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Handling H1N1: With Your Community, The Media, and Social Media
Neil Rochelle, Superintendent of the Iroquois Central School district in Western New York, provides a riveting account the real needs facing district leaders across the USA and globe today regarding community issues such as H1N1. He discusses the topic, the unfolding of the experience in his district in fall 2009 and the strategies he employed, including social media communication. All of these details are included in this interview with District Leaders Podcast host Dr. Kathleen P. King. Bonus topics include social media decisions, relationships with the State Health Department, and what to do when the experts disagree!
Specific topics include the following issues:
- In the fall 2009, when your district had 500 of 3000 students home sick, why and how did you decide not to close the schools?
- How did you seek to control panic in the school community as H1N1 and other disease related issues were threatening to emerge?
- Where can district leaders turn for assistance and guidance?
- How did you use social media to communicate and build support and which ones did you use?
- What do you suggest superintendents do now and if facing the introduction of the flu into their school district populations?
Special features referenced in this interview:
- Read the community letter which Neil posted on the district website’s front page.
- Visit the H1N1 area of the District website Neil and his team created
- Neil’s Superintendent Community Newsletter
MORE RESOURCES
For more information on this subject or to connect with Neil
District Leaders Podcast is always Leading Today for Success Tomorrow!
Biographical Background
- Currently, Neil Rochelle is Superintendent of Schools of Iroquois Central School District. Previously, he was not only superintendent of schools at Keshequa Central School, but prior to that elementary principal at Keshequa Central School.
Having been a teacher for 13 years, he has now been a superintendent for 10 years. His teaching roots are in special education. He also has a specialty in Traumatic Brain Injury and served as a consultant for the NYS Education Department. Before becoming a superintendent he was a Director of Special Education and an Elementary Principal.
Neil states his goals as a superintendent simply,
My goals are simple. Provide the best leadership I can for students to be successful 21st Century Learners. In the long-term, for students to be prepared for college or post-secondary plans and eventually successful in a competitive, global economy.
Neil was born and riased in New York City. He earned his degrees at State University of New York College at Brockport (CAS, Educational Administration) and State University of New York College at Genesco (MSE, Special Education)
Related Web Links:
- Iroquois School District web site
- Iroquois School District superintendent’s page
- Neil’s Superintendent Community Newsletter
- Virtually Iroquois- Neil’s District Ning
- Changing High Schools (Neil’s Blog)
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