[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E141-E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING DR. STEPHEN KLEINSMITH AND ZAC RANTZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2014

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Dr. 
Stephen Kleinsmith, superintendent, and Zac Rantz, director of 
communication, of Nixa Public Schools, on receiving the 2014 Leadership 
Through Communication Award.
  It is important to keep the channels of communication open and the 
Leadership Through Communication Award recognizes a school district for 
their outstanding efforts in communicating with the families and 
communities they serve. It is jointly awarded by Blackboard, the 
National School Public Relations Association, and the American 
Association of School Administrators. This award is open to all school 
districts throughout the United States and Canada.
  The Nixa Public Schools have engaged with their community to create a 
two-way street of communication. They have created a constant cycle of 
school administration transparency and community feedback.
  When he joined the school district in 2000, Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith 
made communications a top priority. He has worked closely with Zac 
Rantz in revamping the Nixa Public Schools' communication systems. They 
have utilized social media, technology, direct messaging, and face-to-
face interaction to engage with the Nixa community. They not only reach 
out to the parents of their students, but the local business community 
and taxpayers without children in the schools as well. The Nixa Public 
Schools have served as an example to school districts all throughout 
the State of Missouri.
  I am proud of the initiative that Dr. Kleinsmith and Mr. Rantz have 
taken to make the Nixa Public Schools the best in communicating with 
their community. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating them 
on this tremendous honor.

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