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Longtime WEAC member Pat Reis found herself receiving an impromptu mini-makeover in June as part of an effort by the WEAC Public Relations Department to put a real face on the issues surrounding public education in our state.
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Reis, an art teacher for 33 years at Royal Oaks Elementary School in Sun Prairie, welcomed the opportunity to smile for the camera – and public education. “It was fun,” said Reis, who retired at the end of the school year. “That was pretty exciting.”
A camera crew made its way to several elementary, middle and high schools in the state to build a collection of photographs showing the great things that are happening every day. It is the first phase of a comprehensive effort to showcase WEAC’s varied membership. In the future, the photo collection will expand to include photographs of other membership areas and communities.
It’s all a part of an effort to continue to enhance the public relations resources provided by UniServs and WEAC.
“WEAC is a member organization, so it only makes sense that we feature members in our literature and in our communications,” said Kim Haas, WEAC public relations director. “The focus of this effort was to use photography to tell the story about what makes Wisconsin’s public schools great.”
“Going to Wisconsin schools gives us the opportunity to capture the energy that is in those classrooms and those schools,” said Laura DeVries, WEAC graphic design specialist. “That energy is part of what makes Wisconsin schools great.”
 WEAC members in Milwaukee talk to Executive Director Dan Burkhalter, (third from left) as Mark Ambrose of Radlund Photography in Madison takes a picture. |
WEAC Executive Director Dan Burkhalter joined the staff at Community High School in Milwaukee for one of the photo sessions, taking time to talk to the professionals who are the driving force in the successful school.
“We are happy to get the positive message of our school out there,” said Roxane Mayeur, co-lead teacher. “We’re proud of our students and what they’re doing.”
“It felt great to have our classroom featured,” said Joel McElrone, a two-year teacher at the school. “The students liked it a lot, although they were a little nervous at first.”
"Wisconsin has great things going on in every single school, so we weren’t surprised to see all the exciting programs in the schools that we visited,” said Anne Egan-Waukau, WEAC’s media relations specialist. “The staff and students were so excited, and they shared the enthusiasm they have for their schools with us.”
“In fact, Brenda Windom, the service learning coordinator and community liaison for Community High School, thanked us for the effort and professionalism that went into coordinating the photo session,” Egan-Waukau continued. “She said the kids were inspired and still talking about the experience a week later.”
The photos may be used in WEAC promotional materials and communications, from the popular member pocket calendar to the OnWEAC Web site. Brochures, pamphlets, booklets, fliers and posters are also among the communications tools used to promote WEAC and its members.
 WEAC Executive Director Dan Burkhalter looks on as member Shahanna McKinney-Baldon prepares for her photograph to be taken at Community High School in Milwaukee. The photos were taken as part of an initiative to feature real members in the organization's communications materials. |
WEAC offers public relations support and tools to locals who wish to:
Resources for local PR efforts are being reviewed and will be updated this summer.
For online tools you can use, go to OnWEAC at www.weac.org, log into the Members Only site and click on “Tools for local programs," located on the right side of the page.
For specific public relations support, contact your UniServ office, call the WEAC Public Relations Department at 1-800-362-8034, or send an e-mail to: WEAC Public Relations Department.
Posted June 15, 2007
