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WEST
ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT
600
Donaldson Road • Oakdale, PA 15071
Services
Services and Resources
Charged with coordinating the internal and external communications of the school district, the Communications Coordinator provides communications support to all five buildings in the West Allegheny School District including Wilson, McKee, and Donaldson Elementary Schools and the Middle School and High School. She is responsible for the development, production and distribution of school district publications and the coordination of news coverage, both electronic and print, for all school-sponsored activities and programs. Besides writing and layout, her duties include a variety of activities from on-line to in-person communications, events and promotions to establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships between the district and its various publics.
Internet/Web Site
In January, 1998, the district developed a school website for listing current information. Access to the West Allegheny home page on the Internet is available at: www.westallegheny.k12.pa.us. In the 2000-2001 school year, the district website was expanded to include a separate webpage created and maintained by the Communications Coordinator. It can be accessed through the "Communications Office" tab on the West Allegheny home page and under that, the "Resources/Publications" and the "Publications" links. She helped develop and promote an employee Web site (Staff Bulletin Board/Intranet), and began maintaining it on February 16, 2006. In December of 2006, the Communications Coordinator assumed additional responsibilities as the Transition Web Content Manager. As such she maintains the district, high school, and Donaldson pages along with the Communications page and the Staff Bulletin Board.
In January, 1998, the district developed a school website for listing current information. Access to the West Allegheny home page on the Internet is available at: www.westallegheny.k12.pa.us. In the 2000-2001 school year, the district website was expanded to include a separate webpage created and maintained by the Communications Coordinator. It can be accessed through the "Communications Office" tab on the West Allegheny home page and under that, the "Resources/Publications" and the "Publications" links. She helped develop and promote an employee Web site (Staff Bulletin Board/Intranet), and began maintaining it on February 16, 2006. In December of 2006, the Communications Coordinator assumed additional responsibilities as the Transition Web Content Manager. As such she maintains the district, high school, and Donaldson pages along with the Communications page and the Staff Bulletin Board.
Publications
District publications include, the annual activities calendar, the district newsletter (WA TODAY), an online information packet for new families and relocating businesses (School and Community Guide), an employee newsletter (INSIDE WA), Board Highlights, and In the Spotlight (focusing on student and staff achievements). The Communications Coordinator also prepares and distributes various brochures, reports, informational handouts, posters, flyers, and other promotional materials relating to school personnel, programs, and events. She also provides proofreading support to staff at the request of the building principals.
District publications include, the annual activities calendar, the district newsletter (WA TODAY), an online information packet for new families and relocating businesses (School and Community Guide), an employee newsletter (INSIDE WA), Board Highlights, and In the Spotlight (focusing on student and staff achievements). The Communications Coordinator also prepares and distributes various brochures, reports, informational handouts, posters, flyers, and other promotional materials relating to school personnel, programs, and events. She also provides proofreading support to staff at the request of the building principals.
Newspaper Publicity
To generate news releases and photographs of school activities and events, much time is spent in writing copy, attending events, and taking, processing, identifying, and transmitting photographs. To share this information with the community, the Communications Coordinator is responsible for maintaining positive relationships with the local print media. West Allegheny news is sent to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Allegheny Times, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and Allegheny West magazine. To increase her awareness of school events requiring news coverage, she oversees a team of staff members who serve as public relations representatives in the five district buildings and assist in gathering news ideas through the use of Tip Sheets. Tip Sheets are e-mailed monthly to all staff members throughout the school year. The district is using more digital photographs and less print photographs for in-house publications (both print and electronic) and media outlets, In addition to the Communications Department cameras, additional cameras are available in each building for staff members to borrow for photographs of the news they report on their Tip Sheets.
To generate news releases and photographs of school activities and events, much time is spent in writing copy, attending events, and taking, processing, identifying, and transmitting photographs. To share this information with the community, the Communications Coordinator is responsible for maintaining positive relationships with the local print media. West Allegheny news is sent to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Allegheny Times, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and Allegheny West magazine. To increase her awareness of school events requiring news coverage, she oversees a team of staff members who serve as public relations representatives in the five district buildings and assist in gathering news ideas through the use of Tip Sheets. Tip Sheets are e-mailed monthly to all staff members throughout the school year. The district is using more digital photographs and less print photographs for in-house publications (both print and electronic) and media outlets, In addition to the Communications Department cameras, additional cameras are available in each building for staff members to borrow for photographs of the news they report on their Tip Sheets.
Dates to Remember
She also generates weekly event lists based on the annual activities calendar, monthly building calendars and other sources, and sends them to the media listed above and two area cable television stations. This same information is used to update the District Newsline (724-695-5205) and the "Listing of School Events" subpage of the Communications Office web page each week. Recorded versions of special (or emergency) announcements are also available during non-school hours at the five main district telephone numbers.
She also generates weekly event lists based on the annual activities calendar, monthly building calendars and other sources, and sends them to the media listed above and two area cable television stations. This same information is used to update the District Newsline (724-695-5205) and the "Listing of School Events" subpage of the Communications Office web page each week. Recorded versions of special (or emergency) announcements are also available during non-school hours at the five main district telephone numbers.
Communications Committees
In addition, she coordinates several initiativesdesigned to facilitate two-way communication between the school district and the community. In this regard, she works with several committees, one internal and one external, to ensure that communications/public relations goals are met.
In addition, she coordinates several initiativesdesigned to facilitate two-way communication between the school district and the community. In this regard, she works with several committees, one internal and one external, to ensure that communications/public relations goals are met.
The Communications Advisory
Committee (Internal) provides input on communications questions and
problems and offers support and suggestions for improving
communications. With representatives from each building, this
committee also ascertains that all five buildings receive equivalent
coverage in both the media and district publications.
The Communications Steering
Committee (External) is the entity which keeps the line of
communications open between parent, booster, and other school groups
and the Communications Department. The role of the Communications
Coordinator is to offer advice and expertise on preparation of news
releases and schedule meetings, if requested, where representatives from all groups
can interact to share resources, reduce duplication of effort, and
avoid conflicts in scheduling fundraising and other events. She also
works with the groups to include completed copy prepared by their
individual public relations coordinators in district publications as
space permits.
Other District
Committees
She serves as a member of the following district committees:
Superintendent's Cabinet, Character Education Curriculum Council,
Crisis Coordinators Committee, and the
Middle States Accreditation Committee.
Community Connections
Among her other duties, she is responsible for maintaining an ongoing dialogue between the district and community leaders through personal contacts with the municipal offices, police departments, the Post Office, local businesses, daycare facilities, churches, and senior citizen organizations. Her responsibility is to maintain mutually beneficial relationships between the district and these external publics including senior citizen residents and retired board members and employees. In regard to these last three groups, she manages the Gold Card Club which provides free admission to district-sponsored events for members.
Among her other duties, she is responsible for maintaining an ongoing dialogue between the district and community leaders through personal contacts with the municipal offices, police departments, the Post Office, local businesses, daycare facilities, churches, and senior citizen organizations. Her responsibility is to maintain mutually beneficial relationships between the district and these external publics including senior citizen residents and retired board members and employees. In regard to these last three groups, she manages the Gold Card Club which provides free admission to district-sponsored events for members.
Internal Communications
In addition to telephone, print, e-mail, and on-line communications via the Staff Bulletin Board/Intranet,the Communications Coordinator interacts with staff members, school board members, and booster groups through discussions, interviews, and presentations. She also attends and/or participates in workshops, in-service programs, and orientation sessions throughout the five school buildings.
In addition to telephone, print, e-mail, and on-line communications via the Staff Bulletin Board/Intranet,the Communications Coordinator interacts with staff members, school board members, and booster groups through discussions, interviews, and presentations. She also attends and/or participates in workshops, in-service programs, and orientation sessions throughout the five school buildings.
Special Events
Among her duties, the Communications
Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the following
district-wide special events: Employee Recognition Dinner, Gold Card Club Luncheon, and building
tours as requested by the principals.
Promotions
She is responsible for district-wide promotions including
American Education Week, Read Across America, West Allegheny
Foundation Grants, the annual fall play and the annual spring musical.
Communications Resources
Acting as a resource person for school district staff and related groups, she provides communication information and training to parent and volunteer groups and school district personnel as requested. Other "as needed" responsibilities include developing topical surveys, coordinating displays and building tours, and providing informational programs to community groups.
Acting as a resource person for school district staff and related groups, she provides communication information and training to parent and volunteer groups and school district personnel as requested. Other "as needed" responsibilities include developing topical surveys, coordinating displays and building tours, and providing informational programs to community groups.
Strategic Planning
As part of West Allegheny's Strategic Planning initiative, the Communications Coordinator serves on the Educational Technology Committee and and provides communications support as needed to all other committees.
As part of West Allegheny's Strategic Planning initiative, the Communications Coordinator serves on the Educational Technology Committee and and provides communications support as needed to all other committees.
Communications Management and
Assessment
Under general management of communications, she coordinates the budget, materials, and equipment of the communications office, attends board meetings, responds to requests of the media regarding board actions, and maintains various mailing database files. To assess communications on an ongoing basis and establish priorities, she attends weekly Superintendent Cabinet meetings.
Under general management of communications, she coordinates the budget, materials, and equipment of the communications office, attends board meetings, responds to requests of the media regarding board actions, and maintains various mailing database files. To assess communications on an ongoing basis and establish priorities, she attends weekly Superintendent Cabinet meetings.