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Each year, the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), in partnership with Finalsite, honors one outstanding professional whose leadership, service and strategic impact have strengthened school communities and elevated the field of school communication. In 2025, the honor belongs to Cindy Warner, APR, Public Relations and Community Education Supervisor for Shelby County Schools in Alabama.
“Cindy’s work shows what happens when communication is treated as mission-critical to public education,” said NSPRA Executive Director Barbara M. Hunter, APR. “She’s helped transform her district’s communications and inspired professionals across the country with her mentorship, leadership and care.”
Over the past two decades, Warner has shaped public relations, crisis response and family engagement efforts for one of Alabama’s largest school systems, serving more than 21,000 students and 2,800 employees. Her work reflects national trends in school communication, from prioritizing student mental health and attendance to incorporating research-based messaging strategies and inclusive, multi-platform engagement.
Warner’s work exemplifies the power of school communication to build trust and support student well-being, outcomes backed by decades of research showing that active family engagement leads to higher grades, better attendance and improved emotional health.
Notable highlights from Warner’s career include:
Warner is also a three-time president of the Alabama School Public Relations Association (ALSPRA), a former Southeast Region Vice President for NSPRA and a dedicated volunteer and board member for multiple community nonprofit organizations.
“Cindy Warner is a trusted member of my executive cabinet and a confidant,” said Dr. Lewis Brooks, Superintendent of Shelby County Schools. “She is a reliable presence in times of (both) celebration and crisis…(and) our ability to effectively communicate has gotten exponentially better under her direction.”
In her acceptance remarks at the NSPRA 2025 National Seminar in July where she was presented with the award, Warner shared her gratitude and reflected on the educators, mentors and students who shaped her journey.
“Thank you for letting me represent you as Communicator of the Year,” she said. “I promise to continue doing everything I can to elevate public education because I’m proud to be a product of it.”
Read a full recap of the 2025 School Communicator of the Year Award presentation at the NSPRA National Seminar in the July 22 issue of the Seminar Scoop newsletter.
Explore Cindy Warner’s 2025 School Communicator of the Year finalist profile to learn more about her career, leadership and lasting impact on school communication.
In addition to Warner, three other finalists were recognized as part of this year’s national award program:
Read more about Arianna
And, congratulations to the following school communicators who were submitted as nominees for the national award from their state or regional chapter:
Natalia Baage Public Relations Specialist Southern Westchester BOCES Harrison, N.Y. New York School Public Relations Association
Jacqueline Brawley Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations Bellingham School District Bellingham, Wash. Washington School Public Relations Association
Jill Browning, APR Chief Communications Officer Community High School District 99 Downers Grove, Ill. Illinois School Public Relations Association
Mindy Burbach Executive Director of Communications Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska School Public Relations Association
Yándary Chatwin Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations Salt Lake City School District Salt Lake City, Utah Utah School Public Relations Association
Christine Corliss Public Information Officer Ridgewood Public Schools Ridgewood, N.J. New Jersey School Public Relations Association
James Evans, APR Chief Communications Officer Rutherford County Schools Murfreesboro, Tenn. Tennessee School Public Relations Association
Tracy Habisch-Ahlin Director of Community Relations Hudson School District Hudson, Wis. Wisconsin School Public Relations Association
Scott Howat Chief Communications Officer Orange County Public Schools Orlando, Fla. Sunshine State School Public Relations Association
Tim McAvoy Director of School Community Relations Utica Community Schools Auburn Hills, Mich. Michigan School Public Relations Association
Regina McMillan Director of Public Information St. Charles Parish Public Schools Luling, La. Louisiana School Public Relations Association
Kristen Miller Assistant Director of Communications Shaker Heights City School District Shaker Heights, Ohio Ohio School Public Relations Association
Joseph Ortiz Director of Public Relations and Marketing Tolleson Union High School District Tolleson, Ariz. Arizona School Public Relations Association
Kendra Pannell Executive Director of Communications Dalton Public Schools Dalton, Ga. Georgia School Public Relations Association
Stephanie Pool Director of Marketing and Communications Central Technology Center Drumright, Okla. Oklahoma School Public Relations Association
Andy Pruitt Director of Communications Charleston County School District Charleston, S.C. South Carolina Chapter of NSPRA
Melissa Reese Communications Manager Allentown School District Allentown, Pa. Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association
Christie Scott, APR Board of Education Communications Coordinator Montgomery County Public Schools Rockville, Md. Chesapeake School Public Relations Association
Sue Scott Communications Coordinator Tippecanoe School Corporation Lafayette, Ind. Indiana School Public Relations Association
David Smith Chief Communications Director Shawnee Mission School District Shawnee Mission, Kan. Kansas School Public Relations Association
Tahira Stalberte, APR Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Community Relations Union County Public Schools Monroe, N.C. North Carolina School Public Relations Association
Hillary Wright-Kaufman Coordinator of Communications and Public Relations, Assistant to the Superintendent Washington County Schools Louisville, Ky. Kentucky School Public Relations Association
To be eligible for the National School Communicator of the Year Award, candidates must first be selected by their chapter as its Communicator of the Year based on their chapter’s selection criteria. This chapter award may be branded by another name but should reflect the highest award a school communicator can receive. In addition, candidates should be a current member of their chapter, hold a professional membership in NSPRA and plan to continue working in the profession.
This program is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership and contributions of active, front-line school communicators who work full-time in school districts or education service agencies. It is not designed to be a recognition of service at retirement. Current members of the NSPRA executive board are ineligible to receive this award.
For the first three award years (2024, 2025 and 2026), chapters may submit a past winner to allow the alignment of the chapter and national award cycle and criteria. By 2027, chapters should submit their current awardee.
Chapter leaders may complete a nomination form for their chapter nominee. Chapter leaders may also opt to have their nominee complete the application. No other person(s) should complete a nomination.
The nomination form includes the submission of one essay of up to 300 words for each of the four judging areas: Leadership, Communication, Professionalism and Community Involvement (four essays total with each individual essay no more than 300 words in length).
Nominations may include supporting documentation of up to three supplemental items for each section. Each nomination must also include two letters of recommendation:
Nominations must also include the updated résumé of the nominee as well as a professional headshot of the nominee.
Each judging area will be scored from 1 to 5, for a maximum of 20 points.
All activities or accomplishments must have taken place within the previous five years. Additionally, the nominee must have the ability and skills necessary to represent school communications in a professional manner, including but not limited to high-quality written communication and public-speaking skills. The nominee should maintain the highest standards of personal conduct and recognize that their personal conduct is held up to public scrutiny.
A blue-ribbon panel of judges who are NSPRA’s past winners of the Presidents Award, the Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award, Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award and the current NSPRA president.
Questions? Contact NSPRA Executive Director Barbara M. Hunter, APR, at bhunter@nspra.org.
In 2024, Dirk Tedmon, APR, executive director of marketing and communications for Eden Prairie Schools in Eden Prairie, Minn., was named the inaugural recipient of the National School Communicator of the Year Award.
Read More About Dirk
Read more about all of the 2024 award nominees.