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KCPS NEWS

Communications & Community Engagement

Nicole Collier-White

Nicole Collier-White
Chief Communications  & Community Engagement Officer

Contact Information

Communications
2901 Troost Ave
Kansas City, MO 64109
communications@kcpublicschools.org

At Kansas City Public Schools, we believe strong schools are built on strong connections. Open, transparent, and ongoing communication with our families and community is at the heart of everything we do. By fostering genuine two-way dialogue, we strengthen trust and relationships that serve as the foundation of an exceptional school system.

KCPS Communications shares the stories that define our district. Whether it's celebrating achievements, highlighting innovation, or keeping our community informed. We are dedicated to delivering clear, timely, and effective communication to employees, parents, students, and community members alike, ensuring everyone has the information and inspiration they need to support student success.

Mission: CREATE. SHARE. and ENGAGE

Create

  • Develop engaging and informative media and materials to effectively communicate with our diverse audience.
  • Capture information and content to highlight district stories.
  • Present information that captures the attention and interest of students, staff, and the community.

Share

  • Provide accurate, timely, and transparent information to keep stakeholders informed and connected.
  • Highlight student and staff achievements while telling the story of KCPS, our identity, and our vision, to promote district pride and awareness.
  • Distribute resources and updates through various channels to ensure wide-reaching and effective communication.

Engage

  • Foster strong relationships among students, families, staff and community through active involvement, partnership and collaboration.
  • Create opportunities for meaningful dialogue and two-way communication with all stakeholders.
  • Encourage community participation and support for district goals and student success initiatives

Vision

The Communications and Community Engagement Department seeks to support and empower our students, families, staff and community through effective communication and meaningful engagement to build trust, promote the district's goals and champion student success.

Goals

  • Improve the flow of information within KCPS.
  • Increase the consistency and timeliness of clear, accurate information.
  • Leverage various communication channels and language resources to ensure accessibility and engagement.
  • Increase opportunities for two-way communication and dialogue.
  • Strengthen and expand collaborative relationships with students, families, staff and community. 
  • Improve responsiveness in all communications to ensure stakeholders receive exceptional support and experience a high level of satisfaction with KCPS interactions.

Meet the Team

Nicole Collier White
Chief Communications and Community Engagement

Shain Bergan
Director of Communications

Francisco Litardo
Director of Strategic Engagement

Jon Hile
Director of Education Foundation

Pa See Caby
Graphic Designer

Jacqueline Marshall
Administrative Assistant

Jasmine Brooks
Partnerships & Community Relations Manager

Aisha Williams
Community Engagement Specialist

How we communicate

Great communication is essential to strong schools and student success. KCPS provides two-way engagement with families and community members across multiple channels, ensuring everyone stays informed and involved.

Our Communications team creates opportunities for parents to connect, participate, and be vital partners in the KCPS community.

In the event of an emergency, KCPS will share timely updates through SchoolMessenger voice,TalkingPoints, email, and text alerts, as well as district websites, local media, and official social media accounts. Our priority is a coordinated system that keeps families informed and supports safety across the district.

Award Programs

Teacher of the Year

The purpose of the KCPS Teacher of the Year program is to recognize our extraordinary classroom teachers' contributions in every school. Teacher quality and effectiveness are the most important school-based factors impacting student learning. Our teachers create learning environments where children flourish and grow. Through Teacher of the Year, KCPS honors, promotes and celebrates excellence in the teaching profession, helping our teachers earn regional, state, and national recognition. Thank you to the KCPS Education Foundation, which sponsors this program!

And thank you for helping us recognize our incredible teachers!

**Reminder: Teacher of the Year candidates must be full-time certified instructors.

https://www.kcpublicschools.org/about/teacher-of-the-year

Superintendent Recognitions

At KCPS, we’re proud to spotlight the incredible students and staff who go above and beyond for their schools, peers, and community. Each quarter, we invite nominations for Board Recognitions, a special opportunity to publicly honor those making a difference.

We recognize:

  • *Scholar Superstars – Outstanding students
  • *Terrific Teammates – Exceptional staff members
  • *Outstanding Administrators – Inspiring school and district leaders

If you know someone who deserves the spotlight, we want to hear from you! Use the link below to nominate a student, staff member, or administrator to be recognized at our next KCPS Board of Education meeting, taking place Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Harold Holliday Montessori School, 7227 Jackson Ave.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you — see you there!

Nominate: https://app.smore.com/n/fehz2

Press Inquiries

Shain Bergan sbergan@kcpublicschools.org

  • KCPS Media Relations Kansas City Public Schools welcomes members of the media and is committed to providing accurate, timely information.
  • Interviewing School Officials KCPS educators and administrators are leaders in education and prepared to discuss important issues. All interview requests should begin with the Communications Department, which will connect you with the appropriate staff and arrange interview times.
  • Visiting Schools Media visits must be coordinated through Communications. A staff member will serve as an escort to ensure visits are safe, respectful, and minimally disruptive to learning. Please provide multiple date options, as school schedules may include early dismissals, testing, or events that limit availability.
  • Photographing Students and Staff KCPS complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Communications team will confirm which students and staff may not be photographed or interviewed. Always verify permissions with Communications before taking photos, video, or quotes.
  • Board of Education Stay informed about KCPS Board of Education meetings and agenda items through SIMBLI https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Index.aspx?S=228

Communications Guide

Communications Request Form

Looking to share an important message or bring a project to life? Use our Communications Form to connect with the Communications team. From district-wide announcements to custom design, photography, and video, we’ll ensure your story is clear, engaging, and tailored to the right audience. This form is your one-stop entry point for professional messaging and creative support.

https://forms.office.com/r/QDsUHzMVVj 

Crisis Communications

Crisis Comms

Email Etiquette

Coming soon

Planning Special Events

Communications request form: https://forms.office.com/r/QDsUHzMVVj 

Communication Platforms

Branding and Logos

Coming Soon

Social Media

Guide

KCPS Social Media Guidelines

Social media is one of the most powerful tools we have to connect with families, staff, and the broader Kansas City community. With more than half the world actively using platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), KCPS leverages these channels to share timely updates, celebrate successes, and drive audiences to district resources.

While maintaining a school or department account is not required, KCPS Communications is here to support anyone interested in building meaningful engagement through social media.

Keys to Effective Posts

Facebook

  • Add a photo — posts with images earn far more engagement.
  • Share a link — guide families directly to announcements or resources.
  • Keep it short — posts under 250 characters perform best.

Instagram

  • Use high-quality images or short videos — visuals drive the strongest engagement.
  • Write clear, concise captions — pair storytelling with brevity.
  • Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, but keep them focused (3–5 is ideal).
  • Try reels for quick, engaging updates — they often outperform static posts.
  • Direct followers to KCPS websites or resources using links in bio or stories.

Important Reminders

  • Keep professional and personal accounts separate.
  • Understand your smartphone apps and privacy settings.
  • Follow FERPA guidelines to protect student privacy.
  • Align all posts with KCPS Policy and Regulation 4812.
  • Monitor accounts regularly and remove inappropriate activity.

Graphic Standards

Graphic Standards

KCPS Education Foundation

The Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation believes a successful public education system depends on three pillars: motivated students, caring adults, and an engaged community. We are connectors, helping educators address the sometimes-competing interests of these stakeholders while embracing the unique tapestry of cultures, languages, belief systems, and socio-economic backgrounds the district serves. The Foundation funds excellence, because we see a direct correlation between KCPS student success and quality of life in Kansas City.

https://kcpsfoundation.org/

Board of Education