11/13/2024
The USD 265 Community Relations team is comprised of creative and caring individuals who are committed to telling our District’s story and generating support for the students, staff, and families of Goddard Public Schools. They collectively continue to set high standards in the world of educational communications, recently earning multiple awards at the 2024 Kansas School Public Relations Association (KanSPRA) Fall Conference. The department's commitment to excellence was recognized across several categories, highlighting each member’s comprehensive approach to keeping their school community informed and engaged.
Catherine Fluty and Amanda Leivian both serve as Community Relations Specialists, and each contributes to the team's success. Fluty helps showcase school communities and tell the story of Goddard Public Schools through the District’s website, USD 265 mobile app, and multiple social media platforms utilizing photography, videography, and writing skills. She also assists in coordinating district-wide events and works alongside a team of digital ambassadors, who craft and curate online content for each school. Leivian primarily supports the Goddard Education Foundation (GEF) highlighting the legacies of those who have come before us, while connecting transformational resources to Goddard students and educators by coordinating GEF activities like the ROAR on 54 magazine, Goddard Hall of Fame, and the “OZ” annual fundraiser. She works alongside GEF supporters and volunteers to bring the vision of the future to life in every endeavor.
Amanda Leivian’s hard work building special programming, marketing materials, and communications for the GEF earned her recognition in multiple categories. The annual ROAR on 54 publication, as well as the annual fundraiser event (“OZ”), both received Awards of Excellence, the highest level of recognition. Additionally, Leivian received an Honorable Mention Award for the Foundation’s social media, and an Award of Merit for GEF’s fundraising campaign.
Amanda described her experience in her role as “I am proud to serve. I am truly amazed to see firsthand the dedication that our educators pour into their craft. As a parent of students in Goddard schools, I am thankful to know how much my children are cared for and the excellence in education they are receiving. I am honored to tell their story and help generate resources that expand opportunities for students.”
Following her first year in school public relations, Catherine Fluty earned two Awards of Excellence - one for audio/video production with “Backpack Journey,” and the other for website management with her efforts dedicated to the success of the USD 265 website and mobile app.
Reflecting on her first year serving in the District, Fluty said, “It’s a humbling experience, but reflective of the hard work of every educator in the District. It’s especially impactful for me, as a Goddard native. This work is so rewarding, getting to share and shine a light on the stories of the students, staff and families right here in my hometown. This really is a family, our !”
Dane Baxa is the team leader, serving as Director of Community Relations and Executive Director of the Goddard Education Foundation. The department's success extended beyond traditional award categories, with Baxa earning an Honorable Mention for crisis communication planning, while additional honors were awarded for social media initiatives and photo series documentation. Jacob McCarty, Department Intern for the 2022-2023 school year, rounded out the team's achievements with a Merit Award for writing, highlighting the department's versatility in storytelling across a multitude of platforms.
Baxa described the success earned by his team saying, “Each recognition reflects not just the hard work of our team but also the commitment of Goddard Public Schools to meaningful, engaging communication with our community. Catherine and Amanda consistently go above and beyond to capture the heart of what makes our district a family - the dedication of our educators and the promise of our students. Their talents amplify our district’s story and build vital support for our mission. I’m incredibly proud of how they bring passion and excellence into every project, making a profound impact on our school community and beyond. The awards, presented by KanSPRA, an organization representing communications professionals from public schools throughout Kansas, are peer-reviewed and selected. The recognition showcases how our team continues to innovate and excel in sharing the Goddard Public Schools story with our community, to further the mission of educating all students for lifelong success.”
