Emergency Communications
This is a reminder that during an emergency or crisis situation at your school, all communications to the public must only be made by the ACPS Office of Communications. You may forward on any messages posted on official ACPS platforms — ACPS website, @ACPSk12 on Twitter and ACPS on Facebook — however, please do not create and send out your own messages during an emergency. Once the emergency is over, the Office of Communications will work with principals to resolve any further emergency communications to parents and guardians.
Working with the Media
In responding to VIP requests, news media inquiries and initiation of media contacts, all ACPS employees must direct all media requests to the ACPS Office of Communications for assistance.
No member of the media is permitted on school property without being accompanied by a member of the Office of Communications. Please contact us immediately at 703-619-8003 if you get calls from the media or they show up outside your school.
Even if the story being covered is a positive one, we want to help you go through the process as successfully and smoothly as possible.
When working with the media, here’s what we can help you with:
- Deciding whether an interview is in the school’s or division’s best interests
- Preparing for an on-camera or print interview
- Contacting the reporter to get more information about the angle of the story
- Reviewing notes, researching the facts and anticipating difficult questions
- Providing focus for your story with ‘talking points’
- Advising you on ACPS policies and applicable laws, such as FERPA and student privacy
- Gathering other staff or student sources to be involved in the story
‘The media’ includes not only local newspapers and TV stations, but magazines, news websites, blogs and radio stations as well.
When VIPs or the media call, call Communications. We will help you make your story go from good to great.