Teaneck Public Schools Communications, Community Relations & Volunteer Services 2018-2019

Terry Corallo
Supervisor of Community Relations & Volunteer Services March 13, 2019

All aspects of Community Relations
Play a Key Role In Achieving Our Goals

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Volunteer Services Program

Current State August/September 2018

“Volunteer” list had over 200 names including: PTO members (over 20 names)
TOPS Organization (10 names) Bergen Reads (45 names)
“Community Volunteers” (over 50 names) Coaches and other miscellaneous volunteers

designee in HR but no follow-up after sending
Onboarding of new volunteers was handled by a

paperwork to schools

hard to find (under Quick Links)
Volunteer website section had some information but

annual flyer; Back to School Night Volunteer
Began recruitment of new volunteers through posting of

and State closed the convenient Paramus location
Recruitment tables (handled by Board Trustees) Online process for fingerprinting is daunting for many,

Volunteer Services Program

October – November 2018

the schools during the school day and many had
Discovered most volunteers were not working in

Outside of Bergen Reads, we had very few
one or two)
not worked with us for quite awhile volunteers working inside each school (maybe

Sent out invitations and held Volunteer
attendees plus student presentations)
Appreciation Reception – October, 2018 (over 50

Followed up with all who expressed interest in
found out many were parents with students in
changed their minds
volunteering (from Back to School night lists) but the school, and others did not respond or

step guide to make i easier for volunteers
Updated Volunteer Handbook; ensure all
receipt
Updated applicationtprocess with easy step-by-volunteers are reviewing and signing off on

Volunteer Services Program

Taskforce Committee

	From our Volunteer Handbook

December 2018 – Volunteer

Asked schools to recommend current
volunteer program
volunteers to participate in review of our

meeting on December 4
7 volunteers attended our “focus group”

with their volunteer experience; however…
Overall, participants expressed satisfaction

Only one (from Bergen Reads had received
child abuse
Only one had ever seen our Volunteer Handbook training on HIB, security drills)and reporting of

Most had never received training or understo
importance of why they should have training
specific district expectations; understand the od

Most had NO IDEA that there were other
surprised to meet one another.
volunteers in the school district. They were

One admitted having never gone throu
fingerprinting process (it’s done now!) gh

Volunteer Taskforce Feedback

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? (Circle One):

Less than 1 year

2

1-2 Years

1

3-5 years

2

5-10 years

1

Over 10 years

1

WHICH OF THE ABOVE SCHOOLS DO YOU VOLUNTEER AT NOW? _Whittier – 3, Hawthorne – 1, BFMS – 1,

None – 2 (One got job, other retiring this year and then will go back to support high school)

IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU ASSIST YOUR CURRENT SCHOOL? reading, sharing career experiences,

supporting world language initiative, assist students with grammar, spelling bee judge, tutoring,

administrative tasks for teacher, helping with math, story writing, whatever is needed in the class

DO YOU ENJOY THIS ASSIGNMENT?	YES	NO	- All 7 said “YES”

IF YES, WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST?     Interacting with children, feeling that I am able to help out,

kindergarten is a great place to be, tutoring the students, seeing the students grow and become more

self-confident, lover working with the students in an area that I love (language), sharing information and

experiences with the students, happy to be working in a classroom again – particularly on writing

coaching.

IF NO, WHY NOT AND HOW COULD IT BE BETTER? Although enjoying assignment, one noted that ESL at

THS has its own needs that I could do little to help. The students need much smaller group work.

ON A SCALE OF 1 – 10, WITH “1” AS VERY LOW, AND “10” AS VERY HIGH, HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR

OVERALL EXPERIENCES AS A VOLUNTEER FOR TEANECK PUBLIC SCHOOLS?	1 – “8”,     6 – “10”

Volunteer Services Program

Where are we today and what’s next?

To date, we have Board-approved over 30 volunteers but only 15 completed the fingerprinting process

We are updating all of our lists to ensure they are current – and that we accurately note their assignment/placement

Looking into online training programs (for HIB, etc.) that can be offered to volunteers

Hold annual Volunteer Appreciation Event every October prior to Board meeting

Volunteer Services Program

Future Recruitment

Set target goal of 25 new in-school volunteers for next school year

Look for in-school volunteers who meet specific district and student needs (i.e. tutors of specific subjects or expertise in specific careers)

Big “push” in late summer/early September including:
District Facebook
Community Organizations – including Age-Friendly Teaneck
Back to School Nights PTO Recommendations
Ask current volunteers to help recommend others

Communications & Community Relations

Current outreach includes:
• District Website – Provides various resources including current district news and events, and links to district schools and departments
• School Websites – All schools use the same eSchoolView content management system; we conducted refresher training for school staff dedicated to managing respective sites
• Social Media – Launch of District Facebook page (Jan. 2019); many schools have Twitter accounts but few kept current. We also added a YouTube channel.
• Media Outreach – Working with local and regional media to share positive news and to manage inquiries
• Community Outreach – Establish partnerships, automated phone and email messages (School Messenger), letters from Superintendent to parents/guardians, and community forums/town halls on important topics, etc.
• Special Events – planning and executing student, staff and volunteer recognition ceremonies, school openings/namings, etc.
• Special Projects – Community Calendar of Events for Black History Month, Women’s History Month & Jewish American Heritage Month
• Internal Staff – Superintendent’s Convocation, monthly Superintendent’s Report and ongoing memos from Supervisor of Community Relations and Superintendent to various staff and Board trustees

Ongoing Changes to District Website

New homepage with colored sidebar navigation and photos centered with ghosting on both sides

Added Public Notices in Prominent Location

New Dropdown Options
- District Accomplishments - Athletics
- District Reports
- District News & Videos - Partner Events
- Strategic Plan Development
- Superintendent Steering Committees Alphabetized All Options

District Website Changes

Added Student Accomplishments Section and Keep “Our Latest News” updated – including Superintendent Advisory Committees and Strategic Plan Updates

District Website Changes

Added sections that included important information about meetings and latest district news

District Website Changes

Added Board policy link to Strauss Esmay site for easier navigation of all policies and regulations

District Website Changes

	Channel and link to District Facebook page

		

Added District YouTube

District Website Changes

Added Accomplishment sections to website

Will institute better process for schools to submit information

District Website Changes

Although updated and kept current (especially Parents section), these two areas of our website will be the focus for future improvements

District Website Changes

District Website – Going Forward

Considerations:
1.) District has contract (April 2017 – June 2020) with current website content management system; all schools were trained (and re-trained) on how to use it.
2.) Current vendor is willing to make design changes. With limited internal staff resources with expertise in website development, we may have to rely on them if we want to make any significant changes (costs associated with this).

Areas in Greatest Need of Change:
1.) Continue improvement of homepage/“Quick Links” to fit within current top navigation bar
2.) Address “Parent”, “Student” and “Employee” sections. Establish committees for each areas to review current content and make recommendations.
3.) Create process for schools to submit student, staff and school accomplishments for posting on the website.
4.) Ensure school websites are kept up-to-date and feature appropriate school photos.
5.) Finalize staff directory list upload to the site. This is a work in progress with Technology and Human Resources.
6.) Add video section to the homepage.

Go-Forward Recommendation:
Any major design changes should take place after District Strategic Plan is complete. Then contract with current vendor on ways to continue to improve the district website or secure a part-time or contracted web design expert.

Launch of District Facebook Page

Launched in January 2019
As of 3/12/19 – we have over 375 followers	19

Share the GOOD NEWS!

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Announce Upcoming Events

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Timely Emergency and Weather-related Announcements

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Live/Real-time Reporting with Photos and Video

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Teaneck Social Media Analysis

Teaneck Public Schools

Current Twitter Accounts – one for each school plus C&I (as of 2/7/19)

Twitter Account
	Most Recent Post
	Total # of Tweets since joining
	Date Joined
	Total # of Followers
	
Bryant
	Feb. 5, 2019
	80
	April 2017
	72
	
Hawthorne
	June 2017
	232
	March 2009
	119
	
Lowell
	Dec. 2018
	35
	May 2017
	42
	
Whittier
	Feb. 3, 2019
	357
	April 2017
	159
	
Benjamin Franklin
	Feb. 4, 2019
	217
	April 2017
	107
	
Thomas Jefferson
	June 2018
	79
	May 2017
	75
	
Teaneck High School
	Jan. 11, 2019
	155
	Sept. 2014
	441
	
Teaneck C&I
	Oct. 2018
	93
	April 2017
	201
	
				1216

Facebook (as of 2/7/19)

Facebook Account
	Most Recent Post
	Total # of Posts since joining
	Date Joined
	Total # of Likes/Followers
	
District
	Feb. 7, 2019
	35
	November 2018 Official launch January 7, 2019
	348

NOTE: Most Teaneck High School sports programs/teams have their own Twitter accounts where they post schedules, pictures, standings, etc.

Positive Media Coverage

& Suburbani e)
(Suburbanite)
School ChieftBring Fresh Perspective – August 9, 2018 (The Record Grant will bring all-day preschool to Teaneck – October 11, 2018

Record and News 12)
Teaneck to expand full-day pre-k program – October 12, 2018 (The

2018 (Suburbanite)
“Clue On Stage” to be performed at Teaneck High – November 15,

“Rising Up” (Gun Violence, #MeToo: Young North Jersey women
THS) – November 6, 2018 (The Record)
explain their political awakening) – features Gracelda Neri (senior,

7, 2018 (The Record)
Young Women in NJ Stand Up & Speak Out (Editorial) – November

2018 (Suburbanite)
Teaneck Congratulates top PARCC test achievers – November 29,

December 11, 2018 (Patch.com
(The Record)
Teaneck School District Named)to National AP Honor Roll – Teaneck defeats Holy Angels for bowling title – January 14, 2019

2019 (The Record & Suburbanite)
Teaneck Expands full-day pre-k classes through grant – January 17.

2019
New pact gives Teaneck teachers a 3 percent raise – February 21,

(The Record & front page of Suburbanite)
Teaneck Middle School Honors Late Librarian – February 25, 2019

pound girls state final – March 2, 2019 (NJ.com and CBS-NY local
“I hope to make history.' Teaneck's Emery reaches inaugural 185-TV)

Other Community Relations

Superintendent Advisory Committees
Student Code of Conduct Review
Faith-based, SEPAC, Student, Staff, Beyond Diversity and

Strategic Plan Development & Town Hall Events Budget Community Forums hosted by B.A. Teaneck Public Library Board
Security Town Hall SDA Tour of Schools College Partnerships
Bloomfield College MOA for students and staff Ramapo College in discussion
FDU STEM and other Other Partnerships

Holy Name Medical Center
Exhibit in Library throughout March
Holocaust & Enslaved African Memorial – Student Art on

WEB DuBois Accelerated Learning/Mu Boule Foundation Puffin Foundation
Taub Foundation Bergen Volunteer Center Age-Friendly Teaneck
Hebrew Afterschool Program (exploration)

Community Relations – Outreach

Community Relations – Special Events

Recognition programs at most Board meetings

Special events with elected officials, State DOE representatives and community leaders

Community Relations – School Calendars

Community Relations – Translations

Communications & Community Relations

Going Forward:

• Social Media – Create 2-3 minute videos that can be shared easily on Facebook and our YouTube channel; possibly launch Instagram account; work with schools
to “activate” their Twitter accounts by posting regularly

• Media Outreach – Use our recent and ongoing good news to attract more local TV as well as regional and national media coverage; create a pipeline of stories from the schools to pitch monthly

• Internal Outreach – Include recognition of staff (for significant accomplishments at county, state or national level); use video messages and frequent emails to
keep staff updated on district progress towards new Strategic Plan goals

• School Calendars – Have ONE calendar for all that includes back-to-school/parent conferences and Board meeting dates on the calendar

• Translations – Just hired another Spanish translator; continue to ensure we are translating as much as possible (especially Spanish) – we just did that with the
Strategic Plan Online Survey

• Brand Identity – Once Strategic Plan is finalized, create and launch updated TPS branding (visual/graphics) that support the new vision, mission and goals

Central Registration

2018-2019 Process Enhancements

Preschool Education Expansion Aid (PEEA) $1.2 million Grant

Awarded in early October 2018; secured satellite location; needed to complete promotion, application, registration and notification processes by December recess.

Over 80 applications were received (by Central Registration) and we completed registration in-take of 30 new students for the Teaneck Early Learning Center at Christ Episcopal Church.

2019-2020 Preview

All FULL DAY Pre-K at both locations; will have specific timeframes for applications (starts March 25th) and in-district registration. Applications available online and at BOE office. Goal to have most placements completed by June 2019.

Kindergarten registration will also have specific timeframe (now – May 10) for registration at Central Registration Office. Pre-K 4 families will have option to select home school versus placement at Bryant for kinder. New registrants with siblings at one of the elementary schools will be placed at their home school. Bryant used as the overflow school.

Currently looking for online registration system to use for 2020-2021; moving to an online system can take six months but is: more secure, connects directly with student information system, requires less paper!

Community Education

2018-2019 New Programs & Improvements

Modified registration process (encourage to be done online) for the Puffin Foundation/Hobby Quest afterschool programs (will begin this month at all four elementary schools)

Hired part-time S.A.C.C. coordinator

Finalizing S.A.C.C. Program State License for all afterschool locations; requires 20 hours of training for site directors; renews every 3 years with annual inspections

Working with Business Administrator to consider additional security measures at some schools for S.A.C.C. program

Currently registering for Camp K – Open House on March 20

Although not “Community Education”, we added TOPS Chess Club afterschool program (now available at Hawthorne & Lowell) and we will continue to add similar “educationally-focused” programs

Questions

Terry Corallo tcorallo@teaneckschools.org

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