School & Community Relations

The school & community relations department for the Green Bay Area Public School District handles:

media relations
website development
social media
district videography & photography
district publications
graphic design
crisis communications
district communication
School Spirit educational endowment
sponsorships
marketing
advertising
special events

Expectations of the Media

Media Expectations

The Green Bay Area Public School District recognizes and appreciates the role of media in providing news and information to our community. At the same time, procedures must be in place to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our students and staff that supports learning with as few disruptions as possible.

Have a story idea about the Green Bay Area Public School District or one of its schools? Want to set up an interview? Here are some easy steps to help you get what you need as quickly and easily as possible.

If you want to visit a school for a story, please contact the School & Community Relations Department first to schedule. We will work to facilitate your request within your timeline - call (920) 448-2025.

Please do not visit a school without prior approval. Our staff are responsible for the safety and privacy of our students first and foremost and they take that responsibility very seriously. They will direct you to the School & Community Relations Department.

If you wish to talk to GBAPS staff (paraprofessional, teacher, administrator, superintendent, etc.), please contact the School & Community Relations Department first to set up the interview. Please remember that not everyone is comfortable speaking with the news media, and everyone is already busy with their daily workloads.

That's where the School & Community Relations Department can help you! If you call and we're unable to answer, please leave a message with details of what you need, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you leave a message or email us about a story, please include the topic of the story, when your deadline is, and/or when you are planning to run the piece.

Daily news plans and school schedules are often not the same. If you have feature-style story ideas, or stories that do not have to be told immediately, please let us know ahead of time so we all have a better chance of speaking with the right person, and they have time to prepare to get you all the information you need.

GBAPS does not comment on national education stories or stories that have taken place in other school districts. We also generally do not comment on proposed legislation and how it may or may not impact our district. The legislative process is fluid and bills often change before they are signed into law.

We understand that approaching parents or guardians waiting to pick up their students might seem like an easy way for a reporter to find sources. Unfortunately, this can pose a safety concern for students - and the reporter - as traffic gets congested and drivers become impatient or distracted during the hectic dismissal process. Please consider finding parents another way: at a neighborhood grocery store, library, or the mall - somewhere away from heavy traffic.

Press Releases

We routinely send out Press Releases and Media Advisories to local media outlets. If a reporter or media outlet wishes to be included on our media distribution list, please email communications@gbaps.org.

School Building Visits

Please keep in mind that a variety of factors affecting the school schedule (school-wide events, holidays, testing, or similar activities) may prevent a visit on a specific date and/or time.

Student Privacy

We operate in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which provides parents/guardians/students an opportunity to opt out of the release of certain information. If you are taking videos or pictures of students, please remember not to show faces unless approved by GBAPS Communications or building administration. They will be able to verify whether a family has chosen to opt out their child from being included in photos, videos, etc.

The only exception: routine athletics coverage. As a general rule, members of the media may take general footage of students during school events that are open to the public, which includes athletic events.

Requests for the Green Bay Area Public School District Board of Education
Requests for interviews of the School Board can be made directly to the Board member. You will find Board member contact information here.

School Board Meetings

The media is encouraged to attend meetings of the School Board. Meeting announcements, agendas, meeting minutes, and other related supporting documents are available to the media through BoardDocs.

To avoid disruption of the meeting, media are asked to work with the Director of Communications and Public Relations regarding interviews with Board members or guest speakers to arrange interviews prior, during a break, or after the meeting. The Director of Communications and Public Relations or designee attend the meetings and can assist. Interviews of audience members should be conducted away from the Board Room or after the meeting to minimize disruptions.

When the media wish to record the Board proceedings, camera equipment and media personnel should remain in the community area of the Board Room, with the exception of briefly moving to capture video of guest speakers or staff members who are presenting, or members of the public during public forum. There is also a mult box in the Board Room, which media is asked to use, rather than moving microphones around the Board table during meetings.

Updated 6/1/24

Media Advisories/Media Releases

Meet the Staff

Lori Blakeslee
Director of Communications
(920) 448-2025
Email Lori Blakeslee

Justine Braun
School & Community Relations Specialist
(920) 272-7032
Email Justine Braun

Malia Torbenson
Bilingual Senior Administrative Assistant
(920) 448-2025
Email Malia Torbenson