School Communications Coordinator

Title:                                     

School Communications Coordinator

Work Year:                        

This is a full-time position, 260 days, 12-month work year 

Effective Dates of Employment:

July 1-June 30

Anticipated Start Date:

February 10, 2025

Organizational Relationship or Line of Authority:

Directly responsible to the Superintendent of Schools

Job Summary:

The communications coordinator is responsible for providing vision, and leadership for the district’s communications and public relations efforts through effective collaboration with district departments and services.  The communications coordinator will work very closely with the superintendent and district leadership team demonstrating an understanding of the essential components of developing an effective community relations campaign for Marlborough Public Schools.

Statement of Duties:

• Responsible for the districtwide communications plan including updating annually or as needed at the request of the Superintendent.
• Participate in activities of the district and provide community relations input on decision-making processes.
• Proactively drive, implement and continuously improve the district’s presence in the community through effective communications efforts promoting the district’s achievements and successes.
• Create, maintain, and edit photos, videos and written content for the district for internal and external public relations, promotion, communications, advertising and archival purposes.  Ensure published/posted material adheres to the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines.
• Identify appropriate venues and communication channels for raising awareness of and gaining recognition for successful school and District program practices.
• Partner with local agencies and news outlets to provide Marlborough Public Schools (MPS) content.
• Ensure the District has an appropriate presence on district websites, social media platforms and district app.  Maintain consistency between website information and social media information connecting the MPS website workflow to social media posts.
• Update the district app as necessary, keeping it current, relevant, user friendly and appropriately functioning for a public school.
• Provide MPS website with content, design, and updates.
• Maximize use of translation tools through district technology to ensure accessibility of messages for students, families and community members (ex. Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole).  Collaborate with the translation department as necessary.
• Utilize available embedded technology tools and good practices to allow individuals with disabilities to access district communications.
• Assist in the development of direct communications (districtwide) through electronic, written and/or web-based/social media applications.
• Create, prepare, or edit organizational publications for internal and external audiences.
• Plan and identify district events and activities to promote in advance and attend to take/prepare photos and video to post afterwards. Collaborate with others who attend district activities and events to collect photos and video to be used for creation of district content to send. 
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of school support groups such as PTOs and booster organizations, community, staff, parents, and stakeholders.
• Establish relationships with media representatives and generate media interest in positive Marlborough school district stories. Respond to requests for information from the media collaborating as appropriate with other spokespersons and/or information sources as needed.
• Plan and direct development and communication of informational programs, including but not limited to appearances on the local cable stations and guest appearances/columns in local media, to help maintain favorable public perceptions of the district’s accomplishments and agenda.
• Align district community relations activities and goals to the Strategy for Improvement.
• Work collaboratively with building administration, meeting with principals monthly to design and create content for their media/communication outlets, including but not limited to, the MPS and School website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
• Generate and share data on the effectiveness of communication efforts.
• Promote the use of district communication tools by other staff throughout the district to increase community and families’ connections to the schools.
• In collaboration with other leaders, write and send Emergency and/or Crisis messages as needed using district communication tools appropriate for the circumstance at the time of the message/incident (ex. MPS email, ASPEN communications, Talking Points, Social Media Accounts and/or Website).
• Coordinate with transportation for major changes in bussing that require broad messages to be written and sent to families/students/staff.
• Collaborate with outside vendors and organizations as needed supporting public relations for the district.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Superintendent.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred with significant experience in working with community/public engagement or marketing, preferably in PreK-12 public education.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in photography and videography required.
• Previous demonstrated professional experience developing and implementing a communications plan required.
• Intermediate to advanced experience with social media platforms required.
• Three years professional experience in public relations and/or marketing required.
• At least 1-year successful experience working with school-based community relations and a demonstrated ability to develop and implement positive media content for social media and websites.
• Must be able to work in-person for an 8-hour workday supporting early morning school communications and afternoon communications as well as able to attend specific evening or weekend events as planned in advance and accessible for unplanned crisis/emergency communication support for the district on occasion.
• Bilingual (Spanish or Portuguese) preferred. 
• Must be organized, able to work independently as well as part of a team and able to design efficient systems for communication.
• Must be able to write and produce content quickly and accurately.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent of Schools may find appropriate and acceptable.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the Marlborough Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, color, homelessness, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its education programs, services, activities or employment practices.