
Golden Achievement Award
The Golden Achievement Award recognizes exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing and engagement. Each entry is judged individually against the contest criteria - not against other entries - and judges select as many winners as meet the award criteria.
2021 Golden Achievement Award Winners
- Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Thornton, Colo.
Onward
Joe Ferdani, APR, Chief Communications Officer - Ascension Public Schools, Donaldsonville, La.
Ascension Public Schools Teacher Recruitment Campaign
Jackie Tisdell, Public Information Officer - Capital Region BOCES, Albany, N.Y.
Essential Ed 2.0: Relaunching and Rapid Deployment of Resources
Jessica Scheckton, Assistant Director of Communications - Capital Region BOCES, Albany, N.Y.
Summer Adventure: Engaging Young Learners During a Stay-at-Home Summer
Jessica Scheckton, Assistant Director of Communications - Capital Region BOCES, Albany, N.Y.
Roadmap to Reopening: Communicating the “New Normal” to Operate Schools During COVID-19
Jessica Scheckton, Assistant Director of Communications - Capital Region BOCES, Albany, N.Y.
Mailing It In: Engaging School Communities in an Absentee-Ballot-Only School Budget Vote
Jessica Scheckton, Assistant Director of Communications - Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES, Olean, N.Y.
CA BOCES CTE Career Exploration Campaign
Jessica Golley, Marketing, Brand & Communication Coordinator - Cedar Rapids Community School District, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Disaster Strikes - CRCSD Crisis Communication
Colleen Scholer, Director of Communications - CESA 10, Chippewa Falls, Wisc.
Engineering Opportunities for the Spooner Area School District
Angie Sommers, Marketing Strategist - CESA 7, Green Bay, Wisc.
This is CESA 7
Dean Leisgang, Director of Communications - Cherokee County School District, Canton, Ga.
Crisis Communications: CCSD Pandemic Response
Barbara Jacoby, Chief Communications Officer - Chester County Intermediate Unit, Downingtown, Pa.
CCIU Vaccine Advocacy Campaign
Mary Curley, Director of Communications & Learning Solutions - CiTi BOCES, Mexico, N.Y.
CiTi COVID-19 Communications Plan
Naomi Himes, Public Relations Coordinator and the CiTi Public Relations Team - Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, Mo.
PR Education TV/video/podcasting programs
Aurora Meyer, APR, Communication Manager - Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, Mo.
District Financial Aid and Budget Transparency Columbia Public Schools Communicates District Financial and Budget Information to Better Engage Stakeholders
Aurora Meyer, APR, Communication Manager - Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, Mo.
Fast-Tracked Digital Learning Initiatives A Global Pandemic Gives Columbia Public Schools the Opportunity to Implement the 1:1 Technology Initiative Across the District.
Aurora Meyer, APR, Communication Manager - Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, Mo.
Outreach During a Time of Pandemic
Aurora Meyer, APR, Communication Manager - Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville, N.C.
Excellence in Teaching: Rising to the Challenge ~ 2021 Teacher & Beginning Teacher of the Year Virtual Celebration
Lindsay Whitley, Associate Superintendent of Communications & Community Engagement - Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville, N.C.
Cumberland Family Academy
Lindsay Whitley, Associate Superintendent of Communications & Community Engagement - Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Va.
Returning to School in a COVID-19 Environment
Miranda Ferguson, Public Affairs Officer - Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District, Roseville, Calif.
COVID-19 School Reopening Guidebook
Gina Nielsen, Chief Communications Officer - Duluth (Minn.) Public Schools ISD 709
We Can, Northland
Katie Kaufman, Communications Coordinator - Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, Fla.
People and Persistence Prevail Over Politics
Tracy Pierce, Chief Communications Officer - Fridley Public Schools, Fridley, Minn.
Fridley Public Schools 20for20 Senior Salute
Sarah Burghardt, Communications Specialist - Fridley Public Schools, Fridley, Minn.
Fridley Public Schools COVID-19 Communications
Jael McLemore, Director of Communications - Fridley Public Schools, Fridley, Minn.
Fridley Public Schools Capital Projects Levy
Jael McLemore, Director of Communications; Sarah Burghardt, Communications Specialist; David Webber, Communications Specialist - Garland (Texas) Independent School District
20th Annual Employee Giving Campaign
Caren Rodriguez, Communications Coordinator - Gaston County Schools, Gastonia, N.C.
Billboards Marketing Campaign
Todd Hagans, Chief Communications Officer - Gaston County Schools, Gastonia, N.C.
Newspapers in Education (NIE) Campaign
Todd Hagans, Chief Communications Officer - Glens Falls (N.Y.) City Schools
Glens Falls City Schools COVID-19 Communications
Skye Heritage, Communications Director - Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.
Celebration of Excellence
Nora Shoptaw, APR, Program Administrator of Communications - Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.
We See You GCS
Nora Shoptaw, APR, Program Administrator of Communications - Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.
Drive-Thru Graduation Recognitions
Janson Silvers, Media Relations Program Administrator - Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.
Proactive Media Relations
Janson Silvers, Media Relations Program Administrator - Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.
GPA Tech Tuesdays & Thursdays: Live Canvas Help for Title I Parents and Caregivers
Wanda Edwards, Director of Communication - Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.
GPA Encourages Heart Love During American Heart Month
Wanda Edwards, Director of Communication - Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.
Reopening Plan
Nora Shoptaw, APR, Program Administrator of Communications - Hamilton County Schools, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Reopening School in a Global Pandemic
Cody Patterson, Communications Officer - Hernando County School District, Brooksville, Fla.
Against All Odds - Hernando' s Referendum 2020
Karen Jordan, Public Information Officer - Hernando County School District, Brooksville, Fla.
Against All Odds
Karen Jordan, Public Information Officer - Highline Public Schools, Burien, Wash.
Highline Tech Levy
Catherine Carbone Rogers, APR, Chief Communications Officer - Highline Public Schools, Burien, Wash.
Spring 2020 COVID Communications
Catherine Carbone Rogers, APR, Chief Communications Officer - Katy (Texas) Independent School District
Katy ISD: COVID-19 & Smart Restart
Andrea Grooms, APR, Chief Communications Officer, Maria Dipetta, Manager, Media Relations and Multimedia and Renie Deanda , Director of Communications - Kenosha (Wisc.) Unified School District
Return 2020
Tanya Ruder, Chief Communications Officer - Kyrene School District, Temple, Ariz.
Safe Return to School
Erin Helm, Director of Communications & Marketing - Lexington (S.C.) County School District One
COVID-19 Communications
Kathryn McPhail, Communications Director - Lockport (Ill.) Township High School
Lockport Township High School Communication Program
Janine Wheeler, Public Relations Director - Maine Township High School District 207, Park Ridge, Ill.
COVID-19 Relief Efforts: Helping Those Most in Need
Brett Clark, APR, Director of Communications - Marion County Public Schools, Ocala, Fla.
Netiquette Video
Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Public Relations Director - Mesa (Ariz.) Public Schools
Safe.Strong.Ready. communications campaign
Heidi Hurst, Director, Communications & Engagement - Minnetonka (Minn.) Public Schools
School Board Recognitions Program
Mary Cornelius, Communications Specialist and Andy Smith, Audio/Visual Specialist and Sue Ryan, Communications Assistant - Mobile (Ala.) County Public Schools
mcpssTV LIVE Lessons
Rena Philips, Director of Communication - Mount Prospect (Ill.) District 57
Educating the Public and Building Excitement Around New Superintendent Announcement
Jenny Kustra-Quinn, Communications Consultant - NCSPRA, Davidson, N.C.
Spring Professional Development Series
Ellen Boyd, APR, Executive Director - Newburgh (N.Y.) Enlarged City School District
COVID-19 Communications: A Year in Review
Cassie Sklarz, APR, Communications Strategist - Northshore School District, Bothell, Wash.
Northshore Learns 3.0
Lisa Youngblood Hall, Chief Communications & Experience Officer, Megan Bernicchi, Assistant Director of Equity Pedagogy, Natalie Campbell, Partnerships and Volunteer Coordinator, Alex Clark, Digital Communications & Accessibility Specialist, Juliana Fisher, Nutrition Services Director, Sarah Lawrence, User Services Manager, Toby Normoyle, School Technology Specialist, Shelby Reynolds, Assistant Director, Instructional Technology and Library Services and Christina Wilner, Assistant Director Of Communications - Oakland Schools, Waterford, Mich.
Educationally Speaking podcast
Sarah Davis, Communications Specialist - Omaha (Neb.) Public Schools
Omaha Public Schools - Responsible Return to School
Jeremy Maskel, Executive Director, District Communications and External Relations - Orange County Schools, Hillsborough, N.C.
Equity Warriors
Melany Stowe, PIO - Orange County Schools, Hillsborough, N.C
Family Liaisons
Melany Stowe, PIO - Peoria Unified School District, Glendale, Ariz.
I Got My Shot
Danielle Airey, Chief Communications Officer - Peoria Unified School District, Glendale, Ariz.
Be the Difference
Danielle Airey, Chief Communications Officer - Peoria Unified School District, Glendale, Arizona
One Busy Ballot
Danielle Airey, Chief Communications Officer - Pulaski County Special School District, Little Rock, Ark.
Roadmap to Reopening
Jessica Duff, Exec Director of Communications - Questar BOCES, Castleton, N.Y.
Working Together to Reopen and Sustain In-Person Learning
Dan Sherman, Director of Communications - Racine (Wisc.) Unified School District
Campaigning Through COVID: RUSD Referendum. Every Student. Every School. Flat Tax Rate.
Stacy Tapp, APR, Chief of Communication & Community Engagement - San Antonio (Texas) Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio ISD Family Power Hour
Elsa Pennell, Director, Family & Community Engagement - San Diego (Calif.) County Office of Education, San Diego, California
Thanksgiving Food Drive Parade
Stacy Brandt, APR, Communications Specialist and Nicole Shina, Special Programs Assistant - School District of Clayton, Mo.
Diversity Recruitment Fair Campaign
Chris Tennill, APR, Chief Communications Officer - School District of Clayton, Clayton, Mo.
Black History Is Essential Video Campaign
Chris Tennill, APR, Chief Communications Officer - School District of Manatee County, Bradenton, Fla.
Mask Up Manatee
Michael Barber, Communications Director - Shawnee Mission School District, Overland Park, Kan.
SMSD Strong: Strong Schools, Strong Communities Bond Referendum
Kristin Babcock, Communications Coordinator - Shawnee Mission School District, Overland Park, Kan.
Virtual Education Foundation Fall Breakfast
Kristin Babcock, Communications Coordinator - Shawnee Mission School District, Overland Park, Kan.
Districtwide Quarterly Art Show
Kristin Babcock, Communications Coordinator - Socorro Independent School District, El Paso, Texas
Socorro ISD COVID-19 Communication Campaign
Daniel Escobar, Chief Communications Officer - Socorro Independent School District, El Paso, Texas
2020 Socorro ISD Teacher of the Year Virtual Announcement
Daniel Escobar, Chief Communications Officer - Socorro Independent School District, El Paso, Texas
2020 Team SISD Graduation in the Time of COVID
Daniel Escobar, Chief Communications Officer - Spring Branch Independent School District, Houston, Texas
Visioning for the Future
Lexi Marshall, Assistant Director of Communications, Linda Buchman, Associate Superintendent for Communications & Community Engagement and Abby Walker, Coordinator for Strategic Partnerships and Volunteer Programs - St. Vrain Valley Schools, Longmont, Colo.
We are #greatFULL
Kerri McDermid, Chief Communications and Global Impact Officer - St. Vrain Valley Schools, Longmont, Colo.
Our Schools, Our Community: A Grassroots Initiative to Change the Narrative of Public Education in Colorado
Kerri McDermid, Chief Communications and Global Impact Officer - Stamford (Conn.) Public Schools
SPS 3 Rs Response to COVID-19: Rapid Resolved Resolute
Sharon Beadle, Public Affairs Officer - Waterford School District, Waterford Township, Michigan
Waterford School District Virtual Orientations
Kelly Allen, Directory of Communications and Community Relations - Wichita (Kan.) Public Schools
Our Collective Crisis
Suzy Finn, Marketing and Strategic Partnerships Supervisor and Wendy Johnson, Division Director, Strategic Communications - Ysleta Independent School District, El Paso, Texas
OnLine OnTime OnPoint Attendance Campaign
Monica Bustillos, Director of District Affairs, Diana Mooy, Pupil and Parent Services Coordinator and James Vasquez, Director of Pupil & Parent Services
Previous years' winners:
- 2020 Golden Achievement Award Winners
- 2019 Golden Achievement Award Winners
- 2018 Golden Achievement Award Winners
- 2017 Golden Achievement Award Winners
- 2016 Golden Achievement Award Winners
- 2015 Golden Achievement Award Winners
- 2014 Golden Achievement Award Winners
- 2013 Golden Achievement Award winners
- 2012 Golden Achievement Award winners
- 2011 Golden Achievement Award winners
- 2010 Golden Achievement Award winners