PGCPS officials outline new communications push, parents press for better follow‑through

Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) Associate Superintendent Luis Morales and Superintendent designee Dr. Sheila Jackson told the Parent and Community Advisory Council on March 5 that the district is rolling out a renewed communications and community engagement effort that will include a community forum on April 1 and quarterly follow-ups.

The presentation came during the council's agenda item on parent engagement, where Morales said the April 1 event will be "less of us telling you all just information" and positioned as an interactive forum with the superintendent and cabinet members. Dr. Jackson highlighted upcoming Family Institute sessions, multilingual initiatives and immigration resource sessions the district has provided to families.

Council members pushed back about how district communications land in communities. Vice Chair Dolores Millhouse said parents experience a "disconnect" between district messaging and practical follow-through in schoolhouses, asking for clearer next steps and accountability. Members repeatedly raised website navigation problems and difficulty finding job postings and event links — points Morales acknowledged and said the district is working to fix, including a planned revamp of the events/registration page and one‑page resources and videos to help families navigate services.

The meeting included discussion of Parent Leadership Organizations (PLOs) — a district term that Dr. Jackson said covers PTAs, PTOs, PTSAs, parent advisory groups and other local parent bodies. Council members said some schools lack active PLOs and urged the district to take a more proactive approach to help start and sustain them. Morales said the communications team will support the Family and Community Partnerships office by producing collateral and targeted outreach to schools that lack active PLOs.

Council members asked how the district measures success. Morales said the district tracks campaign metrics (open rates, clicks, registrations), and is developing short post-event surveys and participation measures tied to Family and Community Partnerships work. Dr. Jackson said her team follows up when schools request support and documents results internally, but acknowledged the office wants more efficient, real‑time tracking and reporting.

Several council members and a board liaison asked the communications office to present the communications and community engagement plan to PCAC so members can give feedback; staff agreed to schedule a presentation and share materials. As follow-ups, Dr. Jackson said she would distribute district lists of parent leadership contacts for each board district to PCAC members.

The session also included a personal appeal from District 8 Representative Josaida Hill Hinton, who described serious struggles securing timely special‑education and mental‑health support for her child and urged better schoolhouse response and coordination with families. Members said the story underscores the need for clearer schoolhouse practices and accountability when families request services.

The council closed the discussion by requesting a scheduled presentation of the communications plan and the district distribution of parent‑leadership contact lists so PCAC members can better connect with families in their districts.

The PCAC meeting took place March 5, 2025, convened by Chair Theresa Smith.