Marketing and Communications

The Marketing and Communications team strives to provide accurate and timely information to all staff, students, parents, the community at large and the media on relevant educational matters, important achievements and upcoming events. We also promote our district via our communication platforms, including our website, social media, electronic newsletters and digital and print media. We are proud to serve as ambassadors for the district and the awesome opportunities offered.

Marketing & Communications Guidelines

Media Request

The Tupelo Public School District values its relationships with the news media and understands the responsibility to provide accurate and timely information to the community concerning issues and events occurring throughout all of our campuses and Central Office. While we are committed to cooperating with the news media's request for access to our schools and students, we are also obligated to protect the privacy of students and employees. Therefore, it’s imperative all media abide by the guidelines.

Media Requests
All news stories relating to the following topics should be coordinated through the Marketing and Communications Department by contacting Marketing and Communications Director Gregg Ellis at (662) 620-6195 or ggellis@tupeloschools.com.

Interview requests with TPSD Central Office staff, administrators, teachers or students
District school policies and procedures, Board of Trustees
Personnel
Programs, initiatives or events relating to arts, academics or athletics (for example, athletic department changes, grants, events or new programs)
Crisis or breaking news regarding any school or administrative office within the Tupelo Public School District

All requests, including school-specific inquiries, must go through Marketing and Communications.

Media Access To Schools

Media Access To Schools

The Tupelo School District is committed to providing up-to-date information on the district in a timely and appropriate manner. It is the responsibility of TPSD to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning with as few disruptions as possible.
The Tupelo School District understands the press has a legal right to visit our schools, but in order to protect the privacy of the students and staff, ALL media representatives are not permitted on school grounds to interview, photograph or video without prior approval from the Marketing and Communications Department.
All school visitors, including media representatives, must check in at the respective campus administrative office. An I.D. will be required.
At the discretion of the Marketing and Communications Department, school/district administrators may grant media access and arrange interviews with staff and/or students.
Interviews will not be conducted during school hours or on school property without the approval and presence of school/district administrator or designee.
Media are encouraged not to publish names or photos of any student or school district individual without making sure their photo can be published in any news medium format.

Request For Information

Request For Information
The Tupelo Public School District ensures the protection of student/employee privacy and under certain circumstances will not release any information that may reveal a student/employee identity. Nor will TPSD release any personal or personnel-related information unless required by law or comment on any case that is before the courts. All questions related to police investigations will be referred to the proper authorities.

Chain of Communication

The Tupelo Public School District has developed communication protocols to promote direct, open and respectful interactions so that problems and concerns can be worked out quickly and efficiently.

Chain of Communication

Social Media

Volunteer Information

Volunteering

We invite and welcome parents and community members to volunteer in our schools to support students' needs and promote their success in the Tupelo Public School District. TPSD recognizes that parent associations, booster clubs, and individuals are vital partnerships for the school and District that work to enhance educational progress and achievement for all students.

Specific contact details are provided for some opportunities, or contact Gregg Ellis if your group is interested in volunteering on a multi-school basis.

TPSD Volunteer Board Policy

Volunteer Background Check Information

Volunteers will now submit to one initial criminal background check.

However, the district does reserve the right to require any person to submit to additional criminal background checks or to rerun background checks at any time based on reasonable suspicion of an individual's status.

Volunteer applicants will now go to the Fillmore Center from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays (Wednesday- Appt. Only) to submit the required materials and to pay the $35 fee for the criminal background check. The Fillmore Center is located at 903 Fillmore Drive, Tupelo, MS 38801.

The district may decline to utilize the services of volunteers who refuse to participate.

The background check procedure for volunteers is as follows:

1. Volunteer completes Form GBDAA-EXHIBIT Authorization for Criminal Background Check (found on school website or hard copy at any school office).

2. Volunteer presents social security card and driver's license or state issued ID to designated TPSD employee in the Activities/Athletics Department located at the Fillmore Center. The employee will make copies of the cards for the application. (Fillmore Center is located at 903 Fillmore Drive, Tupelo, MS 38801.)

3. Background check hours are 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays (Wednesday Appt. Only) at the Fillmore Center.

4. The volunteer pays the fees to the designated TPSD employee for FBI background check and registry for child abuse check (employee will receipt and deposit funds according to TPSD guidelines). A database will be kept with the names of volunteers who have applied.

5. The TPSD Employee will complete fingerprinting of volunteer, and then the employee will send the packet to Human Resources (HR) for mailing.

6. HR will mail the packet to the MDE approved vendor. (Usually takes 4-6 weeks for processing.)

7. HR sends the results to superintendent's designee who then notifies volunteer and schools of eligibility status of volunteer. The volunteer database will be updated as reports come back to the District and will reflect eligibility status.

Volunteer Opportunities

After-school Tutoring/Clubs

After school volunteers are needed at Tupelo Middle School and at Lawndale to help with coordination of after school club projects and with tutoring assistance. No experience is necessary.

Responsibilities include helping students with homework and helping clubs with planning monthly events. Commitment can be weekly or monthly for 60 minutes.

TMS contact: Brock English

Lawndale contact : Melissa Thomas

Field Trip Chaperones

Field trip chaperones are always needed in all grades throughout the year. Chaperoning could require all day or half day commitment. You may be asked to take your own vehicle or to ride on school or charter bus.

A background check is required in order to volunteer for this opportunity. Information about this process is provided on this site.

Gardeners Needed

Like to garden? Gardeners are welcome to help at our schools to pull weeds, plant annuals and help with general upkeep of beds.

Motivational Speakers

Tupelo Middle School is looking for motivational speakers to speak during specific class periods on the topics of careers and being committed in the community. Commitment is once per month or every other month for 50 minutes.

Proctors Needed

Proctors Needed at All Schools During Testing

Reading Mentors

Reading mentors are needed to assist our Kindergarten through 2nd graders improve their reading skills. This opportunity involves listening to students read and reading aloud to students. Training will be offered to volunteers and a background check may be required.

This can be a weekly or bi-monthly commitment for 30 minutes or 60 minutes. A great opportunity for civic organizations or churches!

Science Lab Volunteers

Science lab volunteers are needed at our K-5 schools to assist teachers with science experiments and small group lab projects. Weekly or monthly opportunities are available and no background check is required.

Tutoring

Volunteers are needed for 30 minutes or 60 minutes every week or every other week to help in Kindergarten through 6th grade classrooms.

A brief training will be offered at the school and a background check may be necessary. No experience in tutoring is necessary.

This is an excellent opportunity to make an impact in a student's life!

Contact the School if you are interested in tutoring at a specific school.

Contact Us

Gregg G. Ellis
Director of Marketing and Communications ggellis@tupeloschools.com

Address
445 N. Church Street
Tupelo, MS 38804

Phone
(662) 620-6195

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY

Kelsey Brownlee
Communications Specialist/Community Liaison

Phone
(662) 841-8937

Email
kebrownlee@tupeloschools.com

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Ryan Coon
Photographer/Videographer

Phone
(662) 841-8850

Email racoon@tupeloschools.com