# Allerton Hill Communications

> Allerton Hill Communications is a Columbus-based communications consultancy that works exclusively with public school districts. It supplies the strategy, writing, design, video, social media, crisis support, community research and referendum communications that many superintendents need but cannot staff in-house. Founded by former John Glenn press secretary Steve Avakian and now led by CEO Joel Gagne, the firm says it has supported more than 160 districts across at least 10 states.

- **Founded:** 1981
- **Headquarters:** Columbus, United States
- **Founders:** Steve Avakian (Founder)
- **Products:** Custom Communications & Engagement Strategy, Crisis & Reputation Management, Social Media Management, Content Creation & Outreach, Referendum Strategy & Support
- **Notable:** The company reports more than 40 years supporting schools and more than 160 districts served., Its client map names work across Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana and Georgia., A video produced for Ontario Local Schools' K-12 career-tech pathway was embedded by local media and drew inquiries from districts outside Ohio.

## Products & services

- **Custom Communications & Engagement Strategy** — A tailored roadmap covering message, brand, stakeholder engagement, publishing cadence and district goals.
- **Crisis & Reputation Management** — Round-the-clock counsel, response planning and messaging for difficult or fast-moving situations.
- **Social Media Management** — End-to-end content planning, creation, publishing and engagement for school-district channels.
- **Content Creation & Outreach** — Publications, graphics, video, newsletters and other community-facing material.
- **Referendum Strategy & Support** — Clear, consistent and legally bounded public information around tax and funding requests.
- **Communication Audits and Survey Research** — Assessment of existing channels and practices, often paired with third-party community research.

## Achievements

- The company reports more than 40 years supporting schools and more than 160 districts served.
- Its client map names work across Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana and Georgia.
- A video produced for Ontario Local Schools' K-12 career-tech pathway was embedded by local media and drew inquiries from districts outside Ohio.
- Allerton Hill says many client relationships have lasted a decade or longer; its Hilliard partnership was reported as dating to 2011.
- The Lake Bluff District 65 program unified a strategic plan, newsletter, annual calendar, quarterly publication, videos and values campaign under one narrative system.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Prairie Grove School District 46 placed a 2026-27 Allerton Hill communications contract on its board agenda.
- **2026-04** — Allerton Hill published guidance on accessible social posts, video, newsletters and PDFs ahead of updated ADA Title II digital-accessibility deadlines.
- **2026-02** — Mundelein High School District 120 approved a $30,000 share of a $60,000 joint communications engagement with neighboring District 75.
- **2025-06** — The firm published new case studies on Ontario Local Schools video production, Worthington school-finance communication and Lake Bluff's strategic communications system.

## Links

- Website: https://www.allerton-hill.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allerton-hill-communications
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/outreach_expert
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/3yoUXvQTXUU
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllertonHillCommunications

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/allerton-hill-communications
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-20