School And Community Relations
- Based on the information presented in Maxouris & Gray (2018), do you feel that the situation was managed correctly? Provide rationale for your answer. Remember you should view this from a public relations perspective, as opposed to a personal perspective. Cite evidence from the reading or other scholarly sources.
- As a school/ district leader, what if anything do you envision doing differently in your response to the school community?
Required Reading Materials
Kowalski, Theodore (2011). Public Relations for Schools (5th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Maxouris, C. & Gray, M. (2018). Elementary School Teachers in Idaho Dressed Up As a MAGA Border Wall for Halloween. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/02/us/idaho-teachers-border-costume-trnd/index.html (Links to an external site.)
Answer:
Based on the information presented in Maxouris & Gray (2018), I do not believe that the situation was managed correctly from a public relations perspective. The costume worn by the teachers was controversial and offensive, and it received national media attention that painted the school district in a negative light. The district’s initial response to the incident was to issue a statement that acknowledged the offense caused by the costume but did not apologize for it, which could have further inflamed tensions.
As a school/district leader, I would ensure that all staff members are trained on cultural sensitivity and appropriate conduct in school and in the community. I would also establish a clear code of conduct that outlines appropriate behavior and attire for school events, and make sure that all staff members are aware of the policy. Additionally, I would establish a crisis communication plan that includes procedures for responding to incidents of this nature, including a clear apology and a plan for addressing the situation with affected stakeholders. Finally, I would take responsibility for the incident and commit to taking concrete steps to ensure that it does not happen again.
