Erika Dunham Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

Words on a Mission helps edtech companies win hearts, minds, and happy customers ― all through email marketing. Founder Erika Dunham develops data-driven strategy and writes copy that converts for all kinds of email sequences ― including onboarding, trial-to-paid, nurture, sales, re-engagement, cold emails, and more. Words on a Mission’s services include:- Email Sequence Audit ― to diagnose what’s working and what’s not working with an existing sequence- Email Strategy Roadmap ― to develop a data-driven email marketing strategy- Email Sequence ― to plan and write a new email sequence- Voice of Customer Research ― to determine the messaging that will resonate with your target audience- Landing Page Copywriting ― to make sure the rest of your email marketing funnel converts well- Day Rate ― when you’ve got a smaller scope of work, like revising an existing email sequenceClients include Newsela, Pearson/Savvas, SMART Technologies, StartEd, JumpRope, Yup, NextWaveSTEM, and Vivos Solutions.

As a consultant, I specialized in curriculum, assessment, and instruction in K-8 English Language Arts (ELA). Projects included writing Common Core-aligned curriculum for several charter schools and networks; coaching and training teachers in instructional planning and delivery; evaluating teachers using a competency-based rubric; and training leaders in curriculum and instructional best practices.Clients included KIPP St Louis, KIPP Foundation, DC Prep, VOICE Charter School of New York, Achievement First Public Charter Schools, Newsela, and the Akilah Institute (Rwanda).

Brooklyn, Ny And New Haven, Ct

In this role, I worked on a central instructional team across Achievement First's 14 elementary schools, setting a vision for elementary ELA and Social Studies, managing the development of Common Core-aligned curriculum, training and coaching teachers, and supporting leaders as they brought the shared instructional vision to life in their schools.It's not easy to implement centralized initiatives across many schools, even when you believe in them. Each school is a unique landscape of stakeholders, experiences, and contexts. This work underscored the importance of tying everything back to the "why" and tracking results—important lessons for a copywriter.

I wrote and edited copy and content including websites, articles, profiles, and blog posts. Clients included Columbia University, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Cashel Wealth Management.

New York, Ny

In this role, I managed the content integration for—and eventually the entire product—iLearnNYC, a blended and online learning platform that served 120 schools in the 2011-2012 school year (and currently serves 250+ schools). As part of a small committee, I helped select the edtech products that were offered to schools through iLearnNYC. I then managed the contracts totaling $24 million with the 16 selected vendors. I don't have any top-secret info to share, but I do know the intricacies of the K-12 procurement process and the absolutely essential role of clear sales copy.

New York, Ny

This was a period of immense investment in edtech at the NYC Department of Education. In this role, I managed the content and configuration workstreams for ARIS Learn, a $4.4-million learning management system that served 100,000+ employees, including all NYC DOE teachers, school leaders, and central staff.This was my first exposure to product management, and I learned how to navigate the many stakeholders involved in each product. I became a ventriloquist of sorts, translating for the IT team, the edtech vendors, and the internal stakeholders who used different jargon and valued different project outcomes. I learned to speak their "languages"—including the technical ones—and translated for them.

New York, Ny

For the first time, I had to think much more broadly than my classroom and my school since my work now affected 1800+ public schools in New York City. In this role, I led the creation of competency-based professional development content, including eLearning courses and videos of exemplary teaching practice. And I learned what it takes to make things happen in the largest school district in the country.

New York, Ny

This was my first position leading adults. I designed and led biweekly professional development sessions for new ELA teachers.I quickly learned how to hook tired, overworked first-year teachers: give them the info they want and need--along with a dose of humor (and snacks). Also important knowledge for copywriters.

New York, Ny

In this role, I coached 8th-grade ELA teachers and led content meetings. Looking back, this was a fascinating case study for a future copywriter. How do you get teachers to buy into the idea of you as a coach? First, figure out their "why."

New York, Ny

Through Teach For America, I taught English Language Arts (ELA)—reading and writing—in a public middle school in Washington Heights where 94% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This was my crash course in teaching, and I worked hard to become the teacher my students deserved. More relevant to my career as a copywriter, my students were also the ones who taught me how to sell. While standing in front of 30 glassy-eyed teenagers several times a day, I quickly realized that they would only pay attention to my lessons if I made every word count. Every word I said had to be on a mission. To cut through the drone of their days. To win them over to learning. To inspire them to see themselves as smart, powerful, and brave.

B.A.

M.S.

Education record

High School