Office of Public Relations and Communications
About Us
The Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Office of Public Relations and Communications exists to heighten the public’s awareness of the Department’s mission to ensure that all students are prepared for college or the career of their choice upon graduation from high school.
In support of the mission, the Public Relations Office provides publicity for events, activities and the many successes of the Department’s schools, students, teachers, employees and leadership through internal and external communication.
The Office of Public Relations and Communication, through an integrated marketing communications approach services the marketing, branding, public, and media relations, advertising and graphic design needs of the Department, districts, and schools.
The Public Relations Office reports directly to the Commissioner of Education.
News & Press Releases
MORE PRESS RELEASES BELOW...
Public Relations Submission Guidelines
All promotional material pertaining to the Department of Education’s schools, programs, services, employees and events should be released through the Office of Public Relations.
Request for media coverage of events including video, news articles, and photos, must be submitted to the Public Relations Office at least a week prior to the event date.
A PR Request form must be filled out and sent to cynthia.graham@vide.vi in order to confirm coverage.
The Public Relations Office communicates with media representatives on a regular basis and will determine the best way to pitch your story idea. Some options include, but are not limited to:
- News Releases
- Media Advisory
- Website
- Social Media
- Internal Email Blast
When submitting your news or story idea, include following:
- Provide facts and details: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How
- Share your opinion: Why is this newsworthy? What makes this awesome? How is this different? – These can be used as quotes for articles.
- Gather supporting material, resources, or documents if any. For photos, share names of students, grade level, and information regarding their recognition or awards – based on the photo.
- All photos for print and web publication must be high-resolution. Images from phone cameras are not sufficient unless your phone has a high-quality camera and the images are saved at the highest resolution possible (300 DPI and up to 15 MB file size in jpeg or .png file formats.
- Make sure students have permission to be published. See Media Release Form
- Contact the Public Relations Office with questions or ideas.
Contact Us
Cynthia Graham
Director, Office of Public Relations & Communications
(340) 774-0100 x 8136 (St. Thomas)
(340) 773-1095 x 7064 (St. Croix)
Email: cynthia.graham@vide.vi
Sarah-Ann Mitchell
Public Information Officer
(340) 774-0100 x 8135
Email: sarahann.mitchell@vide.vi
Upcoming Events
View VIDE Calendar
VIDE Directory
Governor's Summer Reading Challenge
Welcome to the 13th Annual Governor's Summer Reading Challenge! To complete the Challenge, all you have to do is read five or more books during the summer months! Keep track of the books you read by downloading the Tracking Sheets below. When the Challenge ends on September 3, 2021, turn your Tracking Sheets into your teacher at school.
Everyone who completes the Challenge will be invited to Governor Bryan's BIG CELEBRATION!
Should you have any questions or concerns about the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge, email jason.hilaire@vide.vi.
Good Luck, Readers, and remember to...READ FIVE!
Tracking Sheet - K & 1st Grades
2021 BingoSheet Kinder 1
Tracking Sheet - 2nd Grade
2021 BingoSheetGrade2
Tracking Sheet - 3rd Grade
2021 BingoSheetGrades3
Tracking Sheet - 4th Grade
2021 BingoSheetGrades 4
Tracking Sheet - 5th Grade
2021 BingoSheetGrades5
Tracking Sheet - 6th Grade
2021 BingoSheetGrades6
Kallaloo!
A Caribbean Tale
Written by David and Phillis Gershator
Illustrated by Diane Greenseid
Can a shell really make soup? It might, if it’s a brown and white West Indian shell, fresh from the sea. All it needs is a master soup-maker like Granny to stir the pot, along with a little help from the folks in Market Square. Who wouldn’t be willing to led a hand when it comes to cooking up such a super soup as kallaloo, a soup famous from Jamacia to Trinidad? But there’s one thing missing—and even the magic shell forgot to mention it…
Hope Is Here!
Written by Christina Kessler
Illustrated by Marcos Castillo
“I’m bored!” I’m tired!” “I’m thirsty!”
This is all Miss B. hears from her students during a field trip to Great Pond to look for a bird called Hope. Little do the kids know that the amazing story of this whimbrel, a species of shorebird, will not only take their breath away, but by the end of the day, nothing will be more important to see Hope for themselves.
Based on the true story of a bird’s annual journey that even scientists knew little about, Hope Is Here! will teach, entertain, and leave the reader with a deeper appreciation of just how incredible nature really is.
Footprints Into the Sunrise
Alexander Hamilton’s Life Through the Eyes of a Boy
By Alscess Lewis-Brown
For Azkiah, nothing is easy after losing his mother. Attending a new school and having no friends are just two of his problems. He also has to figure out why his grandfather put him on a plane all alone from Nevis to live with a stranger on the island of St. Croix. Who is this man that he lives with? Why does he treat Azkiah with such indifference? The answers are not arriving fast, but Azkiah finds two sources of comfort: writing letters to his grandfather and reading about another orphan born in Nevis who, just like him, was forced to move to St. Croix in his youth. A man named Alexander Hamilton.
Brown Pelicans
Close to Nature – Caribbean Natural History Series
A fun and educational book filled with information about a very unique bird. Meet the amazing Brown Pelican!
- One of only two species of pelicans that dive for fish
- The pelican’s bill is the longest of any living bird
- Pelicans have been around for 30 million years
- Brown pelicans can drink sea water
- Brown pelicans were on the U. S. endangered species list until 2009
Broo ‘Nansi and the Tar Baby
A U.S. Virgin Islands Story
Collected and written by Dr. Lois Hassell-Habtes – Story as told by Ector Roebuck
Broo Tukuma knows better, but as the good brother that he is, he can’t watch his nephews starve. So, much against his better judgement, he takes Broo ‘Nansi (that good for nothing fellow) to get food from his secret garden. The trip turns into a disaster when Broo ‘Nansi disobeys his brother’s strict orders.
Another great Broo ‘Nansi story filled with the humor and wisdom that only this ancient little spider can impart. A must-read for all Virgin Islanders, and for everyone who loves a good tale.
A Caribbean Journey from A to Y
(Read and Discover What Happened to the Z)
Written by Mario Picayo
Illustrated by Earleen Griswold
Join us in this fun and educational journey through the Caribbean islands, one letter at a time. A Caribbean astronaut? From which island? Seals in these tropical waters? And island with over 300 rivers? And what is a coki?
Beautifully illustrated, this is a book that readers of all ages will enjoy opening again and again. Ad wait until you see what happened to the Z…!
Brown Pelicans
Close to Nature – Caribbean Natural History Series
A fun and educational book filled with information about a very unique bird. Meet the amazing Brown Pelican!
- One of only two species of pelicans that dive for fish
- The pelican’s bill is the longest of any living bird
- Pelicans have been around for 30 million years
- Brown pelicans can drink sea water
- Brown pelicans were on the U. S. endangered species list until 2009
Caribella
By Phillis Gershator
Is this a Cinderella story?
Caribel’s stepmother treats her cruelly. But in Caribel’s story, there are also people who care for her: an uncle, who is now her pen pal; a spritely old lady who lives hidden away in the bush; and a devoted school teacher. Caribel hopes that someday she’ll become a real, “inside” member of her family, if only she can be good enough. She tries her best. She does her chores. She wins the school spelling bee. But what does good enough mean? Can she be good and keep secrets, too? Or speak her mind? Or break a promise? Or, when the time comes, save her own life?
Where Did the Baby Go?
Written by David and Phillis Gershator
Pictures by Phillis Gershator
Oh, no! Is the baby missing? Or hiding in plain sight? The noisy rooster knows where the baby is. Do you?
David and Phillis Gershator live on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, the setting for this lyrical mystery. Bright, cut paper illustrations feature close-ups of sea and shore life—birds, coral, reef fish, critters of the deep, and of course, the rooster, who never stops trying to share his news.
Malcolm & the Money Tree
Written by Eudora Esdaille-Richardson
Illustrated by Christopher Williams
If Malcolm had it his way, he would sleep all day and all night. But Granny simply won’t have it—there is work to do! One day, Malcolm meets a very special tree that he is sure will help him get what he wants. But even if money really did grow on trees – does even such luck require responsibility?
Efa and the Mosquito
Written by Alscess Lewis-Brown
Illustrated by Cynthia Hatfield
One morning, Efa rescues Ms. Aedes, a very smart, fast-talking mosquito trapped in a net. Her act of kindness is rewarded with the granting of a wish. Not even Worren, Efa’s science-loving older brother, could prepare her for the amazing events that lay ahead.
With the Virgin Islands as the background, Efa and the Mosquito is a fun and educational tale, set to the beat of an old Caribbean folk song. Read the story of a curious girl, her music-loving family, a very special mosquito, and their magical adventure together.
Updates and Information
