INVESTMN public relations materials
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Shari Prest, Ark Associates

Public relations is a crucial component leading to the success of school leaders and their school communities. INVESTMN (formerly Champions for Children™) is a communication partnership to teach Minnesotans about the accomplishments, risks, and challenges of public education. 

Let's invest in Minnesota together: Implementing a New Vision to Educate Students for Tomorrow in Minnesota.

These public relations materials were developed for MESPA by Shari Prest, Ark Associates. Glean what you can from the articles and presentations. Copy and distribute them in your educational communities as you see fit. Please use your influence to educate our communities about the needs and state of public education.

Champions for Children is a registered trademark used with the permission of Banach, Banach & Cassidy.    



Bits 'n Pieces, Winter 2012
Current facts and resources for your use when discussing the status and needs of education: including Just the Facts on Bragging Rights Grading Schools, Compare and Contrast (worldwide), Education and Globalization, Likelihood of Employment, Values and Variables, On the Brain, and Reaching Out -- PLUS Quotes and Quotables on School Funding, Charters, Traditional Schools, Leadership, and The Future.

Bits 'n Pieces, Winter 2011
Current facts and resources for your use when discussing the status and needs of education: including Just the Facts on Healthy Start, Investment and Innovation, Taxes, Bullies and Being Bullied, and Reaching Out -- PLUS Quotes and Quotables on In Memoriam, Clarifying Your Message, Competition, Progress, Taxes, Bullies and Bullied, and Technology.

Bullying Hurts People, Dec. 2011
Key Message: Bullying in any form and by any name damages everyone involved: the aggressors, the victims, and the observers.

The Wealth Gap: Nov. 2011
The Wealth Gap and How It Affects Children
Key Message: There is a correlation between academic outcomes and the level of support children receive in their lives. The growing wealth gap in the United States likely contributes to low international academic comparisons.

Bits 'n Pieces, Fall 2011
Current facts and resources for your use when discussing the status and needs of education: including Just the Facts on Bragging Rights, School Days, Did You Know?, Gaps and Gains, and Reaching Out -- PLUS Quotes and Quotables on Cause for Pause, Fact or Fiction, and Just for Fun.

Working Together, August 2011
Working Together To Work it Out
Key Message:
  Although these are tough times for schools, our commitment to providing the best possible education to all learners is unwavering.

Bits 'n Pieces, Summer 2011
Current facts and resources for your use when discussing the status and needs of education: including Just the Facts on Did You Know?, Taxes, Summer Gaps, Balance, and Tips for families and kids of all ages -- PLUS Quotes and Quotables on Values and Variables.

Bridging the Gaps, May 2011
Using the Calendar Gap to Narrow the Achievement Gap.

Key Message: Summer is an optimal time to partner with parents and communities to increase learning opportunities and reduce the learning loss that occurs over summer months when schools are closed.Key Message:  Summer is an

Bits 'n Pieces, Spring 2011
Current facts and resources for your use when discussing the status and needs of education: including Just the Facts on Early Childhood, Grads and Gaps, Did You Know?, Climate Control, Technology, Values and Variables, and Going Viral   -- PLUS Quotes and Quotables on Definitions, Communications, The Future, Determination, Personaalization, Just For Fun (from "Coffee News").

School Climate, March 2011
Climate Control:  Does it matter?
Key Messages: Student achievement and behavior are impacted by school climate. School climate can be influenced and improved.

Framework for the Future, March 2011
Key Message:  Schools of the future require a vision and framework that focus on academic success, create adequate and sustainable funding, provide flexibility, and attract and maximize the potential of high quality educators. 

Bits 'n Pieces, Winter 2011
Current facts and resources for your use when discussing the status and needs of education: including Just the Facts on Innovation in Education, Early Childhood, Did You Know?, and Risks and Realities   -- PLUS Quotes and Quotables on Change, The Future, Cautions in Communications, Technology, and Funding.

Leadership in Times of Scarcity, December 2010
Key message:  Minnesota's school administrators believe they have a responsibility to lead their communities through crisis and toward more effective and efficient schools.

Challenging the Challenges, October 2010
Key Message: Despite the difficult financial times our state, our schools, and our citizens are facing, we must continue to improve public education to meet the needs of our learners and our futures. Schools need creative and committed partners to make this happen.

Bits 'n Pieces, Fall 2010
Current facts and resources for your use when discussing the status and needs of education: including Just the Facts on The Past, The Present, The Future The Challenge, Red Flags, and Did You Know?  -- PLUS Quotes and Quotables on Leadership, Communications, Future, Progress, and Accountability.

Continuous Change, September 2010
Key Message: Minnesota schools are constantly changing to meet the needs of today’s learners as they prepare for an unknown future. The Minnesota Association of School Administrators, the Association of Secondary School Principals and the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association assist schools and school leaders as they identify and make changes.

What does it take to graduate? June 2010
Key Message:  Minnesota has a set of standards and assessments that were designed to ensure that students who graduate from Minnesota’s public schools have at least minimum competence to achieve success after they graduate. The purpose, consequences, and outcomes of these standards and assessments need to be better defined, understood and communicated.

Looking Back, Thinking Ahead, June 2010
Talking Points for use by school leaders in presentations about important issues related to public education

Key Message:
  Finding time for public relations can be challenging when schedules are overloaded and pockets of resistance exist. It is essential to student improvement and support for our schools to change how we relate to people within and outside of our schools in these dynamic times.

Bits'n Pieces, Summer 2010
Current facts and resources for your use when discussing the status and needs of education: including Just the Facts on Public Investment, Leadership Through Different Lenses, Public Engagement, School Leaders' Summer Savvy -- PLUS Quotes and Quotables on Future, Communications, Leadership, and Progress.

Promise for the Future, April 2010
Talking Points for use by school leaders in presentations about important issues related to public education

Key Message:
  The “Minnesota’s Promise: World Class Schools, World Class State” is an important guide to future educational and economic success for Minnesota. It needs to become a reality and a standard for our state’s success.

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Public Relations materials
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Created and offered for your use when speaking to staff or school community.



Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.

Leading schools toward excellence through the MESPA vision to be the premiere resource for preparing today's principals for tomorrow and a strong leading voice for public education.

Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association
1667 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108
651.999.7310     MN toll free 800.642.6807    
Fax: 651.999.7311     E-mail: mespa@mespa.net