Hannibal School Board recognizes student-athlete accomplishments; hears communications update

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal Public Schools athletics/activities director Clint Graham knows that no matter how much success the district’s student-athletes have, their long list of achievements sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.

“We get a lot of notoriety in the public and in the media, which is tremendous, but over the year I think people lose track a little bit of just how successful and talented our student-athletes really are,” Graham said.

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, Graham got the chance to deliver the Pirates’ plethora of accomplishments throughout the 2023-24 school year. Below are some of these student-athletes’ notable achievements:

• Two cross country runners and three wrestlers earned Academic All-American honors.
• All 23 varsity athletic and activities programs met the standard to receive the MSHSAA Scholastic Achievement Award.
• The cumulative GPA for athletic teams was 3.85.
• Eleven teams won conference championships.
• Ten teams had an individual qualify for state (30 individuals qualified for state).
• Hannibal Public Schools had 112 all-conference athletes, 45 all-district athletes, 13 all-district band members, 26 all-district choir members, five all-region athletes, 21 all-state athletes, three all-state band members, three all-state jazz band members, two all-state choir members, and one all-state show choir member.
• The Pirates had 44 academic all-state athletes.
• The baseball and softball teams earned academic all-state honors.
• Twenty-one school records were broken.
• Four Pirates won individual state championships.
• Running back Aneyas Williams was the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year.
• The Pirates wrestling team won the state championship.

“I can’t give the athletes enough credit,” Graham said. “I can’t give the coaches enough credit for pushing them in the classroom, on the field, and on the court. They do a tremendous job.”

Boys and girls soccer coach Eric Hill recognized two of his players — soon-to-be seniors Abbie Martin and Ashley Davis — for their accomplishments on the pitch. Both were named to the Class 3 all-state teams and are committed to play soccer at Quincy University next fall.

“They define what a student-athlete is,” Hill said of Martin and Davis. “They have a lot of other things they do in our school, not just playing soccer. They’re great kids to be around, fun to coach. I’m proud of them and excited for one more year.”

District communications director Andrea Campbell also got to share the recent progress the communications team has made and plans for the future. 

“The ultimate goal for the Hannibal Public Schools communications program is to outline strategies to maintain public trust and support by being transparent and accessible in all communications,” Campbell said.

Campbell noted the district’s implementation of Peachjar online flier distribution in February, which has saved 181,792 sheets of paper.

“We’re saving paper, but we’re also saving dollars and saving time for the teachers,” Campbell said. “They don’t have to have the fliers and put them in bookbags. They can just distribute them to their students’ parents through email.”

Campbell helped raise $30,500 for the district over the past year. She also hosted the 2nd Annual HAYS Back to School Fair on Aug. 17, at which 36 different community partners helped get school supplies in the hands of more than 500 students.

Campbell has put an emphasis on amplifying the student voice through the Day in the Life of a Pirate feature on social media during which middle school students use an iPhone to document their day

“The role of communications is to take different voices — board of education, administration, teachers, and students alike — to tell the district’s story,” Campbell said.

As one of the communications program’s goals is to Campbell expressed concerns about the district’s ability to “amplify the good things that are happening in the district” to as many people as possible, she expressed concerns about reaching external audiences.

“Effectively reaching all stakeholders without a direct connection to our schools is a challenge,” Campbell said.

Campbell proposed solutions like postcards, targeted mailings, and an annual print newsletter to help break down this barrier.

Another concern for Campbell lies in the two-way communication between district staff and families.

“We currently lack a district-wide platform to facilitate that two-way communication across all grade levels and athletic activities,” Campbell said. “It would make it so much easier from the parents’ side if there was one platform.”

Campbell, a mother of two children who attend Oakwood Elementary School, reiterated at the conclusion to her director report that the communications team’s primary focus will remain on safety and security and crisis communication.

“As we continue to evaluate and strengthen safety protocols, we’re also going to be committed to ensuring that our communication with families during that time is as comprehensive and well coordinated as possible,” Campbell said.

Campbell summed up her program evaluation by emphasizing goals and highlighting recent efforts.

“Over the last few years, I’ve successfully launched a new website, enhanced our social media presence, increased opportunities for local news coverage in our schools, forged valuable community partnerships, and generated additional revenue through sponsorships that would not have existed otherwise,” Campbell said. “I’m excited to continue building a communications program that not only strengthens our connection with the community but also supports the district in achieving its goals and advancing student achievement.”