PGCPS Celebrates 'VSBA Take Your Legislator to School Month'

Del. Carrie Coyner (foreground, left) speaks with William A. Walton Elementary School Principal Chrystal Barnwell as PGCPS leadership follows during the delegate's visit to the campus in November 2022.

Project Overview

Oversee and support Prince George County Public Schools' communications-related planning and execution of its celebration of the Virginia School Boards Association's (VSBA) "Take Your Legislator to School Month," celebrated annually in November.

Background

Prince George County Public Schools is one of over 100 county and city school boards that are members of the Virginia School Boards Association, a non-profit whose mission centers on supporting local boards and providing resources and advocacy on behalf of communities at the state and national level on public education-related topics. In recent years, the Prince George School Board has expressed its desire to earn "Board of Distinction" status with the VSBA, the organization's highest honor and only reserved for local boards who are active in the organization's flagship programs and initiatives. One of the initiatives boards seeking this award would participate in is the VSBA's "Take Your Legislator to School Month," celebrated every November. This program encourages local boards to invite their legislators to their districts to experience their programs first-hand. This also allows the division's leadership and elected boards to discuss their priorities, topics of concern, and other matters with legislators ahead of the General Assembly session in January.

Planning

Shortly after the start of the 2022-23 School Year, Michael Campbell and the Office of Communications and Public Relations began working with the division superintendent to determine how communications can support the district ahead of the planned November visits. A communications plan was created that served as a springboard for the superintendent's discussion with division leadership, the school board, and others as they developed the itinerary for the state lawmaker's visit to the district. This plan highlighted some of the following as part of the upcoming visits:

• Preparation of Media Releases
• Communicating with State Elected Officials & Their Teams to Begin the Process of Determining Visit Dates & Times
• Day-Of-Event Planning, Including Photography, Staging Welcome Signage, Creating "Welcome" Gift Bags

Implementation

During the fall, it was determined the division would select Virginia State Delegates Carrie Coyner & Emily Brewer as the representatives PGCPS would invite to visit during November. These two lawmakers each represent Prince George County in their capacity as delegates in the Virginia General Assembly. Michael Campbell helped coordinate communications between the division and Del. Brewer's office as district staff contacted Del Brewer, eventually leading to both lawmakers being scheduled for separate visits during November.

Ahead of their visits, Michael Campbell worked with the superintendent's team to create welcome bags for each delegate to be given to them shortly after their arrival. The bags were thoughtfully assembled, featuring school division gifts, along with copies of PGCPS 2022-27 Comprehensive Plan, which outlines the division's long-term goals. This catalog also helped division leadership have focused conversations with lawmakers during their visit by tying in the division's comprehensive plan to discussions ahead of the upcoming General Assembly session.

During each visit, Michael Campbell was the lead photographer, capturing images of the delegates' visit to the division's new elementary school, Middle Road Elementary, ahead of its opening in February, and reading sessions at William A. Walton Elementary School and North Elementary School. These photos would be edited and prepared for distribution via the division's website, social media channels, and in a media release.

Click HERE to view images from Del. Coyner & Brewer's visit to Prince George County Public Schools.

Click HERE to see the division's social media post following Del. Coyner's visit.

Following the two visits, Michael Campbell prepared a press release outlining the delegates' visit to Prince George County, along with background on the VSBA's "Take Your Legislator to School Month." Click HERE to read the division's press release shared following the event.

From L to R: School Board Member Cecil Smith, Division Superintendent Dr. Lisa Pennycuff, North Elementary School Principal Jennifer Rollings, Del. Emily Brewer, Chief of Staff Camille Castleberry, School Board Member Christopher A. Johnson