PR professional, journalist, memoir writer
Star Polisher Project, Longview Public Schools
Golden Achievement Award winner, National School Public Relations Association
Working with the LPS communications team, I developed and implemented this morale-boosting teacher recognition program in which students nominate teachers who have made a difference in their learning and their lives. (My work with Longview ended at the end of 2018.)
Memoir published by Camphor Press, 2020
This is the story of what happened when, seeking a real-life do-over, I ran off to Japan. After two years in an isolated community, I realized I’d run far, far away to find my way home.
Education Matters newsletter, Hockinson School District
I wrote and managed the production of quarterly newsletters and annual reports for Hockinson School District, in collaboration with an ESD 112 graphic designer.
Website redesign and management project, Hockinson School District
I worked with the school district to determine its website needs and wants, find an affordable vendor and collaborated with tech staff to set up a new user-friendly website. Among my accomplishments: creating new menus and establishing building liaisons who oversee and contribute to each school’s website. (I left Hockinson in 2019, but the website has been largely maintained.)
Levy voter guide, Hockinson School District (April 2019)
Best in Category, Washington School Public Relations Association
I collaborated with the school district superintendent and business manager, and an ESD 112 graphic designer on two rounds of levy communications in 2019. The initial levy-related communications pieces were recognized with awards by WSPRA (see the “Quick Facts” piece, left), but the second-round voter guide seemed to go over better with voters.
“Edu-speakin'” video series
I worked with colleagues at Educational Service District 112 to develop this video series demystifying education jargon and wrote the script for the introductory “Speakeasy” video, plus scripts for STEM/STEAM education and Magnet schools. I also wrote the proposal to present our work at the National School Public Relations Association annual conference and co-presented there in 2018.
“Hockinson Schools: A Place to Grow” video
I collaborated with Hockinson School District and ESD 112 videographers to create two videos that introduce viewers to the story of this small school district.
Sarah Coomber 