Inkandescent Public Relations

Hope Katz Gibbs

I am honored this evening to recognize the service of Hope Katz Gibbs to the City of Fairfax Schools.

Hope began working for the City Schools in 2002. She joined then Superintendent George Staff and other staff and School Board members in their efforts to get community support for the renovations of Lanier Middle School and Fairfax High School. Hope developed a City Schools Newsmagazine, CloseUp, which was sent bimonthly to 14,000 residents and businesses in the City.

CloseUp received six awards for writing and design from the National School Publications Association.

This quality publication, along with other outreach to the community, is credited with leading to the passage of the 2004 School Bond referendum with 81% of voters supporting funding the renovations of our schools.
Hope continued to provide information to the community about our schools through CloseUp.

When the School Board had to cut its budget in 2009, she transitioned from a print magazine that was mailed out to its current online format.

Hope also was responsible for the creation of a more dynamic and interesting City School Website. She has been a strong promoter of our schools and helped our Board and staff be effective communicators through changing times.

We hate to say good-bye to Hope, but recognize how much time her successful public relations business demands.

Hope made a wonderful contribution to the City of Fairfax Schools and has many friends in the City. We have appreciated her intelligence and creativity.

We wish her nothing but continued success as a business-woman, wife and mother.