Director of Communications and Community Relations

Promote positive public relations between the school district and community. Prepare and provide information to the public about the activities, goals, and policies of the school district. Distribute pertinent information about the district and its activities to all stakeholders. Establish and maintain internal and external communication programs which promote an understanding and appreciation of the district's efforts to provide students positive learning outcomes.

The Director of Communications and Community Relations will be responsible for the following:

 

Professional Conduct

 

• Maintains a high level of ethical behavior, including confidentiality with sensitive information and data.
• Stays informed on all policies, regulations, laws relative to the District.
• Performs other tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent.

 

Serves as Strategic Partner for the Superintendent and the Board of Education 

 

• Serves as adviser to the Superintendent. 
• Serves upon request as speechwriter for Superintendent. 
• Serves as adviser to the Board of Education on matters of Communication and Community Relations at the direction of the Superintendent. 
• Identifies, in consultation with Superintendent, projects that require ongoing oversight.
• Plans and creates written drafts of phases of project development, and presents these to the Superintendent for review.
• Manages multiple projects with firm deadlines simultaneously.
• Ensures timeliness in the completion of assignment projects. 
• Attends all Board of Education meetings and workshops; assists in live streaming Board meetings, serves as board liaison to the news media.
• Supports the Superintendent, safety team and schools with crisis communications.
• Attends and participates in the Superintendent’s Cabinet meetings.
• Serves as the brand ambassador and partners in the recruitment, retention, and selection of staff.
• Leads committees and task forces as assigned by the Superintendent.
• Coordinates informational campaigns for District campaigns.
•  Identifies, in consultation with the Superintendent, projects that require ongoing oversight, presenting written updates on these projects to the superintendent for review.

 

Connects with the Community

 

• Communicates Board of Education’s actions to staff, students and the community.
• Supervises the District’s overall community relations program.
• Communicates District programs, instructional goals and objectives to the greater community within the context of the Board of Education’s mission and strategic planning.
• Responds to requests for information about the school system.
• Actively seeks input about the District and schools from the community through surveys, focus groups, community forums, and other methods.
•    Serves as liaison between the District and parent/community groups that support the schools.

 

Coordinates District Publications

 

• Guides school publications in paper and electronic formats.
• Designs layouts for school system publications, forms and other printed and electronic materials.
• Guides administration and staff members in the preparation of publications and printed material.

 

Supports Staff Communication

 

• Maintains internal communications to help employees stay informed and engaged in District issues and news.
• Provides leadership on internal communications, external communications, two-way community engagement, crisis communications, and public speaking. 
• Provides resources, support and training to help staff in their communication with parents and the community.
• Establishes methods to ensure staff has information about the District (e.g., website information, staff newsletter).
• Establishes partnerships with the other public entities that serve the District’s communities (cities, park district, libraries, high school, chambers of commerce etc.), and coordinates communication efforts with those community partners.

 

Oversees Website/Social Media

 

• Coordinates writing, editing and design layouts of website and other electronic school system publications.
• Manages the District’s overall social media presence.
•    Supports individual schools in developing and enhancing their social media presence. 

 

Serves as Information Liaison to the News Media

 

• Coordinates the production and distribution of all news releases.

Seeks Professional Development

• Is active in professional organizations that support the practice of school public relations and communications.
• Serves as information liaison between the District and the community, including media and other public agencies. 
• Prepares and disseminates announcements, general notices and personal correspondence.
• Prepares press materials as needed for distribution to reporters covering Board meetings, public hearings, and district affairs.
• Creates audiovisual materials for community information purposes.
• Takes photographs and video for District use.