Welcome to the Communications Office! As the name implies, our job is to communicate to keep you informed about what’s happening in Vancouver Schools. We do this through print, television/video, and our website. Our audiences are parents, students, staff, community, government, and the media. We recently created a new look for our district, with all design work and writing done by members of the Communications team. This work provides a consistent look and feel for the district. It is reflected in our new logo, redesigned website, and in our video and print materials.
Please communicate with us, too. Let us know what is going on in your school or classroom. We will be happy to share it. Part of our work is to promote Vancouver Public Schools. We do this through marketing materials, news releases, Report to the Community newsletter, In the Know cable program, our website, and recognition of students and staff at school board meetings. Use this link to spotlight your school!
The Communications Office covers the school district board meetings and publishes the Board Recap. We compile and publish state and federal reporting requirements that include the district and school performance reports. We organize events, like the 150th anniversary celebration, that bring the community together. Everything we do is based on our mission statement to support the students of Vancouver Schools.
Communication works both ways. Contact us!
Executive Director, Community and Government Relations – Tom Hagley, 360-313-1236
Patron Tours and Volunteer Clearances – Sue Knable, 360-313-4720
Communications Director – Kris Sork, 360-313-1230
Communications Specialist – Pat Mattison Nuzzo, 360-313-1230
Communications Specialist – Amanda Richter, 360-313-1239
Website and Graphics – Sara Neal, 360-313-1130
Television Production Supervisor – Nick Voll, 360-313-1141
Video Specialist – Ian Southworth, 360-313-1142
VPS receives national award for leadership through communication
When it comes to communication and public engagement, Vancouver Public Schools is among the very best in the U.S. and Canada. That was the decision of the American Association and School Administrators (AASA), the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), and Blackboard Connect when they presented VPS with the 2011 Leadership Through Communication Award.
Open to all districts in North America, this award program recognizes "outstanding superintendents and communication professionals" for providing exemplary leadership in communication and public engagement. A panel of judges reviewed the district’s application, letters of recommendation and materials before narrowing the selection to two finalists. Representatives then visited the two districts in December 2010 to meet with staff, parents and community members and to examine communication and public engagement practices first-hand. Superintendent Steve Webb and Executive Director of Community and Government Relations Tom Hagley were notified of the award in January 2011.
Vancouver Public Schools was honored at the AASA National Conference in Education in Denver, Colorado, in February 2011, and at the NSPRA National Seminar in San Antonio, Texas, in July 2011. The award came with a $10,000 prize that helped VPS make school board meeting documents more accessible to the public through a web-based delivery system. The prize money also was used to establish a scholarship through the Foundation for VPS for students pursuing college degrees in education or communication.
