There have been a lot of comments on Facebook about the number of Santa schools that have popped up in the Atlanta area, as well as the traveling schools that have come to the area as well. Let me start off by saying “there are no bad Santa Schools”. I have been a Santa for decades and I have been to many of the Santa schools and taught at several other than my own. And I have always said those very words at each and every school I have taught at, as well as during private conversations with other Santas. You will always learn something, no matter how seasoned you are as Santa or Mrs. Claus. And almost everyone knows that often the best “golden nuggets” of information you glean will not be from the curriculum, but rather from your fellow students.

1. But that being said, now the rest of the story. These are the two questions you should ask yourself with regard to selecting the right school for you.
2. Do you want to be a professionally trained Santa, or a guy in a red suit? What is the most important factor to you – the best deal, in terms of price, or the most valuable and beneficial curriculum?

Those two answers may help you focus on how and what to pay for training and a quality education that will give you the greatest value for your dollars spent. I would venture to say that there is nothing better than being Santa. And the truth is, there are very few things you can do with such minimal training that can bring you the hourly rate you are able to charge. And for those of you who say you are not into Santa for the money that is fine, but ask yourself these questions: Why would I not charge enough for my Santa gigs so that I can afford some professional training? If you truly want to be the best professional Santa, gain the most knowledge and look your best with regard to suits and supplies, there is an expense involved. And based on what you can afford for training, your money should be well spent in a way that brings you greater satisfaction, more job opportunities, and better experiences for the children and yourself. So about the education: The smallest school is not necessarily the worst choice and the biggest school is not necessarily the best choice. You need to base your choice for a Santa education on the 3 THINGS – the CURRICULUM, the VENDORS, and the FELLOW STUDENTS who are attending. Ask yourself: CURRICULUM: Is the curriculum the same classes every time, or is it new information? Are the classes and subjects constantly being reinvented, or are they repetitive and possibly stagnant? Are the instructors qualified for the subjects they teach? How many instructors are offered and what is their background? Are the instructors just giving opinions or sharing stories, or are they professional instructors and recognized experts in their field imparting knowledge that is of benefit to you? Does the school offer a “cookie-cutter” curriculum which is the same each session, or does the school offer a changing curriculum geared for those who attend each session? Is the school owner Santa or Mrs. Claus someone you respect, someone who projects positivity rather than negativity, and someone who is approachable? Does the owner “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” of what they teach about being professional and is this reflected in their social media posts, personal interactions, etc. VENDORS: How many vendors attend the school? Are they well known and respected? Are various products and types of vendors offered? Are the vendors knowledgeable and able to assist Christmas professionals get ready for the season? FELLOW STUDENTS: How many students will attend and will you be able to network with? Are your fellow students varied in age, experience, and type (i.e. Private, Mall, Bass Pro, etc.)? Is there a good mix of both Santas and Mrs. Claus in attendance? Ask your fellow Santas and Mrs. Clauses before you register for any school: Which schools have then been to and how do each compare? What did they like best and least about each? Which school was the best value for them? Which school would they go to again and why? And if they know you personally which school do they think would be best for you to attend and why? Thank you for “listening” and I hope you found this helpful. Santa Rick

We would like to take a moment to thank everyone who attended the Spring session of the Northern Lights Santa Academy this past weekend! We are truly humbled by the turnout and the distance many of you traveled to be with us. We really appreciate everyone’s feedback and we are in the process of reviewing your evaluations and hope to incorporate many of your suggestions into our next school session.

We wish to also extend a big thank you to all of our incredible instructors and our wonderful vendors for being a part of our school.

We hope to see you all in September!

We are proud to welcome guest instructor, Jamie Mullis, who will be teaching “American Sign Language for Santa and Mrs. Claus” at our March 2018 session. Jamie currently teaches ASL at a studio in Marietta and she is looking forward to teaching our students some basic signs that can be used with children and adults alike during the holiday season and year-round!

We are proud to welcome Guest Instructor AC Chan to the March session of the Northern Lights Santa Academy. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. And, you’re probably not going to close the deal in those first 30 seconds. But if you do it correctly, you’ll create some interest and earn more time to talk. It’s all about being memorable and creating connections. Come participate in this hands-on workshop and get some new tools to improve your 30 Second Pitch. Key Take-Aways of this class include:
* How to open your business networking pitch
* Showing your value proposition through stories
* Remembering to create “Your Ask”

I have said for years, both at the Northern Lights Santa Academy, and when I have previously taught at other schools, that there are no bad Santa schools. If a student picks up anything that helps him or her to become a better Santa or Mrs. Claus then the school was of value. Having said that, we have been asked why someone should attend our school, so I have outlined our philosophy and what sets us apart:

1. School enrollment/size – The number of attendees at Santa school should not be discounted as a consideration. The more students enrolled, the more knowledge and networking opportunities are available. Perhaps the best information you receive at school may be from speaking with another Santa or Mrs. Claus in attendance. As the largest Santa school in the Southeast, the Northern Lights Santa Academy has had 75-115 students per session.

2. Curriculum – We offer “fluid” rather than “static” curriculum. We do not follow the same textbook/workbook session after session. Instead we offer classes on a rotating and seasonal basis. Simply put, spring classes are geared towards the skill development for the purpose of allowing time to utilize and perfect these skills before the season starts. Our fall classes focus on the business of Santa, as well as inspiring and motivating Santas and Mrs. Claus for the upcoming season. We also tailor each school session to the specific needs of the students who will be in attendance by pre-screening registrants to find out what their needs are in terms of subject matter. After each school session we ask for feedback and suggestions from our students and continually develop curriculum based on that feedback and those suggestions.

3. Single vs. Multiple Instructors – It is our opinion that one instructor, regardless how dynamic or how great the information, only has one perspective to share. And we feel it is human nature to tire of listening to the same voice for two days of instruction. For this reason, while many Santa schools have only 1 or 2 instructors, we strive to offer our students a range of instructors (from 8-12 per session), in order to provide greater learning opportunities, a variety of perspectives, and increased retention by students by limiting the “burnout” factor from listening to one voice for two days.

4. Instructor Expertise – It is the school philosophy that offering a team of high caliber instructors with diverse backgrounds and expertise who specialize in the subject matter they teach gives our students the best quality of instruction. For instance, we have brought in professionals (outside of the Santa community) in the arenas of law, marketing, social media, makeup/hair, photography, developmental disabilities, etc. to teach classes pertaining to those arenas, as we believe no one person can be an expert in all subjects.

5. Teaching Methodology – Rather than 100% lecture-style, we strive to offer a variety of lectures, workshops and interactive sessions to address the different learning styles of our students.

6. Book vs. Live Instruction – Anyone can simply stay at home and read a book from start to finish and learn from it. And while the content may be well-rounded and the contributors may have a wealth of information, there is no opportunity to ask questions of those contributors no matter how much experience they have if they are not there in person. The number and experience of contributors in a book cannot be classified as offering years of experience to a student at any school. The years of knowledge instructors in a school offer is only cumulative when those instructors are there in person teaching with the opportunity to interact with students.

7. Vendors – We feel that vendors are an important resource and an additional educational opportunity for all students, especially for first-time Santas and Mrs. Claus. We offer a number and variety of vendors at each session and the vendor showcase is an integral part of our school experience. And because of the size of our school, we attract vendors that cannot afford to travel to a smaller school.

8. Student Satisfaction – Don’t take our word for it, ask our Alumni. Santas and Mrs. Claus who have attended various schools really are the best resource to help you find the school best suited to your needs. We encourage you to ask your fellow Santas and Mrs. Claus, who do not own or teach at a school, which schools they have attended and what they have to say about them in comparison before choosing a school so you can make a decision that’s right for you.

On a personal level, although I have been a Santa for over 40 years, I am still a student too. Each year, I attend Santa schools other than the Northern Lights Santa Academy for my own benefit and also so that I can make informed comments about what makes us different from other schools. I also participate in classes and workshops outside of the Santa community, such as storytelling and improvisation, that are beneficial to me as a Santa. You simply do not ever know everything you need to know about being Santa or Mrs. Claus. It is always a work in progress, and that is why I am a strong believer in education and training, and why we strive to offer the best Santa school possible.  Our goal is to help you be the best Santa, Mrs. Claus or Elf you can be.

As always, please feel free to contact me anytime if you have questions, feedback or suggestions. If you wish to speak to some of our Alumni about our school, please let me know and we will put you in contact with them. Thank you for taking the time to consider the Northern Lights Santa Academy.

Sincerely,
Santa Rick, Dean
Northern Lights Santa Academy