Date:   July 25, 2001
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

Prince William County Public Schools has received a Golden Achievement Award from the National School Public Relations Association in the category of Exemplary Public Relations Activity for the “School Division Culture” program.  The Golden Achievement Award recognizes school districts for being a leader in school communication and for outstanding achievement in the four steps of a public relations program, which include analysis of the need, planning to meet the need, execution and communication of the program, and formal evaluation.

The Information Services Department staff, including Employee Relations, Community Relations, and Media Production Services, assisted with the implementation of the School Division Culture program by designing a video for new employees, spotlighting school and department programs in the weekly employee newsletter, printing culture statements in the telephone directory and exhibiting a “culture at work” display at the annual Governor’s Conference on Education, Chamber of Commerce events, new teacher orientations and at the National School Board Association annual conference. 

The precepts of the Prince William County Public Schools organization culture are a belief in the value of the individual; a belief that every individual can learn; a belief that decision-making is best done through a collaborative process; a belief in diversity; a belief that it is the responsibility of the school division to teach children; a belief that the school division is governed through a representative process; a belief in the commitment of the school division to all employees; a belief that effective communication among all employees is critical to the well-being and operation of the school division; a belief that effective communication and public relations is the responsibility of every employee; and a belief that continuous improvement in all areas of the school division is the basis for a quality operation.