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Crisis Management

Contact: PressOffice@HoustonISD.org, 713-556-6393

Media Relations is your primary communications contact during a crisis on campus. We can help you notify parents and respond to media when an emergency occurs. This process allows you to focus on the crisis at hand, while also ensuring that parents are appropriately notified. It also helps us gather the information we need to respond to related media inquiries.

You should contact Media Relations if:

  • You have an incident on campus that requires parent notification or could potentially garner media attention. We have a large database of templates (callouts, letters, text messages) and can help you draft/edit a message to send to your school community should you feel it necessary. If you’re not sure if a notification is necessary, we can walk you through that process. Note: You are welcome to draft your own notifications, which we’re happy to edit. But it’s still important to alert our team about any campus emergency, as we’re likely to get media inquiries. 

  • You have been contacted by the media — about a positive or negative story. We’re here to help coordinate with the media and facilitate interviews — or respond on your behalf, if necessary. Sometimes, a media inquiry about your school will come through our office. When that happens, we will reach out to you immediately so that we can discuss the request, gather pertinent information, and determine the appropriate response.

  • You are working with a partner organization to schedule a joint press event, pitch a story to local media, or distribute a joint press release or media advisory. Even if your partner organization is taking the lead, it’s important to keep us in the loop. You can update us directly or put us in contact with the media relations/communications representative from your partner organization.
  • You have a great story idea and want to pitch it to the local newspaper or TV station. We are thrilled that you want to promote the positive events and programs on your campus. However, we ask that you contact us first and visit with us about your plans before you contact a reporter directly. This helps ensure we’re all on the same page when it comes to promoting schools and programs in the district. You can also send information to news@houstonisd.org and it will be forwarded to the communications and media relations staff

Below you will find direct contact information for members of the Media Relations team, as well as sample parent notification templates, and a step-by-step guide to the parent-notification process.

Media Relations:

 
Office: 713-556-6393
 
 Resources: