Bossier Parish Schools is being nationally recognized for its visionary way to reach parents, teachers, and staff with important updates and topics.

Its video podcast “On the Record with Bossier Schools,” or OTR for short, is the recipient of the 2025 Publications and Digital Media Excellence Award from the National School Public Relations Association.

The brainchild of Superintendent Jason Rowland, OTR, recently wrapped up year three of not only highlighting news and accomplishments within the district but also diving into broader issues facing public education. 

“I envisioned OTR as a platform to share our story in a way that stands out,” said Rowland. “We’re blessed with the talent in our team to put something like this together. When you have someone like (Public Relations Liaison) Sonja Bailes, you can’t help but be pretty good.”

Bailes added, “Everyone has a story, and no one knows our story better than us. OTR gave us a way to reach new audiences and show the public what really happens inside our schools.”

“We don’t want Facebook to be the source of news for our audience,” said Rowland. “When something is going on like the Bossier Parish School Board passing the largest single teacher pay raise or the state legislature discussing bills that can impact Bossier Schools, we want them to hear it from us.”

Beyond breaking news, OTR celebrates students and staff, often incorporating lighthearted and engaging content. Segments like “Rollin’ with Rowland” take the superintendent out of the studio to interact with sports teams, attend local events, or visit educational sites like nature centers. 

“We explore stories that inspire and motivate, the ones that don’t always get told,” said Rowland. “For example, we told the story of bus driver Marcus McIlveen, who wanted to be a part of the school system so bad that he walked 30 miles every day for months to support the community of Plain Dealing. “

One of OTR’s most popular episodes featured a roundtable discussion with local superintendents about the LA GATOR Scholarship Program and its potential impact on northwest Louisiana schools.

“A full year later, that episode was still being discussed at the state superintendent conference,” Rowland shared.

According to Bailes, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many viewers submitting ideas for future episodes or requesting spotlights on specific schools and students. OTR has even inspired other districts to launch their own podcasts.

But the team isn’t slowing down. New plans are already underway to expand the podcast’s reach and format. These include introducing 30-second YouTube Shorts from each episode, launching live shows—including an upcoming one from Washington, D.C.—and releasing an audio version on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

“I believe in the mindset that ‘we never arrive,’” Rowland said. “We must continuously evolve. People want fresh content, and we can’t afford to become irrelevant. Public education is always changing, and we need to adapt right along with it.”

He concluded, “I’m constantly thinking about what’s next in the digital space.”

You can watch OTR at https://www.youtube.com/@ontherecordwithbpsb.