About NSPRA
Become a Member
Cindy Warner, APR Public Relations and Community Education Supervisor Shelby County School District Pelham, Ala. Nominated by: Alabama School Public Relations Association
For more than two decades, Cindy Warner, APR, has shaped the voice of Shelby County Schools—serving not only as the district’s lead communicator but also as a strategic thought partner, community connector and committed advocate for students and families. As the district’s first and only public relations and community education supervisor, Warner has built a comprehensive, research-based communications program grounded in service, strategy and heart.
With 34 years of experience in media, nonprofit outreach and school public relations, Warner brings unmatched perspective to her work. For 17 of her 23 years in school PR, she managed all communications for a district of more than 21,000 students and 2,800 staff as a one-person department. Today, she leads a growing team of award-winning digital specialists and oversees strategic messaging, media relations and crisis communication as a trusted member of the superintendent’s executive leadership cabinet. She also directs the district’s $2.5 million Community Education Department, which provides after-school care and enrichment programs to more than 1,000 students across 15 school sites.
After earning her accreditation in public relations (APR) in 2015, Warner led a transformation of the district’s communications strategy to a research-based model. Her work has earned national acclaim, including a 2024 NSPRA Gold Medallion Award for the Empowering and Inspiring Excellence Strategic Plan launch, developed in collaboration with the superintendent. Warner also helped lead the award-winning Shelby Cares student mental health campaign and continues to guide initiatives that support student wellness, staff recognition and family engagement.
“Our ability to effectively communicate has gotten exponentially better under her direction,” said Superintendent Dr. Lewis Brooks. “She is a reliable presence in times of celebration and crisis, and a trusted member of my executive cabinet.”
Warner’s impact extends well beyond her district. She has served multiple terms as president of the Alabama School Public Relations Association (ALSPRA) and held key roles at the national level, including NSPRA southeast region vice president and founding member of the NSPRA APR Committee. A champion for professional growth, she has mentored more than a dozen APR candidates across the country and continues to serve as a national panel chair and APR cohort facilitator.
Outside of school PR, Warner is deeply rooted in her community. A foster and adoptive parent, she serves on the boards of CASA Shelby County and the Literacy Council of Central Alabama. She is also a graduate of Leadership Shelby County and an active leader in local youth sports.
“Cindy represents the very best of our profession,” said Nicole Knight, director of communications for nearby Pelham City (Ala.) Schools. “She is respected, admired and valued—not only in Alabama, but by school communicators across the nation.”