DURHAM — The Oyster River Cooperative School District proudly shares that District leaders will be sharing their expertise at the annual National School Public Relations Association 2024 National Seminar in July.
Superintendent Dr. James C. Morse, Sr. and Director of Communications Genevieve Brown will present on "Equity in School Communications." Dr. Morse and Brown co-authored “Beyond the Communications Department: Sharing Communication Best Practices with Teachers and Staff," which appeared in the NSPRA newsletter "Elevation" in March.
The article details how the District reacted to community surveys that showed parents and guardians felt overwhelmed by the number of emails they received from teachers and administrators. Half of respondents who did not read their emails didn't do so because they reported receiving too many.
The District created a “Best Practices in Communications” guide for teachers and staff. The guide became the foundation for mandatory communication training throughout the District.
Oyster River’s “Best Practices in Communications” has been shared with more than 160 school communicators across the nation to date.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized for our work,” Brown said. “We would like to thank Oyster River administrators, staff and teachers, School Board members, and the community who have supported these efforts and process, which has allowed us to build a stronger communication system.”
Superintendent Dr. Morse said, "Developing effective communication practices is critical to keep the school community up to date on district practices and events. Having a dedicated Director of Communications has enhanced our ability to keep the community engaged and better serve our students."