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The Superintendents to Watch award recognizes up to 25 school district leaders each year who have fewer than five years of experience as a superintendent and who demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core.
Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to excellence through innovative initiatives that significantly enhance administrative efficiency and community engagement within the District. Dr. Eminhizer has created a vital platform for strategic alignment and leadership development by spearheading the Annual Leadership Retreat for all District and school site administrators. This retreat is essential for setting educational priorities, sharing best practices, and fostering a unified vision across the District. Solidifying her commitment to leadership development, Dr. Eminhizer launched the Covina-Valley Leadership Seminar Series, a pioneering program designed to cultivate leadership skills, collaboration, and positive culture at all organizational levels. This annual seminar engages participants in workshops focusing on leadership fundamentals, the power of positive leadership, becoming a trustworthy and inspiring leader, leading change, and developing effective teams. The impact of this program has been profound, equipping our leaders with the tools necessary to drive positive outcomes and inspire their teams. In addition to these leadership-focused initiatives, Dr. Eminhizer has effectively utilized advisory groups to bridge gaps between the District administration and our school sites—students, staff, and parents. These groups have provided invaluable insights that have directly influenced District policies and practices, ensuring they are inclusive and supportive of student success. Dr. Eminhizer’s approach to these initiatives showcases her adeptness at anticipating the District's needs and implementing comprehensive strategies that address these needs through active and inclusive leadership. Her ability to connect with and inspire all levels of the organization underscores her exceptional leadership qualities and unwavering dedication to the District’s mission. Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer has transformed our district through her visionary leadership and set a benchmark for neighboring districts in leadership and excellence. Her frequent participation in city-wide events as a speaker showcases the District's successes and strategies under her stewardship. These presentations highlight our District’s accomplishments and offer a space for collaboration and connection. Many civic leaders and surrounding district leadership admire her effectiveness in fostering exemplary and inspirational programs. Dr. Eminhizer’s approach ensures that our District is not just keeping pace with educational advancements but is leading by example, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in public education. Dr. Emhinhizer’s vision of excellence has resulted in the following awards. 2024 NSPRA Awards: Golden Achievement Award - Marketing Communication Campaign CTE at C-VUSD: Inspiring Unlimited Potential Award of Excellence - Video Produced by Outside Contractor District Showcase Video Award of Excellence - Marketing Material C-VUSD CTE Flipbook Award of Merit - Social Media Amplifying Education Through Social Media Award of Merit - Video Series Produced In House Student Voices: CTE at C-VUSD Award of Honorable Mention - Special Purpose Publication C-VUSD Board Briefs 2024 CalSPRA Awards: Award of Excellence: Covina-Valley Unified's Approach to Media Relations Covina-Valley Unified's District Showcase Video: A Cinematic Showcase of Educational Excellence Award of Merit: Covina-Valley Unified School District | Career Technical Education Pathways Marketing Campaign Connecting Covina-Valley: Amplifying Education Through Social Media
Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer has revolutionized communication strategies at Covina-Valley Unified School District, skillfully combining contemporary digital tools with traditional methods. This innovative approach has significantly enhanced engagement across students, families, staff, and the broader community. Key elements of her strategy include the C-VUSD Connects newsletter and Board Briefs. Her monthly newsletter updates district news and events to community partners and staff, while the Board Briefs offer clear, concise summaries of board meetings, enhancing transparency and community understanding of district governance. Recognizing the value of dynamic communication, Dr. Eminhizer maintains a monthly video update series that personalizes messages and expands reach. Alongside, she leverages social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to celebrate successes and facilitate real-time community interaction. New this year, Dr. Eminhizer launched the C-VUSD Community Listserv, a pivotal technology-driven platform that dramatically expands the district’s communication reach. This listserv enables swift, comprehensive dissemination of critical information directly to the inboxes of all community members, ensuring that everyone, from staff to parents and students, remains well-informed about school activities and updates. This tool is valuable for maintaining continuous communication flow and inclusivity across the diverse school community. Dr. Eminhizer has introduced student board members into the district's decision-making framework to enhance student engagement in governance. This innovative approach allows students to actively participate in leadership roles, representing their peers and bringing unique insights into district operations. The presence of student board members fosters a deeper connection between students and district leadership, ensuring that the youth's voices are heard and influential in shaping educational policies and practices. Dr. Eminhizer is committed to being accessible and responsive to the needs of all community groups through structured and informal channels. She has established three advisory groups—students, staff, and parents—to gather diverse perspectives and address specific concerns within the district. Additionally, she hosts 'Snacks with the Superintendent,' informal meetings that provide a relaxed environment for open dialogue and direct interaction with various community members. These sessions are crucial for building trust and fostering a sense of community ownership over school-related issues. Dr. Eminhizer has also been featured on the California School News radio podcast. The District submits its communication press releases and communication materials to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), and due to the relevancy and quality of the submissions, Covina-Valley’s items are frequently featured in LACOE’s bi-weekly newsletter. This connects Covina-Valley to the greater educational community in Los Angeles County and highlights excellent work in the district.
Through these comprehensive efforts, Dr. Eminhizer has enhanced the flow of information and ensured that communication within Covina-Valley is genuinely reciprocal. Her strategic integration of modern digital tools with traditional communication methods has significantly increased participation in district activities and built a foundation of trust and transparency. Dr. Eminhizer’s leadership has created an environment where every voice is heard and valued, setting a new standard for effective communication in educational leadership.
Dr. Eminhizer prioritizes clear and consistent communication to build trust and engage all community groups, especially those underserved in our district. She believes strategic communication is essential for local school districts as they navigate challenges such as declining enrollment, increasing student achievement, and effectively managing limited resources. 70% of Covina-Valley families are identified as low-income. Her efforts have increased community engagement, ensuring that every voice is heard, and strengthened connections throughout the district. The Board of Education’s strategic planning includes communication in the Board of Education Goal (#7: Our District schools will engage their families and community to increase student success, and the Board of Education's Core Beliefs (#3: We believe communication between parents, teachers, staff, community, and the Board will lead to a strong and unified District for all students). In alignment with these goals, Dr. Eminhizer facilitates yearly strategic planning sessions with the Board of Education. The strategic planning includes using communication platforms that are better to engage all groups, particularly those traditionally underserved, such as English learners and socio-economically disadvantaged families. Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer has skillfully integrated communication goals within our district’s strategic framework, directly supporting our core vision: Innovative education that inspires every student's unlimited potential. Her leadership was pivotal in our inclusion in the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) Cohort V of the Community Engagement Initiative, exemplifying her commitment to enhancing student success through proactive community engagement. This initiative aligns with our strategic goals and equips our district with innovative strategies for engagement, fostering a collaborative environment where best practices are shared with other participating districts. Dr. Eminhizer has also established specific communication goals to strengthen connections with community partners and increase our visibility across various media outlets. This includes a focused effort to highlight our educational programs and celebrate achievements in local publications such as the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and the West Covina Discover digital magazine. These articles inform the community about our students' successes, staff accomplishments, and distinctive programs, attracting support and resources from local businesses and partners. Furthermore, Dr. Eminhizer has enhanced the use of digital platforms like ParentSquare and our social media channels to ensure continuous two-way communication with our community. This strategic use of digital communication not only disseminates valuable information but also cultivates a feedback-rich environment, inviting community input and collaboration. Our commitment to sharing the programs and services of our community partners through these channels has fostered a mutually beneficial relationship, enhancing the resources available to our students and solidifying the community's role in supporting educational outcomes. Through these integrated communication strategies, Dr. Eminhizer has ensured that our district not only pursues but achieves its vision of inspiring every student's unlimited potential by making strategic communication an integral part of our educational mission. Her approach has positioned our district as a leader in how communication can profoundly influence educational excellence and community involvement.
Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer has distinguished herself through a hands-on approach to improving communications in Covina-Valley. Since becoming superintendent, she has prioritized transparency, open dialogue, and innovative communication tools to serve better students, families, staff, and the community. A key element of her strategy has been the creation of a dedicated Communications department, led by a Director of Communications at the cabinet level, emphasizing the critical role communication plays in the district’s success. Dr. Eminhizer’s focus on fostering two-way communication is evident in her regular virtual town hall meetings, open forums, attendance, and school and community events. These efforts ensure parents, students, and staff have a direct channel to share feedback, concerns, and ideas with her. This engagement has allowed her to better understand the community's needs and make decisions that reflect their interests. She has especially emphasized connecting with low-income families and English learners, acknowledging their unique challenges. Through multilingual communication strategies and targeted outreach efforts, Dr. Eminhizer has ensured that all families receive essential updates and resources regardless of language. Her presence at community events, targeted listening sessions, and collaboration with family liaisons have further strengthened these connections. Beyond her work with families, Dr. Eminhizer has elevated student voices in the district. She has ensured that students play an active role in shaping district decisions by working with the Board of Education to add student board members and creating a student advisory group. This initiative has strengthened the bond between district leadership and the student body, making students feel heard and valued. Dr. Eminhizer has also championed the use of technology to enhance communication. She has expanded the district’s social media presence, using platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to share updates, celebrate student achievements, and foster community. Her efforts have helped create a positive online presence that keeps families engaged and informed. Dr. Eminhizer has prioritized open lines of communication with staff, promoting a culture of transparency and collaboration. Through regular meetings, focus groups, and professional development, she ensures that staff remain informed about district goals and initiatives, empowering them to contribute to student success. Dr. Eminhizer’s leadership in communications has fostered a culture of frequent and timely communication across all schools and departments, dramatically improving transparency, collaboration, and inclusivity. These efforts have led to excellent community engagement, ensuring every voice is heard and strengthening community connections throughout the district. Covina-Valley frequently issues media releases to inform the community about critical events, student achievements, and district initiatives. This consistent outreach ensures that community groups are well-informed, showcasing the district’s commitment to transparency and keeping families and community members engaged with district activities. By making communication a central pillar of the district’s operations, Dr. Eminhizer has set a high standard for effective educational leadership. Students, parents, and the community recognize Dr. Eminhizer as an approachable leader, fostering trust and encouraging them to share their stories, making her an exceptional communications leader.
B.A. - Mississippi State University; MPA - University of Georgia
I believe school PR/communications is what I was born to do! One of the biggest decisions a parent can make is where to send their child to school, and it’s an honor to share with our parents the engaging work that their children are doing under the guidance of world-class teachers and leaders. On any given day, in any given school, there are many stories to be told and I take that charge seriously. As school communicators played a key role in COVID-19 communications, storytelling was more important than ever – not only did I share information with parents about our protocols, but I also made over 80 visits to schools last year and told a variety of stories about how students were thriving with both in-person and distance learning options. I also worked with principals to determine best mitigation practices and helped make those pervasive, because positive action must be the foundation of what we are ultimately communicating. School public relations is incredibly complex and I love that each day brings a new challenge.
My greatest school PR success was completing 11 nationally-innovative school communication audits using a process of research, planning, implementation, and evaluation. I am now in phase two of this project and am attending school council meetings to garner feedback from parents about school-level communication and how I can better support the work of their schools. One of the most significant findings is that as students take more ownership of their learning, they also take more ownership in parent communication. Therefore, next steps are to better prepare parents for this transition and to also determine best practices from exemplar teachers and coaches at the secondary level so we can strike the right balance with parents feeling informed and fostering student independence.
My greatest school PR challenge is overcoming rigidity. Like many PR professionals, I am detail-oriented and a self-described perfectionist. It’s a blessing and a curse to see when something is one pixel off, but the greatest challenge I have faced in my 13 years in this field is to learn to be more flexible. I might have an aversion to Comic Sans or Curlz, but it’s not the end of the world if those are a font favorite elsewhere. What’s more important is the bigger picture – staff and parents feeling well-informed and students growing and learning in positive school cultures. Instead of telling someone their website isn’t formatted properly, I now make a 2-3 minute screencast if I think there’s a quick tutorial I can offer to provide ongoing professional learning. By being much more flexible, I have deepened relationships and become better at supporting the most important job that occurs in our school system: teaching.
My favorite part of my job is the relationships. I often say that there is no substitute for showing up, and that’s why I make so many school visits each year. From getting to hold a gorgeous monarch butterfly to watching a vibrant student musical to seeing 3-D printing in action from engineering students, I have witnessed countless unique opportunities, and these experiences are just a small piece of what our students get to take part in each and every day. If I didn’t take the time to form relationships, I wouldn’t know that what students value is knowing that the photos I take may show up in their yearbooks. I wouldn’t know the myriad of annual activities that teachers do across our schools because I wouldn’t have witnessed them firsthand. I wouldn’t know about the families of our principals or what they believe makes their school unique. All of that is invaluable because at the end of the day and at the end of this career, relationships are what will remain – both professionally and personally.
The communication tool I use the most is Canva! I would be a brand ambassador if they asked! I am not very mathematically-minded and it can be challenging for someone with an eye for good design – but not an eye for rulers and gridlines – to be a graphic designer. However, Canva has made it possible and I am able to create aesthetically-pleasing graphics with short turn-around times. I have trained communication ambassadors at our schools how to use it as well. Right after Canva, the tool I most use is iMovie. I am completely self-taught in videography and using iMovie and Canva together has made me someone who can add “videographer” to their list of expertise.