Public Relations Specialist

Overview

The Public Relations Specialist plays a vital role in shaping the public perception of our schools by developing compelling stories, fostering media relationships, and highlighting the excellence of our students, teachers, and communities.

This position requires a proactive communicator who thrives in fast‑paced environments and enjoys visiting schools to uncover authentic stories that celebrate our schools’ achievements. The ideal candidate will have experience in media relations, writing, and content creation, and will bring a strong sense of initiative, curiosity, and professionalism.

This role includes regular campus visits and travel to gather stories, conduct interviews, capture visuals, and support events. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required for school programs, media coverage, and special events.

• Media Relations and Story Development
  • Research, identify, and develop story ideas that highlight BASIS Charter Schools / BASIS Texas Charter Schools successes, programs, and people across multiple states.
  • Conduct regular campus visits to source authentic stories from teachers, students, and school leaders.
  • Draft press releases, media pitches, talking points, and public statements that align with the brand and messaging standards.
  • Build and maintain relationships with journalists, education reporters, and local media outlets.
  • Coordinate interviews, campus visits, and photo/video opportunities for media partners.
  • Track and analyze media coverage, providing insights and reports to leadership.
• Content Creation and Communications Support
  • Write engaging content for newsletters, social media, websites, and other digital platforms.
  • Collaborate with the communications and marketing teams to ensure consistent brand messaging across all channels.
  • Partner with photographers, videographers, and designers to produce high‑quality storytelling materials.
  • Support the creation of multimedia content showcasing student and teacher achievements, academic programs, and campus culture.
  • Assist in developing and maintaining editorial calendars and content pipelines.
• Crisis and Reputation Management
  • Support senior communications staff in preparing timely and accurate responses to media inquiries.
  • Draft internal and external statements for sensitive or urgent matters, ensuring alignment with organizational protocols.
  • Monitor public sentiment, social media trends, and community feedback to identify potential communication opportunities or issues.
• Event and Campaign Support
  • Attend and support high‑profile school and network events such as graduations, academic competitions, community fundraisers, and the Annual Teacher Fund Gala.
  • Capture event highlights and create post‑event media and social content.
  • Contribute to campaign initiatives that enhance community engagement and enrollment awareness.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement
  • Recommend and implement new tools, techniques, and strategies to improve storytelling, outreach, and media engagement.
  • Stay informed on education trends and emerging PR best practices to strengthen media presence and storytelling capacity.

• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong news judgment and ability to identify compelling human‑interest and education‑related stories.
• Confidence in conducting interviews with diverse audiences (students, parents, teachers, media).
• Proficiency in AP style and familiarity with education, nonprofit, or charter school communications.
• Ability to travel frequently across states and manage multiple deadlines.
• Skilled in social media management, media monitoring, and storytelling analytics.
• Knowledge of photography, videography, or multimedia storytelling tools is a plus.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience in communications, journalism, or marketing.
• Requirements:
  • Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for campus travel.
  • Ability to travel regionally and nationally as needed.
  • Flexibility to attend occasional…