Rootle Ambassador Guide by Kenna Cupp

R O D A S S A B AM

Guide 2023–24 Connecting Communities to Early Childhood Resources

All About Rootle Ambassadorship �� 4 What it means to be a Rootle Ambassador Commitment �� 5 What’s expected from a Rootle Ambassador Road Map �� 6 A model for creating appealing learning experiences as well as tips for planning & implementing Ambassador-led engagements Resources �� 7–8 Resources for families & individuals who work with/on behalf of young children Rootle Team �� 9 Rootle team from PBS North Carolina Best Practices �� 10–13 Effective strategies for social media & community engagement Planning Tool �� 14 Framework for planning family & community engagements Attendee Survey ... �� 15 Collect feedback from participants after your event Rootle Trainers ... �� 16 Rootle trainers from PBS North Carolina Ambassador Map �� 17 Map of NC counties with Ambassadors

Welcome!

ADOR S S A B AM

Dear Rootle Ambassadors, It’s a great honor to work with you to connect children and families across the state with much-needed educational and community resources. We’re stronger together, and with your expertise and passion, I believe we can positively impact North Carolina’s future. Thank you for being a part of our team! As a Rootle Ambassador, you’re part of a statewide network of champions who will collaborate and grow together well past this season. Your commitment to young learners will continue to make a deep lasting impact for years to come. We value you and the enormous contributions you’ve made to your community. Thank you for sharing your talents and vision with PBS North Carolina and the children, parents and caregivers of our state. We’re thrilled to work with you. With deep appreciation,

Lauren McDowell Pyle Director of Children’s Media & Education Engagement PBS North Carolina

All About

Rootle Ambassadorship What is Rootle? Rootle—PBS North Carolina’s 24-hour kids channel, livestream and children’s brand—provides high-quality educational programs from PBS KIDS. It is available over the air for free and accessible to over 3.8 million households. Rootle offers a “whole child” curricular approach proven to strengthen learning outcomes. PBS North Carolina is eager to increase awareness and access to Rootle resources. Our strategy to bring this to fruition? Rootle Ambassadors!

Who is a Rootle Ambassador? Rootle Ambassadors are local community members with a strong desire to support young learners. They are trained to utilize and share PBS’ award-winning early education resources with families in their counties. Within five years, North Carolina will have a Rootle Ambassador in all 100 counties.

What does a Rootle Ambassador do? Rootle Ambassadors serve as leaders, connecting PBS KIDS and early learning resources to the unique needs of their communities. They are equipped with tools to enrich learning for all children, provide valuable training and experiences and create a community network for early childhood educators and families.

Where did Rootle Ambassadorships originate? North Carolina’s leaders recognize the importance of early education. With groundbreaking programs like Smart Start and universal kindergarten, North Carolina helps pave a brighter path. However, not every child across NC attends preschool. PBS North Carolina is uniquely positioned to provide parents, caregivers and educators equitable access to high-quality resources and to connect them to tools and training. For 19 consecutive years, Americans have rated PBS and its member stations as the most trusted media institution in the nation. 81% of parents say PBS KIDS helps prepare their children for entering school.

As a Rootle Ambassador, I will … ; Empower educators and families to discover how PBS KIDS and its multimedia resources support early learning. ; Create dynamic, media-rich activities to engage learners and spark curiosity. ; Develop and/or facilitate at least two family and community engagement events within their respective county, both virtually and (tentatively) in person between July 1 and June 30. ; Help care providers personalize learning experiences for their learners. ; Cultivate partnerships with local organizations, schools and libraries. ; Provide verbal and/or written feedback to PBS North Carolina for reporting purposes to determine impact and success of engagement. Ambassadors may also be invited to join PBS North Carolina in professional development opportunities, such as presenting at conferences and events and supporting virtual and/or in-person professional learning.

The Rootle Ambassador Journey Each Rootle Ambassador’s journey is shaped by the intersection of unique skills/abilities and the needs of the county served. This guide will support achieving Rootle Ambassador deliverables and making an impact in the community. Media Mix

WATCH

Learn about current PBS KIDS programs and online resources, imagining how they can be employed in your community. With the Rootle Ambassador deliverables in mind, dream about what could be! Ask PBS NC about additional resources.

Productive Playtime

PLAY

Share with others your Rootle Ambassador commitment, the PBS NC resources, and the dream of impacting early learners in the community. Build and leverage relationships. Brainstorm with PBS NC, we can help!

Deep Dive

EXPLORE

Take a deeper dive and collaborate to develop an engagement plan to employ the resources and make a difference. Include data collection survey in the plan and take pictures at the event. Inform PBS NC of the plan early.

Create Connections

After the engagement, share what community and PBS NC content connections were made - this is a key part of the experience! Celebrate the accomplishment! Share learnings and pictures with PBS NC.

Free Online Resources Rootle ...................................................................................................................... pbsnc.org/rootle • 24-hour TV channel • 3.8 million households reached by Rootle • Digital livestream • 11 million people visit pbskids.org monthly • Interactive educational games • 71% of US children ages 2–8 watch PBS PBS North Carolina . �� pbsnc.org PBS KIDS ........................................................................................................................... pbskids.org PBS KIDS Lab .. .......................................................................................................... pbskids.org/lab PBS KIDS for Parents ........................................................................................... pbs.org/parents • Thousands of PBS KIDS activities • Save, share & print activities • Many activities available in Spanish • Free downloadable apps PBS KIDS Shows .. ...................................................................................... pbskids.org/everything PBS NewsHour Classroom ........................................................... pbs.org/newshour/classroom PBS LearningMedia .................................................................................... pbslearningmedia.org Free curriculum-aligned videos, interactives and lesson plans: • Social Emotional Learning (SEL) • Science • Literacy • Global awareness • Math • Art • The Power of Play • So much more! Sesame Workshop .................................................................... sesameworkshop.org/resources Free resources for parents and childcare providers including: • Resources on addressing tough issues • Trauma-informed content • Printables • Content in English & Spanish • Professional development Bright by Text ...................................................................................... Text CONNECT to 274448 • Free tips, information & resources in English & Spanish • Developmental tips based on child’s due date or age • Info about local resources & events from community organizations • Learning materials, short modeling videos & related resources

Tune-in Tune-inStatewide Statewide

Asheville Asheville (WUNF) (WUNF) Asheville (WUNF)

33.1 33.1 33.1

33.4 33.4 33.4

33.2 33.2 33.2

33.3 33.3 33.3

Canton/Waynesville Canton/Waynesville (WUNW) (WUNW) Canton/Waynesville (WUNW)

27.2 27.2 27.2

27.4 27.4 27.4

27.3 27.3 27.3

27.1 27.1 27.1

Chapel Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham Hill/Raleigh/Durham (WUNC) (WUNC) Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham (WUNC)

4.1 4.14.1

4.4 4.44.4

4.2 4.24.2

4.3 4.34.3

Charlotte/Concord Charlotte/Concord (WUNG) (WUNG) Charlotte/Concord (WUNG)

58.1 58.1 58.1

58.4 58.4 58.4

58.2 58.2 58.2

58.3 58.3 58.3

Edenton/Columbia Edenton/Columbia (WUND) (WUND) Edenton/Columbia (WUND)

2.1 2.12.1

2.4 2.42.4

2.2 2.22.2

2.3 2.32.3

Greenville Greenville (WUNK) (WUNK) Greenville (WUNK)

25.1 25.1 25.1

25.4 25.4 25.4

25.2 25.2 25.2

25.3 25.3 25.3

Jacksonville Jacksonville (WUNM) (WUNM) Jacksonville (WUNM)

19.2 19.2 19.2

19.4 19.4 19.4

19.3 19.3 19.3

19.1 19.1 19.1

Linville Linville (WUNE) (WUNE) Linville (WUNE)

17.2 17.2 17.2

17.4 17.4 17.4

17.3 17.3 17.3

17.1 17.1 17.1

Lumberton Lumberton (WUNU) (WUNU) Lumberton (WUNU)

31.1 31.1 31.1

31.4 31.4 31.4

31.2 31.2 31.2

31.3 31.3 31.3

Roanoke Roanoke Rapids Rapids (WUNP) (WUNP) Roanoke Rapids (WUNP)

36.2 36.2 36.2

36.4 36.4 36.4

36.3 36.3 36.3

36.1 36.1 36.1

Wilmington Wilmington (WUNJ) (WUNJ) Wilmington (WUNJ)

39.1 39.1 39.1

39.4 39.4 39.4

39.2 39.2 39.2

39.3 39.3 39.3

Winston-Salem Winston-Salem (WUNL) (WUNL) Winston-Salem (WUNL)

26.1 26.1 26.1

26.4 26.4 26.4

26.2 26.2 26.2

26.3 26.3 26.3

Spectrum Spectrum (Time (Time Warner Warner Cable/Charter) Cable/Charter) Spectrum (Time Warner Cable/Charter)

1221 1221 1221

1276 1276 1276

1275 1275 1275

1277 1277 1277

Other OtherProviders Providers Channel Channel numbers numbers vary vary by location. location. Please Please call call providers providers for details. details. If If your cable cable provider provider doesn’t doesn’t carry carry any any or all of our our channels, channels, Channel numbers vary byby location. Please call providers forfor details. If your your cable provider doesn’t carry any or or allall of of our channels, please please consider consider requesting requesting that that they they add add the the channel(s) channel(s) to to their their listings. listings. please consider requesting that they add the channel(s) to their listings. AT&T AT&T Uverse: Uverse: AT&T Uverse: CenturyLink: CenturyLink: CenturyLink: Comcast: Comcast: Comcast: Direct Direct TV:TV: Direct TV: Dish: Dish: Dish:

1-800-288-2020 1-800-288-2020 1-800-288-2020 1-800-244-1111 1-800-244-1111 1-800-244-1111 1-800-934-6489 1-800-934-6489 1-800-934-6489 1-800-531-5000 1-800-531-5000 1-800-531-5000 1-800-333-3474 1-800-333-3474 1-800-333-3474

Mediacom: Mediacom: 1-855-633-4226 1-855-633-4226 Mediacom: 1-855-633-4226 NorthState NorthState Communications: Communications: 1-866-542-5900 1-866-542-5900 NorthState Communications: 1-866-542-5900 Spectrum Spectrum (Time (Time Warner Warner Cable/Charter): Cable/Charter): 1-855-757-7328 Spectrum (Time Warner Cable/Charter): 1-855-757-7328 1-855-757-7328 Suddenlink Suddenlink Communications: Communications: 1-888-822-5151 1-888-822-5151 Suddenlink Communications: 1-888-822-5151

Learn Learn more more atat pbsnc.org/channels pbsnc.org/channels oror contact contact usus atat viewer@pbsnc.org viewer@pbsnc.org 1-888-292-7070 1-888-292-7070

PBS NC EDUCATION & INNOVATION D r. M e l i s s a R i h m Th i b a u l t Chief Education & Innovation Officer mthibault@pbsnc.org A D M I N IS T R AT I O N

D avi d H u p p e r t Director of Media Innovation Lab dhuppert@pbsnc.org

K i m m e r l y Pa y to n Education & Innovation Program Assistant kpayton@pbsnc.org

Isaac Klein Digital Producer iklein@pbsnc.org

L at t i n a R i l ey Division Office Manager lriley@pbsnc.org

D a n ie l R i n a l d i Project Manager drinaldi@pbsnc.org

C H I L D R E N ’ S M E D I A & E N GA G E M E N T

M E D I A I N N O VAT I O N L A B

E D U C AT I O N S E R V I C E S

I z z y D a n ie l s - C o n n o r Educational Engagement Producer idaniels@pbsnc.org

A l t h e a D avi s Education Services Manager adavis@pbsnc.org

J ewe l A u s by L owe Engagement Program Manager jlowe@pbsnc.org

Dana Hall Education Program Coordinator dhall@pbsnc.org

C y n t h i a Pr offi t t Rootle Ambassador Program Coordinator cproffitt@pbsnc.org

K r i s t i Ma i d a Director of Education Services kmaida@pbsnc.org

L a u re n M c D owe l l Py l e Director of Children’s Media & Engagement lmcdowell@pbsnc.org

L a u re n Pi p e r Event Coordinator lpiper@pbsnc.org

C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S

LEARNING DESIGN

Kenna Cupp Print & Motion Designer kcupp@pbsnc.org

Pa u l a E d e l s o n Director of Learning Design pedelson@pbsnc.org

SOCIAL MEDIA BEST PRACTICES Overview Facebook and Instagram are all about community. Your fans and followers are looking for a connection and are more likely to engage with a post that feels personal rather than something that’s overproduced. We hope that you will share PBS KIDS resources with your network of friends and colleagues through your existing social media networks. If you don’t have a Facebook or Instagram account, or if content separation between home/ work/Rootle Ambassador accounts is important to you, consider creating a new Facebook or Instagram account with the account name “NAME_RootleAmbassador.” Note that all brand logos are legally protected and must not be incorporated into your account. Instead, share official content from PBS North Carolina, Rootle, PBS KIDS, etc. You’re also invited to join the private Facebook group created for Rootle Ambassadors: “PBS NC’s Rootle Ambassador Group (Closed Group).” Here you will receive internal updates specific to your Ambassador role as well as previews of upcoming content from PBS North Carolina and its partners.

Be Creative •

Be conversational and authentic in your messages and captions.

•

Share exclusive content that followers can’t get from anyone else, like behind-the-scenes photos and videos.

•

Post a variety of content to maximize your reach. Your audience won’t all have the same content preferences—some like videos, some like photos and others like stories.

•

Make it fun by using creative tools like Boomerang, face filters, stickers, drawing tools and more to share your highlights and everything in between.

Engage with Your Followers

•

Acknowledging a comment may earn you a lifelong follower. Take a moment to like a comment or respond with a few words.

•

If you go live on Facebook/Instagram, dedicate time to do a Q&A with your viewers.

Video •

Video is being watched on Facebook and Instagram more than ever before, especially on mobile phones.

•

Create videos that let fans feel like they’re there with you and offer context. Add a description that lets viewers know what they’re watching and why it’s interesting.

Stories •

The most engaging Facebook and Instagram Stories are made in the moment and use a combination of videos, photos and other creative tools.

•

Stories can be added to both Instagram and Facebook at the same time. You can adjust your settings to have your Instagram Stories automatically shared to Facebook every time, or you can share individual stories when you create them.

Locations & Hashtags •

More than 150 million people visit the Instagram Explore tab every day. Increase the likelihood that your content will surface here by using hashtags to make your content more discoverable. But don’t go overboard; simply choose the most relevant tags for your posts.

•

Use location tags and hashtags to connect with a moment or place, and encourage fans to use them at your shows, events and more.

•

Tag pages/accounts when relevant to make the post eligible to appear in more feeds.

Post Frequency

Best Times to Post

3–5 posts per week

Facebook: Tuesday–Friday 9 AM–1 PM Instagram: Tuesday 11 AM–2 PM

Profiles to Tag Facebook: @mypbsnc Instagram: @mypbsnc @rootlenc

Hashtags #rootlenc #rootleambassador #pbskids #pbsnc

Optimal Image Sizes Profile Picture: 400 x 400 pixels Facebook Post: 1200 x 630 pixels Story Post: 1200 x 445 pixels Instagram Post: 1080 x 1080 pixels Instagram Portrait Size: 1080 x 1350 pixels

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES Connect •

The first step in planning an engagement is to connect to the community and the content. As you begin, consider community needs, community partners, PBS KIDS content and resources.

•

Connect with a community partner/agency for support with event space, planning, promotion and implementation. Consider integrating your activity into an existing event or activity such as a community fair, library night or farmers market.

•

Utilize the Rootle Road Map on page 6 for an engaging learning experience. Each engagement should integrate the Watch Play Explore Share model.

•

Check Microsoft Teams files for logos, templates and more.

•

Keep each learning style in mind and provide multiple means of representation (say it, write it and display it).

•

Extend reach beyond the engagement by providing take-home materials.

Collaborate •

Collaborate with a fellow Rootle Ambassador for support during planning and/or implementation.

•

Complete the Planning Tool for Family & Community Engagements on page 14 and schedule a run-through with our Education & Innovation Team at least 60 days prior to the engagement.

•

Talk to families in your community about what type of experience and resource would support their interests and needs.

Technology & Evaluation

•

Plan for the necessary equipment to support all engagement activities (e.g., slide deck, laptop, projector, camera, etc.) and have a back-up plan ready.

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If Wi-Fi is needed, make sure to secure the login information and test it in the space.

•

Administer surveys to participants at the conclusion of events.

Reach •

For each engagement, create a welcoming environment with opportunities for participation.

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60–90 minutes allow for a meaningful and engaging workshop, with time for questions. Don’t forget to check for understanding.

•

We encourage and support community engagements that are accessible to all. Consider the languages spoken in your community and how to offer bilingual supports as part of your activity. We recommend having a facilitator who can communicate in the primary language. Please contact the Rootle Team with any questions pertaining to Englishlanguage learners.

PBSNC

Rootle

Facebook: facebook.com/mypbsnc

Twitter: #rootleambassadors

Twitter: twitter.com/mypbsnc

Instagram: @rootlenc

Instagram: @mypbsnc

YouTube: youtube.com/rootle

YouTube: youtube.com/mypbsnc

Email: Rootle_Ambassador@pbsnc.org

Newsletter Signup: pbsnc.org/signup

Rootle Ambassador Email Syntax [COUNTY]@rootlekids.org (e.g. Durham@rootlekids.org)

Questions? Contact the Rootle Ambassador Program Coordinator at rootle_ambassador@pbsnc.org.

PLANNING TOOL FOR FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS Download, fill and email this form to Rootle_Ambassador@pbsnc.org. Please do not submit handwritten or photocopied forms. Instead, scan QR code below to download. Ambassador Name(s) Event Date Event Title Facilitator(s) Hours/Length of Time Intended Audience Community Partner(s) Event partners & their involvement Event Purpose Broad statement of what you intend to teach Event Objectives What you hope participants will gain from engagement Event Overview Describe what will take place

Event Environment Where your event will be held (location; virtual/in-person) Materials for Attendees List of materials needed (food, signs) Workshop Aids Materials for Ambassadors (slide deck, virtual background) Instructional Materials List & link handouts needed

Data Collection Plan How post-event feedback will be collected from participants 14

SCAN TO DOWNLOAD FORM

Attendee Survey Scan & Complete

Researchers at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University have partnered with PBS North Carolina to examine the impact of today’s program on you, the children you work with and your community.

Education Trainers James Sebastian Byers jbyers@pbsnc.org Khalilah Gilmore kgilmore@pbsnc.org Jason Lineberger jlineberger@pbsnc.org LaToya McCrimmon lmccrimmon@pbsnc.org Celia Santos csantos@pbsnc.org Jennifer Sarmento jsarmento@pbsnc.org Angela Wilson awilson@pbsnc.org

Engagment Trainers Andrea Ausby aausby@pbsnc.org Annalise Bocko abocko@pbsnc.org Krista Keith kkeith@pbsnc.org Jennelle Lewis jlewis@pbsnc.org

Across NC Rootle Ambassadors are collaborative leaders from across North Carolina who support young learners and their families and communities. Each Ambassador was nominated by their community and trained to use and share PBS early education resources. Follow their journey on social media throughout the year using #RootleAmbassadors.

2021 Cohort 2022 Cohort 2023 Cohort 2024 Cohort

∙ Alamance

∙ Chowan

∙ Guilford

∙ Mitchell

∙ Rutherford

∙ Alexander

∙ Clay

∙ Halifax

∙ Montgomery

∙ Sampson

∙ Alleghany

∙ Cleveland

∙ Harnett

∙ Moore

∙ Scotland

∙ Anson

∙ Columbus

∙ Haywood

∙ Nash

∙ Stanly

∙ Ashe

∙ Craven

∙ Henderson

∙ New Hanover

∙ Stokes

∙ Avery

∙ Cumberland

∙ Hertford

∙ Northampton

∙ Surry

∙ Beaufort

∙ Currituck

∙ Hoke

∙ Onslow

∙ Swain

∙ Bertie

∙ Dare

∙ Hyde

∙ Orange

∙ Transylvania

∙ Bladen

∙ Davidson

∙ Iredell

∙ Pamlico

∙ Tyrrell

∙ Brunswick

∙ Davie

∙ Jackson

∙ Pasquotank

∙ Union

∙ Buncombe

∙ Duplin

∙ Johnston

∙ Pender

∙ Vance

∙ Burke

∙ Durham

∙ Jones

∙ Perquimans

∙ Wake

∙ Cabarrus

∙ Edgecombe

∙ Lee

∙ Person

∙ Warren

∙ Caldwell

∙ Forsyth

∙ Lenoir

∙ Pitt

∙ Washington

∙ Camden

∙ Franklin

∙ Lincoln

∙ Polk

∙ Watauga

∙ Carteret

∙ Gaston

∙ Macon

∙ Randolph

∙ Wayne

∙ Caswell

∙ Gates

∙ Madison

∙ Richmond

∙ Wilkes

∙ Catawba

∙ Graham

∙ Martin

∙ Robeson

∙ Wilson

∙ Chatham

∙ Granville

∙ McDowell

∙ Rockingham

∙ Yadkin

∙ Cherokee

∙ Greene

∙ Mecklenburg

∙ Rowan

∙ Yancey

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS

THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR FUNDER

The

10 UNC-TV Drive · Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 · PO Box 14900 20

919-549-7000 · rootle@pbsnc.org