Awards Award Winners 35 Under 35 Honorees Jesse Chatz

How many years have you worked in school PR?
4 years.

The most rewarding part of working in school PR has been providing families with a welcoming, inclusive and accessible educational experience for their children. Oftentimes, the work of school PR professionals impacts a family’s first impression of the school and the district. Knowing this, I work hard to ensure that our communication, language, visuals and the overall experience is one that can resonate with any family, regardless of their background. This is not only rewarding because it impacts our parents and caregivers, but it also impacts how a child connects with their school. I have also found that providing communication tools and resources to staff has been equally rewarding. Recently, we switched to a new communication platform that has proven to be a great tool for our staff in making more meaningful connections with families. Strong parent-teacher relationships are extremely important to the success of all our students and communication is a critical component of this.

For me, the most challenging part about working in school PR has been responding to the many challenges and crises facing our entire nation all at once. Whether it be COVID, school safety, equity or any other “hot topic” items, ensuring that we are communicating effectively and concisely with our community so that they feel protected, heard and understood is extremely important. Additionally, I have a unique role, in that I serve as a Communication Director for two separate school districts. Navigating the different nuances in each of these communities has been something that has challenged and pushed me to think more creatively about my personal approach to communication and public relations. 

I have had the opportunity to support the rebranding of a couple of our schools and this process has allowed me to grow professionally in ways I never expected. From gathering and prioritizing feedback, to thinking creatively and outside of the box to ensure our school’s brand is reflective of our community, these processes have been extremely fulfilling. Additionally, it is always rewarding to see our students, staff, and families wearing and “repping’” their school with pride! I believe strongly that having school pride can positively impact a child’s educational experiences and thus creating a brand that promotes school spirit students has been an amazing experience for me.