JoAnn Meyer excels again!
By John Tredrea
Kudos for JoAnn Meyer, Valley school district director of communication and development, were on tap at Monday night’s school board meeting.
Board President Kim Newport thanked Ms. Meyer "for the excellent work she has done for the district" that has netted Hopewell Valley four first-place and two second-place communication awards this year from the New Jersey School Boards Association.
The first-place awards were for the district’s calendar-handbook, newsletter, Web site and Internet Safety brochure. The second place awards were for the district’s "Portraits of Excellence" and "You Make A Difference Awards," which periodically go to residents who have volunteered time and expertise to the district.
Ms. Meyer worked with district Technology Supervisor Doug Brower on the Web site.
The district won communications awards last year as well, for the Web site, "Portraits of Excellence," the calendar and other projects.
Ms. Meyer was hired several years ago as community liaison. In June, her title public information officer officially was changed to director of communication and development. No pay increase was attached to the job description change. Her job includes seeking grant funding for the district.
"There will be a new emphasis on grant-writing and fundraising in that position," Superintendent Judy Ferguson said a year ago when the planned change first was announced.
Dr. Ferguson noted then that Ms. Meyer already had begun moving in that direction and credited Ms. Meyer with landing a $6,000 grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb which has a large research campus in Hopewell Township to pay for the district’s calendar.

