November 11, 2005

WEAC Communications Director Dick Vander Woude announces his retirement

Dick Vander Woude is retiring after 10 years as WEAC's director of Public Relations, Communications and Member Benefits.

He coined the phrase "Every kid deserves a great school," and oversaw WEAC's communications efforts during the launch of the Great Schools initiative and media campaigns.

Vander Woude has spent his career working for children and educators. He began as a middle school history teacher in Iowa in 1960 and became an activist in organizing and collective bargaining for his local. He worked in government relations for the National Education Association and served as the executive director of the Nevada Education Association before coming to Wisconsin in 1995. His retirement follows 38 years of service to the NEA and its affiliates.

Under Vander Woude's leadership, WEAC Public Relations, Communications and Member Benefits won more than 100 state and national awards for online communications, print publications, advertising, writing and media relations, including several National School Public Relations Association Awards of Excellence and Aegis Awards of Excellence, the Public Relations Society of America Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation, a broadcast Vision Award and a Telly.

Great Schools is part of an effort to tell the true story about the quality and accomplishments of Wisconsin's public schools, public school teachers and staff. It has influenced state affiliates throughout the nation, and even preceded the NEA's "Great Public Schools for Every Child" initiative.

Dick Vander Woude built WEAC Public Relations and Communications from the odds and ends of other departments, and it has become a national model. The benefits of his contributions to WEAC, to children, and to Wisconsin's great schools will continue for years to come.