Hooked on Phonics(R) Names John Santanella Vice President of Marketing

Former Hasbro Marketing Director Brings Branding and Product Development Depth to Hooked on Phonics Team 


BALTIMORE, Nov. 9  /PRNewswire/ -- Hooked on Phonics announced today the hiring of John Santanella as vice president of marketing. Santanella joins Hooked on Phonics from Hasbro where he was director of marketing in the games division and was responsible for marketing games and puzzles under the Milton Bradley brand. His new role will include developing and expanding marketing efforts and establishing a presence for the Hooked on Phonics brand in the retail market.

"John is joining us at an exciting time in our company's growth," says Chip Paucek, president of Educate Products.  "His expertise from working on high-profile brands in the toy and game industry will play a key role as we expand our product line and further cultivate our brand identity, which will take our company to the next level."

In his most recent position at Hasbro Games, Santanella managed several popular titles including Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Battleship and Twister. He began his career in the toy and game industry in 1997 as associate global brand manager where he was responsible for strategic planning and product development both domestically and internationally. Santanella's early career included working as a market analyst for the Butcher Company in Marlborough, MA.  He also worked as a paralegal for the Litigation Practice Group at the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut and the Employee Benefits Practice Group of a Washington, D.C. law firm. A native of Enfield, CT, he holds a MBA in Marketing and Finance and Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Boston College.

"My passion is strategically growing brands in ways that are meaningful for consumers," says Santanella.  "Our mission at Hooked on Phonics is to engage children in a process of discovery, and that is something I am thrilled to be a part of.  I'm looking forward to leading the marketing efforts of such a trusted brand."

About Hooked on Phonics(R)

Hooked on Phonics, operated by HOP, LLC, a division of Educate, Inc., is a leading creator of educational products for families that are fun and easy to use and get results.  The company works with educators, interactive designers, writers, artists and parents to develop step-by-step learning systems that help teach children critical reading, math and study skills.  Since the company was founded in 1987, more than two million families and thousands of schools have turned to Hooked on Phonics' library of award-winning programs. The company's products are available at major retailers nationwide and online at http://www.hookedonphonics.com/.

About Educate, Inc.

Educate, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEEE) is a leading pre-K-12 education services company delivering education services and products to students and their families.  It has a portfolio of highly acclaimed brands including Sylvan Learning Centers, North America's largest and most trusted network of tutoring centers, providing supplemental, remedial and enrichment instruction; Hooked on Phonics, delivering highly regarded early reading, math and study skills programs; and Catapult Learning, a leading provider of educational services to public and non-public schools.  More information on Educate, Inc. can be found at http://www.educate-inc.com/.

Forward-looking Statements

This release includes information about Educate, Inc. that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "will," "should," "may" and similar expressions, or the negative of such words and expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward- looking statements contain such words or expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Although Educate, Inc. believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, Educate, Inc.'s actual results could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors might cause such a difference: the development and expansion of the Sylvan Learning Center franchise system; changes in the relationships among Sylvan Learning Center and its franchisees; Educate, Inc.'s ability to effectively manage business growth; increased competition from other educational service providers; changes in laws and government policies and programs; changes in the acceptance of Educate, Inc.'s services by institutional customers and consumers; changes in customer relationships; the seasonality of operating results; global economic conditions, including interest and currency rate fluctuations, and inflation rates. Additional information regarding these and other risk factors and uncertainties are set forth from time to time in Educate, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available for viewing on Educate, Inc.'s website http://www.educate-inc.com/. (To access this information on Educate, Inc.'s website, click on "Investor Relations" and then "SEC Filings".) All forward- looking statements are based on information available to Educate, Inc. on the date of this Release. Educate, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

HOOKED ON PHONICS and HOOKED ON MATH are trademarks or registered trademarks of HOP, LLC. 

DATASOURCE: Hooked on Phonics



CONTACT: Cathleen Porter, [phone], , or

Monica Kingery, [phone], , both of Mullen for

Hooked on Phonics



Web site: http://www.hookedonphonics.com/

http://www.educate-inc.com/ 

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