Oak Park Elementary School District 97 was recently recognized by the state's school public relations association for its exceptional communications efforts during the 2019-20 school year.
The Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) held its annual Communications Contest Awards on Sept. 11, at which the top communications initiatives in the state were recognized in a variety of categories. Professional school communicators from across the country judged the 133 submissions. Each entry was evaluated by three judges against a rubric of excellence, with awards given to those who scored within the established ranges for merit and excellence.
District 97 received an award of excellence in the Electronic Newsletter category for its "MyD97 Weekly Wrap-Up" newsletter, which was launched in Fall 2019 to share regular updates on the district's equity work and ways that the community can get involved. The newsletter includes short blogs, feature stories, videos, photos—all of which showcase how our equity policy is brought to life every day in our schools. Additionally, each newsletter features a section called “Help Corner,” which features a frequently-asked question related to services and opportunities available for District 97 students and families.
The award was presented to the district's communications team. The newsletter was produced each week by Director of Communications Amanda Siegfried and Communications Coordinator Rochelle LeBreck. Design support was provided by KQ Communications.
“The entries in this year's communication contest not only showcase the ability of our members to thoughtfully and accurately communicate with constituents on a regular basis, but also shined a spotlight on the importance of having professionals in these positions to manage communication during a crisis such as the one we have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said INSPRA President Carol Smith, director of communications and community relations for St. Charles CUSD 303.
More information about the "MyD97" campaign can be found at https://www.op97.org/communications/myd97.