Recognition AwardsNSPRA Presidents AwardThe NSPRA Presidents Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Association. It is given to recognize a (living) individual NSPRA member for outstanding professionalism and integrity throughout a career as an educational public relations practitioner and for contributing to the advancement of educational public relations. In addition, it recognizes the member’s active involvement and leadership at a national-level as well as substantive professional contributions to NSPRA. 2010 NSPRA Presidents Award Recipient
Nora Carr, APR Over the course of her career, Nora Carr has distinguished herself not only as one of the nation's top school PR practitioners, but also as one of the leading experts in urban school system public relations. As chief of staff for Guilford County Schools (GCS), she serves on the executive team that oversees district operations and also leads the district relations division, which manages internal and external communications, business partnerships, fund development and grants, marketing, branding, policy development, the GCS cable channel and web site, and governmental relations and public affairs. Nora writes regular colums for eSchool News and the American School Board Journal and makes frequent contributions to NSPRA's publications and web site. She is in demand as a speaker and workshop presenter, consults with districts seeking her advice and offers strategic support to colleagues around the country. As an "early adopter" of communication technology, Nora has become a "go to" resource for using e-communication strategies in schools. She is also one of the top school crises managers in the nation. After taking a break from education to become senior vice president and director of public relations for Luquire, George, Andrews agency in Charlotte, N.C., she returned to school PR where her continuing contribution to the public relations profession in general, and school public relations specifically, is significant and far-reaching. As one colleague put it, "If we were looking to clone someone as the model school public relations professional, Nora Carr would be the mold from which to start." Complete list of previous award recipients Presidents Award Guidelines and Nomination Form
Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy AwardThe Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award recognizes a practicing school public relations professional for: outstanding efforts in mentoring colleagues new to school public relations; providing counsel and advice on job success; and assisting colleagues in their professional development by creating or providing programs and activities designed to improve PR skills and knowledge.
2010 Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award Recipient Richard A. Egli, APR Over a career in public relations spanning more than 40 years, Dick Egli has always been engaged in mentoring colleagues. Whether as a school public relations professional in a local school system and intermediate school district, or as president of his own PR firm, Egli and Associates, Dick has never been too busy to stop and help a colleague in need. Even though Dick "retired" from the schools a decade ago, he has never retired from school PR. While running his own thriving consulting business, he continues to be involved in school public relations, often for no fee and sometimes at personal expense, to benefit students in Michigan. Dick is one of the pillars of the Michigan School Public Relations Association (MSPRA), where he currently chairs their Professional Development and Accreditation Committees. He is a popular and frequent presenter at MSPRA's annual conference, generously sharing his expertise. Dick is a strong proponent of Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and as MSPRA's accreditation chair has been known to encourage, cajole and persuade members to do the work necessary to earn their APRs. He has also served on NSPRA's Accreditation Committee and willingly volunteers to sit on Readiness Review panels when needed. In addition to giving unselfishly of his time to counsel and advise colleagues on a range of issues, Dick lectures in the Communication Arts and Sciences Department at Adrian College, helping to train undergraduates in the field of public relations and communication. He has also served a mentor to the college's student chapter of PRSA. Dick's legacy is strong, not just in MSPRA and NSPRA but especially in the school systems fortunate enough to have him on their team. Complete list of previous award recipients Barry Gaskins Award Criteria and Nomination Form
Information about Barry Gaskins
Learning & Liberty AwardThe NSPRA Learning & Liberty Award reflects the symbolism of The Education Flag of Learning and Liberty and is given in recognition of outstanding collaborative efforts between schools, business and community, and the home.
2010 Learning & Liberty Award Recipient Jamie Vollmer A true friend of public education, Jamie Vollmer was once a harsh critic who is now an articulate champion of America's public schools. A former businessman and attorney, he is committed to strengthening community support for public schools and building professional pride among our nation's educators. Jamie is a powerful ally in the effort to create schools that provide all students the opportunity to unfold their full potential. He believes that education has a "systems problem, not a people problem" and that we cannot touch the system without touching the culture of the surrounding community. He advocates for substantive reform, but he also insists that public education must be broadly and aggressively supported if America is to remain great. A popular national speaker, he is the author of Schools Cannot Do It Alone: Building Public Support for America's Public Schools, which chronicles his journey from critic to advocate for public education. Jamie Vollmer is a passionate advocate and a true champion of public education and educators, and he truly embodies the spirit of the Learning & Liberty Award. Complete list of previous award recipients.
Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications AwardThe Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award recognizes a practicing superintendent of schools or CEO of an education agency, service center or intermediate unit for outstanding leadership in school public relations and communication.
2010 Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communication Award Recipient Steven L. Walts, Ed.D. Steve Walts is truly a school PR professional's superintendent -one who not only understands and values the importance of good communication, but supports it with adequate funding in the budget. He doesn't just "talk the talk" but "walks the walk" as well. He set the stage by starting his tenure in Prince William County Public Schools with an "82 Schools in 82 Days" tour to visit and learn about all the schools in the system. Staff and community members could track him on the tour through daily web postings and regular TV news updates. Within a year of taking the helm, Dr. Walts reorganized the Office of Communications Services, merging communications and technology and creating a new, cabinet-level position of Associate Superintendent for Communications and Technology to oversee a comprehensive and cutting-edge communication program. But Dr. Walts also realizes that new communication technologies don't replace the important role of face-to-face communication in building relationships, so he remains highly visible in the schools and active in the community, hosting several outreach functions, such as the annual Superintendent's Business Breakfast. He recognizes the importance of communicating with the large non-English-speaking population in Prince William County, embracing the diversity of the community and directing the district to provide consistent bilingual communication. Dr. Walts notably led a major re-branding effort for the district and has not been afraid to break new ground in aggressively marketing the schools and garnering corporate sponsorships. He is a leader committed to proactive communication that is integrated into all programs and initiatives as a key component of providing a "World Class Education" for all the students he serves. Complete list of past recipients
Leadership through Communication AwardThe Leadership through Communication Award recognizes the teamwork and exemplary leadership of outstanding superintendents and their communications professionals for demonstrated commitment to the enhancement of communication and relationships between their school systems and the families and communities they serve. The award honors those who recognize that communication is a critical component of leadership and incorporate strategic communication into their planning goals and objectives as well as their daily operations. The award is jointly sponsored by AlertNow, AASA, and NSPRA. The recognized school system receives a $10,000 Award, provided by AlertNow, to be used for student scholarships or communication activities that benefit students and schools. 2010 Leadership through Communication Award Recipient Twin Rivers Unified School District, McClellan, Calif.
Twin Rivers Unified School District was created in 2007 from a merger of four North Sacramento area school districts and now serves over 27,000 students in 54 schools covering 120 square miles. The team of Frank Porter, superintendent, and Trinette Marquis, director of communication, are recognized for their leadership in overcoming great obstacles to bring these four disparate school districts together as one. The district was selected to receive the award in part because of the following key components of the consolidation effort:
The award was presented on February 13, 2010 at the AASA National Conference on Education in Phoenix, Ariz. Twin Rivers USD also was recognized at the NSPRA National Seminar in Charlotte, N.C., July 11-14, 2010. See past Leadership through Communication Award Recipients here.
NSPRA Lifetime Professional Achievement AwardsThese awards are given periodically during the year to recognize veteran NSPRA members who have: led distinguished careers as school public relations professionals; earned the respect of their colleagues at the state and national level; remained active NSPRA members at either the chapter or national level for the majority of their careers; shared their knowledge and experience at chapter workshops and conferences and at the NSPRA Seminar; contributed to the work of NSPRA committees and task forces; mentored new members and supported NSPRA colleagues; demonstrated the practice of good public relations on a daily basis; and constantly advocated the need for good communication between schools and the public. Any current NSPRA Chapter Officer or past NSPRA Executive Board member may submit a nomination, using the official form. |
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