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When Cindy Warner, APR, walked to the podium to accept the 2025 NSPRA National School Communicator of the Year Award at the Monday morning General Session, the moment was more than just a professional milestone—it was personal. It was full-circle. And it was deeply emotional.
Warner, the public relations supervisor for Shelby County Schools in Alabama, grew up in the small town of Dorsey, Miss., just outside Tupelo. It’s where she first discovered her love of reading, writing and connecting with others. It’s also where the seeds of a lifelong commitment to public education were planted.
“I’m a proud product of public education,” Warner told the packed ballroom during her acceptance speech. “Dorsey Elementary is where I first learned to be a PR practitioner; it’s where I learned to be creative and learned to build consensus on the playground.”
This year’s award, presented by NSPRA in partnership with Finalsite, honored Warner for more than just professional excellence. Nominated by the Alabama School Public Relations Association (ALSPRA), she was recognized for her unwavering dedication to mentoring others and her commitment to elevating public education.
The path to the stage came with mixed emotions. Just days before the Seminar, Warner experienced the loss of a beloved aunt, a lifelong public educator. While attending the Seminar meant missing the funeral, Warner shared how she knew her aunt would have been proud of this moment.
“A dear friend reminded me: I was still with family—my NSPRA family,” Warner said.
As part of the program, the four School Communicator of the Year finalists were asked to submit a video that was played before the winner was announced. In her video, Warner paid tribute to mentors who shaped her career, including the late Nez Calhoun, a legendary Alabama school communicator.
“Nez was the first person I was told to call when I started in school PR more than 23 years ago. She didn’t just mentor me—she believed in me long before I believed in myself,” Warner said. “This recognition is a reminder to keep paying it forward, just like she did.”
Warner closed with gratitude and a simple but powerful promise: “Thank you for letting me represent you as Communicator of the Year,” she said. “I promise I’m going to continue to do my best to elevate public education because I’m proud to be a product of public education.”
Read more about Cindy, and stay tuned to hear more from her over the next year as she represents NSPRA as the 2025 School Communicator of the Year.