The biggest thing I’ve taken away in the last week is that people are really invested. Folks who have students in the schools are really invested, but folks who don’t are very invested in the schools and the community.”

Kate Benoit

After eight days in her new job, Kate Benoit had already grown an unexpected appreciation for Barrington. 

The recently-hired communication specialist for Barrington Public Schools said she very impressed by how much people here care about their hometown. 

“The biggest thing I’ve taken away in the last week is that people are really invested. Folks who have students in the schools are really invested, but folks who don’t are very invested in the schools and the community. And I think that’s pretty rare,” Benoit said. “I think there’s an opportunity to build on that.”

Benoit came to Barrington from Clark University in Worcester, Mass. She played a key role in the college’s communications department also helped enhance Clark’s career center’s website. 

Benoit will be handling a number of similar tasks in Barrington — among her duties will be developing a communications plan and strategy for the district, for the individual schools and for initiatives that are taking place at Barrington schools. She will also focus her energy on engaging with the community through different communications.

Benoit will also be working on the district’s website.

“I’ve spent a lot of time (reviewing the website), making sure the homepage is inviting and interesting, and sharing the best of what Barrington Public Schools has to offer,” Benoit said. “And I think it’s doing some of that now, but there can be more strategy around that…just taking a look at who our audiences are and what do they need to get out of our site. How can we make it as easy to use as possible for all of our difference audiences?”

Benoit said social media will play a role in the district’s communications efforts.

Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore said the district is very excited to have Benoit join the team. For years, Messore and assistant superintendent Paula Dillon had spear-headed the district’s communications efforts.

“It was a lot. She (Dillon) carried a lot of the brunt of it and I did a lot of the directing of it. I wrote some things that Paula would fix for me,” he said. 

Messore said Benoit’s position will address a number of needs in the district. 

“The first thing was, as a school system we need to tell our story, and we can’t rely on others to tell our story,” he said. “Because I think what parent groups want to hear is what things are going on with my child, what are the things going on in school, explain to me the program of studies …

“Down the road, it’s the community too. It’s not just the people in the schools. How do we promote ourselves. How do we inform people… Communication is everything.”

Benoit said she is very excited to bring her talents to Barrington. She was also equally excited to move one step closer to Cape Cod. 

“I have family at the Cape, and it’s really near and dear to my heart,” she said. “I love the beach. I love being by the water. So I was looking at making a move to inch me closer to the Cape.”

Benoit said she was eager to work with the community, to meet the faculty and build strong relationships with teachers, students, administrators and community members.