teacher unions object to district-wide coverage

      Position it as coverage for unfilled posts only, reviewed each term.

    Builds on

    Evidence

    • Your websiteTeacher of Record page: "528 full-time teacher equivalent staffed through Subject", "$28m saved vs. the cost of full-time hires", "40 schools across 9 states currently running the program", "3k students receiving full instruction", "+29pts increase in student attendance", "$300k funding retained" at Forest Hills Public Schools, MI.Source
    • HiringAccount Director: leads the Account Managers ("the AEs for our current customers") across districts "serving 70,000+ students down to sub-200-student rural systems", concentrated in the South, Midwest and Northeast; owns net and gross retention and expansion; builds "a renewal playbook that starts 9 to 12 months out", account tiering, health scoring and a clean AE handoff; reviews calls in Gong.Source
  • 11

    CTOs are one of the four buyers AEs must win, and Subject's platform records "active vs. idle time, assignments completed, clicks, mouse movements, and video time". Detailed tracking of minors is exactly what a district CTO will question.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 month Account Director

    First action

    List every data element the platform records about students.

    How to measure it

    Days in privacy review per deal

    Now
    –
    Target
    -50%
    By
    end of spring

    Steps

    1. 1

      Inventory the data

      Every field collected and its purpose.

      CEO 2 days

    2. 2

      Check against FERPA and COPPA

      With counsel, including the under-13 middle school users.

      CEO 1 week

    3. 3

      List signed agreements

      State and national data privacy agreements already in place.

      Account Director 1 day

    4. 4

      Write the page

      Plain language, with a contact for the CTO.

      CEO 2 days

    5. 5

      Arm the AEs

      A one-page answer and the signed agreement list.

      Account Director 1 hour

    6. 6

      Review yearly

      Update as states change their rules.

      CEO yearly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    Counsel review time
    Owner
    Account Director

    Smallest test

    Send the draft one-pager to three CTOs in open deals and ask what is missing.

    Why it works

    Publish what Subject collects, why, who sees it and how long it is kept; list every state and national student-data privacy agreement already signed; and give AEs a one-page answer for the CTO meeting.

    Privacy review is a common late-stage delay in district deals. Answering it first turns a blocker into a point of trust, and it supports the Account Director's renewals.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Publishing tracking detail alarms parents

      Explain the purpose (attendance and funding reporting) next to each item.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteCut Absenteeism page: "Five more students enrolled is $50,000 in district funding"; students "voluntarily spend an average of 101.6 minutes per day"; it lists "72 % chronic absenteeism rate at Farragut Career Academy after adopting Subject", which reads as a high absenteeism rate, not a reduction.Source
    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
    • HiringAccount Director: leads the Account Managers ("the AEs for our current customers") across districts "serving 70,000+ students down to sub-200-student rural systems", concentrated in the South, Midwest and Northeast; owns net and gross retention and expansion; builds "a renewal playbook that starts 9 to 12 months out", account tiering, health scoring and a clean AE handoff; reviews calls in Gong.Source
  • 12

    Vermont requires an in-state licensed teacher of record or a co-teacher for out-of-state virtual providers. With TOR live in 9 states and Subject selling in 38, AEs need to know where TOR is ready before they pitch it.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 1 month Account Director

    First action

    List the 9 TOR states and the licenses Subject's teachers hold.

    How to measure it

    TOR deals lost to licensing

    Now
    –
    Target
    zero
    By
    end of next quarter

    Steps

    1. 1

      Research each state

      Rules on out-of-state virtual teachers of record.

      Account Director 2 weeks

    2. 2

      List licenses held

      By state, by subject.

      CEO 1 day

    3. 3

      Mark ready states

      Green, amber (needs a co-teacher), red.

      Account Director 1 day

    4. 4

      Write the fallback offer

      Courseware with the district's own teacher of record.

      Account Director 2 hours

    5. 5

      Train the AEs

      Ten minutes in training camp.

      Account Director 1 hour

    6. 6

      Plan licensing

      Which states to license teachers in next, by pipeline.

      CEO quarterly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Director

    Smallest test

    Map the top five states by pipeline first.

    Why it works

    Build a one-page map: for each state, whether out-of-state teachers can be teacher of record, the licenses Subject holds there, and the fallback offer (courseware with a district teacher of record) where it cannot.

    A pitch that falls apart in legal review wastes a quarter of an AE's territory time. The map also shows where to license teachers next.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Rules change

      Date every row and review each spring.

    Evidence

    • Search resultsState rules on virtual instruction differ: Vermont requires an in-state licensed teacher of record or a co-teacher when an out-of-state virtual provider delivers a course.Source
    • Your websiteTeacher of Record page: "528 full-time teacher equivalent staffed through Subject", "$28m saved vs. the cost of full-time hires", "40 schools across 9 states currently running the program", "3k students receiving full instruction", "+29pts increase in student attendance", "$300k funding retained" at Forest Hills Public Schools, MI.Source
    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
  • 13

    Subject produces thousands of educational videos a year, but its YouTube channel has 1 video. Curriculum directors decide course by course, and they cannot see the product until a demo.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 6 weeks AI Producer

    First action

    Pick the ten courses with the most open vacancies nationally and cut their trailers first.

    How to measure it

    Reply rate on outreach with a course trailer

    Now
    –
    Target
    2x without
    By
    6 weeks after launch

    Steps

    1. 1

      Choose ten courses

      Hardest-to-staff subjects first.

      Account Executive 1 hour

    2. 2

      Cut the trailers

      From existing footage, 60 seconds each.

      AI Producer 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Build the library page

      One page with every course trailer and its approvals.

      AI Producer 3 days

    4. 4

      Publish on YouTube

      One playlist per subject.

      AI Producer 1 day

    5. 5

      Add to outreach

      Vacancy emails link the matching trailer.

      Account Executive ongoing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Reply and meeting rates with and without a trailer.

      Account Director monthly

    First result
    6 weeks
    Cost
    Pipeline time only
    Owner
    AI Producer

    Smallest test

    One trailer for Algebra I, used in 30 emails.

    Why it works

    Cut a 60-second trailer for each course in the catalog from existing footage, publish them on a course library page and YouTube, and let AEs send the trailer for the exact course a district needs.

    Video is the product. A trailer answers "is it good enough for our students" before a meeting, and it uses the pipeline the AI Producer is being hired to run.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Trailers show student faces

      Use only footage with releases or AI-generated scenes.

    Evidence

    • HiringAI Producer / Pipeline Producer (Los Angeles): "Subject produces thousands of educational videos each year"; builds ComfyUI generation pipelines so AI and live-action content "share one visual standard".Source
    • programmable.infoSite scan: 12 pages in the sitemap; YouTube channel with 4 subscribers and 1 video; Mozilla Observatory grade D-; layout shift (CLS) 0.26 for real visitors; DMARC set to "none"; no social share image; the SAM.gov registration for Subject Technologies, Inc. shows as expired (expiry 2026-09-09).Source
    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
  • 14

    The January AE class builds pipeline through budget season and closes through spring and summer, and is told to build Mutual Action Plans. Districts buy on a July 1 fiscal year with board approval in spring.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 1 month Account Executive

    First action

    Write the template backwards from a June board meeting.

    How to measure it

    Commit deals that close in the forecast month

    Now
    –
    Target
    80%
    By
    June

    Steps

    1. 1

      Draft the template

      Steps backwards from the board vote.

      Account Executive 2 hours

    2. 2

      Add owners

      District and Subject owner for each step.

      Account Executive 1 hour

    3. 3

      Link the assets

      Worksheet, privacy page, board brief, procurement page.

      Account Executive 1 hour

    4. 4

      Train the class

      In training camp week two.

      Account Director 1 hour

    5. 5

      Use on every deal

      Shared with the champion after the first demo.

      Account Executive per deal

    6. 6

      Review in Gong

      Check MAP steps in deal reviews.

      Account Director weekly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Executive

    Smallest test

    Use the template on five open deals.

    Why it works

    One template that works back from the board vote and July 1: demo, pilot or reference call, privacy review, CFO worksheet, board brief, procurement, PO, and a start date before the school year.

    A plan that matches the district's own calendar is easier for the champion to follow and gives the forecast real dates.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Champions ignore shared plans

      Keep it to one page and review it on every call.

    Evidence

    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
    • HiringAccount Director: leads the Account Managers ("the AEs for our current customers") across districts "serving 70,000+ students down to sub-200-student rural systems", concentrated in the South, Midwest and Northeast; owns net and gross retention and expansion; builds "a renewal playbook that starts 9 to 12 months out", account tiering, health scoring and a clean AE handoff; reviews calls in Gong.Source
  • 15

    The Account Director reviews calls in Gong and coaches the same day. With most of the team in their first year and their first territory, the fastest way to raise win rates is shared answers to the objections they all hear.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 2 months Account Director

    First action

    Pick the last five lost deals and find the call where each was lost.

    How to measure it

    First-year AE win rate

    Now
    –
    Target
    +10 points
    By
    two quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick the deals

      Five won, five lost each month.

      Account Director 1 hour

    2. 2

      Find the turning point

      The call and minute where it turned.

      Account Director 3 hours

    3. 3

      Write the entry

      Objection, best answer, proof.

      Account Director 2 hours

    4. 4

      Share it

      A 20-minute team session.

      Account Director monthly

    5. 5

      Add to training camp

      Every new class starts with the library.

      Account Director per class

    6. 6

      Measure

      Win rates by tenure.

      Account Director quarterly

    First result
    2 months
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Director

    Smallest test

    Do one month and see whether the class uses the answers.

    Why it works

    Each month, review five won and five lost deals, pull the moments where deals turned, and publish a short library: the objection, the best answer heard on a call, and the proof to use.

    A new class repeats the same mistakes in different territories. A library from real calls spreads what top AEs do.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Lost deals feel personal

      Present them as team lessons, without naming the AE.

    Evidence

    • HiringAccount Director: leads the Account Managers ("the AEs for our current customers") across districts "serving 70,000+ students down to sub-200-student rural systems", concentrated in the South, Midwest and Northeast; owns net and gross retention and expansion; builds "a renewal playbook that starts 9 to 12 months out", account tiering, health scoring and a clean AE handoff; reviews calls in Gong.Source
    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source

Big bets 3

Larger plays that can change the trajectory.

  • 16

    Procurement vehicles decide how fast a district can buy. Cooperative contracts let a district buy without its own bid, and Subject's AEs are based in Texas.

    High impactHigh effort First result in 2 quarters CEO

    First action

    Ask the last 20 closed districts which purchasing cooperatives they used.

    How to measure it

    Share of new deals through cooperatives

    Now
    –
    Target
    30%
    By
    three quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Find the cooperatives

      Which ones closed districts used.

      Account Director 1 week

    2. 2

      Watch solicitations

      Due dates for the next awards.

      CEO ongoing

    3. 3

      Prepare the response

      Pricing, references, compliance documents.

      CEO 4 weeks

    4. 4

      Win and publish

      List awards on the procurement page.

      CEO per award

    5. 5

      Arm AEs

      Member lists by territory.

      Account Director 1 day

    6. 6

      Track usage

      Deals and cycle time through each contract.

      Account Director quarterly

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Staff time and any administrative fees on sales
    Owner
    CEO

    Smallest test

    Respond to one Texas cooperative solicitation.

    Why it works

    Respond to the next solicitations from the cooperatives districts use most in Subject's territories, starting with Texas, and give AEs a list of which cooperative each target district is a member of.

    A cooperative contract can remove months of bidding from every deal in a state and lets smaller districts buy without a formal process.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Cooperative fees cut margin

      Price the fee into the cooperative price list.

    Evidence

    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
  • 17

    Many states run or approve virtual course catalogs that districts buy from. Subject's courses already carry College Board, NCAA and UC A-G approvals.

    High impactHigh effort First result in 3 quarters CEO

    First action

    List the state virtual programs in the 9 TOR states and their approval windows.

    How to measure it

    States with approved-provider status

    Now
    –
    Target
    5
    By
    next school year

    Steps

    1. 1

      Map programs

      State programs and their rules.

      Account Director 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Pick three states

      Where pipeline and licensing are strongest.

      CEO 1 day

    3. 3

      Prepare applications

      Course alignment, teacher licensing, data privacy.

      CEO 6 weeks

    4. 4

      Win approval

      Respond to each review.

      CEO per state

    5. 5

      Announce in-state

      To every district in the state.

      Account Executive per approval

    6. 6

      Measure

      Districts buying through the program.

      Account Director quarterly

    First result
    3 quarters
    Cost
    Staff time and course alignment work
    Owner
    CEO

    Smallest test

    Apply in one state with an open window this year.

    Why it works

    Apply for approval in the state virtual programs that cover the most of Subject's target districts, so a district can add Subject courses through a channel it already trusts.

    State approval puts Subject in front of every district in a state at once and settles quality and licensing questions before the AE arrives.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Program prices undercut direct deals

      Offer the program catalog for single courses and direct contracts for district programs.

    Evidence

    • Search resultsSubject (formerly Emile Learning) raised a $29.4M Series A in 2022 led by Owl Ventures, with Kleiner Perkins and SoftBank participating; its video-first courses for grades 6 to 12 carry College Board, NCAA and UC A-G approvals.Source
    • Your websiteVirtual School page: districts launch "a district-branded virtual or hybrid program in weeks" to keep families from leaving for "a cyber charter, homeschool program or neighboring district"; Portage Township "planned for 50 virtual students and welcomed 200+".Source
    • Search resultsState rules on virtual instruction differ: Vermont requires an in-state licensed teacher of record or a co-teacher when an out-of-state virtual provider delivers a course.Source
  • 18

    Subject sees 51,381 credit-recovery enrollments a year and staffs 528 teacher equivalents. No one else can publish what happens to students when a course has no teacher.

    Medium impactHigh effort First result in Launch quarter CEO

    First action

    Agree the five questions the report answers and check the data exists for each.

    How to measure it

    Benchmark requests from the report

    Now
    –
    Target
    200
    By
    3 months after launch

    Steps

    1. 1

      Set the questions

      Five questions superintendents ask.

      CEO 1 day

    2. 2

      Pull the data

      Aggregated, with privacy review.

      CEO 3 weeks

    3. 3

      Write the report

      12 pages, one chart per finding.

      CEO 3 weeks

    4. 4

      Make the video version

      A short film from the AI pipeline.

      AI Producer 1 week

    5. 5

      Brief education press

      Embargoed briefings.

      CEO 1 week

    6. 6

      Arm the AEs

      A district benchmark offer from the report.

      Account Director at launch

    First result
    Launch quarter
    Cost
    $5,000 to $15,000 for design and distribution
    Owner
    CEO

    Smallest test

    Publish one finding as a short post and see who cites it.

    Why it works

    Publish a short annual report: which courses go unfilled, how students in covered courses perform, credit-recovery completion by course, with a methodology and a district-level benchmark AEs can share.

    Without a marketing team, one cited report each year gives AEs a reason to call every district, and it puts Subject in the press superintendents read.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Data is skewed to districts that chose Subject

      Say so plainly in the method.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteDrive Graduation page: "51,381 credit recovery enrollments completed last school year"; graduation at Wheeling High School "rebounded to 90%" after adopting Subject in March 2025; Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley adopted in October 2024.Source
    • Your websiteTeacher of Record page: "528 full-time teacher equivalent staffed through Subject", "$28m saved vs. the cost of full-time hires", "40 schools across 9 states currently running the program", "3k students receiving full instruction", "+29pts increase in student attendance", "$300k funding retained" at Forest Hills Public Schools, MI.Source
    • HiringCareers page: 3 open roles (Revenue 2: Account Executive and Account Director; Production 1), in Austin and Los Angeles. No marketing role is open.Source

Wildcards 3

Unexpected experiments, each with a cheap way to test it.

  • 19

    Subject published its own ranking of 100 colleges, built on graduate outcomes. Counselors and college-and-career staff are close to the credit-recovery and AP decisions Subject sells into.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 1 month Account Executive

    First action

    Pull counselor contacts for 100 target high schools in one territory.

    How to measure it

    Meetings from counselor outreach

    Now
    –
    Target
    10
    By
    6 weeks

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick schools

      High schools in target districts.

      Account Executive 2 hours

    2. 2

      Write the note

      The ranking plus the courses that help students get there.

      Account Executive 1 hour

    3. 3

      Send

      Personal emails, not a blast.

      Account Executive 1 day

    4. 4

      Route replies

      To the AE for that district.

      Account Executive ongoing

    5. 5

      Offer a counselor session

      A short session on college readiness courses.

      Account Executive as requested

    6. 6

      Measure

      Replies and meetings.

      Account Director 6 weeks

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Executive

    Smallest test

    Send to counselors at 30 schools.

    Why it works

    Send each target district's high-school counselors the Subject 100 with a note on the courses (AP, CTE, credit recovery) that help their students reach those colleges, and route replies to the AE.

    It gives AEs a useful, non-sales reason to contact a buyer group inside the district, and it reuses content that already exists.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Seen as off-topic

      Lead with the ranking as a free resource, with no pitch in the first email.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteSubject 100: "A first-of-its-kind ranking of America's top undergraduate institutions", published May 5, 2026, weighted 40% on graduate outcomes; the sitemap also lists /subjectmba25 and /subjectjd25.Source
    • Your websiteDrive Graduation page: "51,381 credit recovery enrollments completed last school year"; graduation at Wheeling High School "rebounded to 90%" after adopting Subject in March 2025; Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley adopted in October 2024.Source
    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source
  • 20

    Districts launch virtual programs to stop families leaving for cyber charters, and enrollment is how they measure success. Portage Township planned for 50 virtual students and welcomed 200+.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 1 enrollment window Account Manager

    First action

    Ask Portage Township what they did to reach 200+ students and turn it into the kit.

    How to measure it

    Virtual programs at or above planned enrollment

    Now
    –
    Target
    75%
    By
    next enrollment window

    Steps

    1. 1

      Learn from Portage

      What drove 200+ enrollments.

      Account Manager 1 week

    2. 2

      Build the kit

      Flyers, posts, FAQ, script.

      AI Producer 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Make it brandable

      District logo and colors.

      AI Producer 1 week

    4. 4

      Deliver before windows

      Six weeks before each enrollment period.

      Account Manager per window

    5. 5

      Track enrollment

      Against each district's plan.

      Account Manager per window

    6. 6

      Use the results

      Strong results go into proof packs.

      Account Director per window

    First result
    1 enrollment window
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Account Manager

    Smallest test

    Give the kit to three virtual-program districts.

    Why it works

    Give virtual-program customers a ready kit: district-branded flyers, social posts, a parent FAQ and an enrollment-night script, plus a short video from the AI pipeline, before each enrollment window.

    A district whose virtual program fills renews and expands. The Account Managers can deliver the kit in their regular cadence.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Marketing directly to parents raises privacy questions

      The district sends everything; Subject never contacts families.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteVirtual School page: districts launch "a district-branded virtual or hybrid program in weeks" to keep families from leaving for "a cyber charter, homeschool program or neighboring district"; Portage Township "planned for 50 virtual students and welcomed 200+".Source
    • HiringAccount Director: leads the Account Managers ("the AEs for our current customers") across districts "serving 70,000+ students down to sub-200-student rural systems", concentrated in the South, Midwest and Northeast; owns net and gross retention and expansion; builds "a renewal playbook that starts 9 to 12 months out", account tiering, health scoring and a clean AE handoff; reviews calls in Gong.Source
    • HiringAI Producer / Pipeline Producer (Los Angeles): "Subject produces thousands of educational videos each year"; builds ComfyUI generation pipelines so AI and live-action content "share one visual standard".Source
  • 21

    Superintendents ask each other before they buy. Subject has 1k+ schools and districts in 38 states, so some of its champions have since retired and are still respected in their state.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter CEO

    First action

    List former superintendents of customer districts who have retired in the last three years.

    How to measure it

    Opportunities from advisors

    Now
    –
    Target
    20
    By
    two quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Find candidates

      Former leaders of customer districts.

      CEO 1 week

    2. 2

      Set the terms

      A disclosed, flat advisory fee; no commission on public contracts.

      CEO 1 week

    3. 3

      Recruit four

      In the top four states.

      CEO 1 month

    4. 4

      Use them in the field

      Conferences, board brief reviews, introductions.

      Account Executive ongoing

    5. 5

      Check ethics rules

      State rules on former officials and vendors.

      CEO before signing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Introductions and opportunities.

      Account Director quarterly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    $2,000 to $5,000 a month for four advisors
    Owner
    CEO

    Smallest test

    Recruit one advisor in one state for a quarter.

    Why it works

    Recruit four to six retired or former superintendents from customer districts as paid advisors who review the board brief, speak at state conferences and make a handful of peer introductions each quarter, disclosed openly.

    One respected peer introduction can replace months of outreach in a state, and advisors also improve how the AEs talk to superintendents.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Conflict-of-interest rules for former officials

      Check each state's revolving-door rules and never pay per sale.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteHomepage: "Trusted by 1k+ schools across 38 states"; proof tiles name districts (12.5k credits earned at Oceanside Unified, 2.6x enrollment growth at Forest Hills, $1.36m funding retained at Portage Township, 87% credit-recovery pass rate at Show Low Unified, 3x math proficiency at Upland Unified); "One unfilled classroom can cost $50K+ before lost enrollment funding." The visible text also carries stray template text ("1. buttons (protrude from under the body...") and a typo ("the courses you can't till").Source
    • HiringAccount Executive (Austin): January 2027 start "when the K-12 sales calendar actually begins"; AEs join "a class" with a three-week training camp, "certified on cold calls by the end of week one"; own a territory "SMB through Enterprise", multithread "superintendents, curriculum directors, CTOs, and CFOs", build Mutual Action Plans and "navigate procurement vehicles"; "District sales happen in-person, at central offices, board meetings, conferences, on-site demos"; travel up to 60% of the month.Source

03

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See every playbook and website review

Independent research. Programmable wrote this playbook from public sources, as they stood on October 18, 2026, and cites them throughout. Subject did not commission, review or endorse it, and Programmable is not affiliated with Subject. Company and product names are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify them. The ideas are suggestions and opinion, not professional, legal or financial advice, and not statements about how Subject runs its business.

Something wrong, or do you represent Subject? Email [email protected] and we will correct it or take it down.

30/60/90 roadmap

What to focus on in each month, and the ideas that carry it.

  1. Days 1 to 308 ideas

    Give the January class its targets and leave-behinds, fix the broken proof, renew SAM.gov and start the renewal list.

  2. Days 31 to 6010 ideas

    Build the repeatable pieces: QBR results, TOR expansion, the privacy pack, the state rules map, course trailers, the MAP template and win/loss, plus the counselor, enrollment and advisor tests.

  3. Days 61 to 903 ideas

    Start the longer plays: cooperative contracts, state virtual programs and the annual report.

The research behind the plan

3 research areas, each summarised in a few lines. Open any of them for the full detail.

Customers

What customers say

Customers value students "voluntarily" spend 101.6 minutes a day on the platform. The most cited problem: teacher vacancies that close courses.

  • Courses stay open without hiring
  • Chronic absenteeism and lost per-pupil funding
  • In their words: “fill open courses without hiring”

Market

Competitive landscape

4 competitors compared: Edmentum (Apex Learning), Imagine Learning (Edgenuity), Proximity Learning and Stride (K12).

  • Gap to exploit: Courseware students choose to watch
  • Edmentum (Apex Learning): Less engaging, text-heavy courses
  • Imagine Learning (Edgenuity): Reputation for passive video lectures

Hiring signals

Subject has 3 open roles, and two are revenue: a January class of Account Executives in Austin, trained to cold call in week one and sell in person at district offices, board meetings and conferences, and an Account…

  • Account Executive: A January class of field AEs selling district by district, in person, through budget season. Ideas 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 14.
  • Account Director: Retention and expansion as a function: renewals 9 to 12 months out, health scoring, Gong coaching. Ideas 6, 9, 10, 15.
  • AI Producer / Pipeline Producer: Thousands of videos a year through an AI pipeline: content the sellers can use. Ideas 13, 20.

From the team that wrote this playbook

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  • ProgrammableDigitalScreenshots in, an animated product demo out (opens programmable.digital in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableWatchKnow the day a supplier falls out of compliance (opens programmable.watch in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableTalkGet registrants for your events, and know who’s coming (opens programmable.talk in a new tab)
  • ProgrammablePageText what you need, your customer gets a page that works (opens programmable.page in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableCommunityForums with labelled AI members, never empty (opens programmable.community in a new tab)
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