Director's Message5/20/03

     In my endeavor to summarize DoDDS Pacific efforts to successfully implement the goals of the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan (CSP), I want to highlight Outcome B, Communication System, of Goal 4 Network of Partnerships Promoting Achievement. Outcome B provides that All levels of the organization will develop and implement a multimedia communication plan to enhance dialogue and promote trust among staff, parents, students, and the community. In DoDDS Pacific we have made significant strides in embracing a multimedia approach to communications within our school, district, and area offices in an effort to keep our stakeholders informed.

     During SY 02-03, schools and districts participated in centralized training to prepare educators who are serving as school and district communications practitioners with a foundation for understanding how to gather, produce, and distribute school and district news to their internal and external publics. Public relations tips and tools, as well as information on how to develop a multimedia approach to communications, were provided. This resulted in increased communication submissions from the schools and districts to the community through various outlets including school newsletters and web sites, AFN radio and television, Stars and Stripes, base newspapers, commanders’ channels, and where available, dedicated education channels. In school communities throughout the Pacific, communication POCs have made noteworthy progress in providing school and district news to staff, parents, students, and community members.

     At the area level, we have institutionalized the DoDDS Pacific Newsletter, a regular publication of the Director’s Office, to inform military and educational leaders, school liaisons, school advisory committee members, and other stakeholders of issues concerned with policy, trends, research, programs, and practices related to DoDDS Pacific dependents education. My office also publishes an annual report that provides information about our mission and goals, new programs, past year’s achievements, student and staff accomplishments, test scores, expenditures, and advisory council membership. A weekly Director’s Message, highlighting important elements of our educational system, is provided to districts and schools and is also available on the DoDDS Pacific web site. DoDDS Pacific news releases, provided to the media, are posted on our web site. The DoDDS Pacific web site, launched in 1999, strives to meet the information needs of DoDDS Pacific stakeholders, incoming families to the Pacific theater, as well as a broader worldwide audience.

     I am very proud of the progress we have made in providing our students a world class education. Through our multimedia communication plan, we have increased our efforts to share our progress and achievements with our stakeholders. It is our goal to actively pursue a two-way communications program that highlights the educational activities in our schools and districts and that promotes effective school/home/community partnerships. I deeply appreciate the efforts of everyone who has a part in strengthening the communication operations in DoDDS Pacific.

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific