Cherokee County School Board Earns State Award For Communications

Press release from CCSD:

Dec. 2, 2022

The Cherokee County School Board has earned top state honors for exemplary leadership and innovative practices in stakeholder communications.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Georgia School Boards Association has awarded the Cherokee County School Board its Leading Edge Award. The past three years, the honor earned has been in the Culture, Climate & Organizational Efficacy category, and this year’s award is in the Communication category. The awards, presented in seven categories, recognize innovative practices by school boards and school districts that make a significant and positive impact on students.

“Our school district has earned national and state recognition for our outstanding communications initiatives, which consistently tell our story through the successes of our students, educators and support staff, schools and district. We have seen measurable improvement, year over year, in engaging our stakeholders in our communications efforts,” said School Board Chair Kyla Cromer, who accepted the award at a Georgia School Boards Association ceremony this morning on behalf of the School Board. “What puts our communications efforts on the leading edge is our extensive use of strategic planning models similar to those utilized by communications professionals in the corporate world.”

CCSD’s strategic communications plan outlines how communications efforts will help achieve the goals of the district’s overall Blueprint strategic five-year plan for continuous improvement. Key to this plan is reporting success stories, which are shared daily across numerous district and school platforms, including websites, social media, newsletters and publications and also are shared with traditional local media outlets. CCSD’s communications team annually trains staff from schools and district departments/divisions on best communications practices including how to share their successes stories. School Board members also receive communications training and guidance throughout their time in office.

“Our school district has an amazing story to tell, and strategic communications planning amplifies that story for all to hear,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “I know from speaking with my colleagues across the country that there has never been a better time to tell that story than now. Our teachers and staff need to be reminded of the positive impact they make in the lives of their students and their families. Our parents and families need to be reminded of all that public schools do to support their children and how much we care about their success, today and tomorrow.”

This press release was produced by CCSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.