Meet the 2025 NSPRA School Communicator of the Year Finalists

Author: NSPRA Staff/Monday, May 5, 2025/Categories: News

The National School Public Relations Association is proud to recognize the exceptional leadership and contributions of school communication professionals across the country. Presented in partnership with Finalsite, the National School Communicator of the Year Award represents one of the highest national honors bestowed on front-line school communicators. The award recognizes individuals whose leadership, strategic expertise and unwavering commitment have made a transformative impact on their school systems and the communities they serve.

This year, 26 outstanding professionals were nominated by their state or regional chapters for this national honor. To be eligible, each nominee was first recognized at the chapter level as a Communicator of the Year or equivalent.

Congratulations to the following four finalists who were selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges in recognition of their exemplary contributions to the field.


Donnie Belcher Executive Director of Communications and Engagement Minneapolis Public Schools Minneapolis, Minn. Minnesota School Public Relations Association	Anakaren Cardenas Ureño Director of Communications Laguna Beach Unified School District Laguna Beach, Calif. California School Public Relations Association
Arianna Vazquez-Hernandez, APR Executive Administrator for Partnerships, Marketing and Communication Region One Education Service Center Edinburg, Texas Texas School Public Relations Association	Cindy Warner, APR Public Relations and Community Education Supervisor Shelby County School District Pelham, Ala. Alabama School Public Relations Association

And, congratulations to the following school communicators who were submitted as nominees for the national award from their state or regional chapter! ALL nominees will be invited to be recognized on stage during the General Session at the NSPRA 2025 National Seminar on Monday, July 21, in Washington, D.C., where the national winner of the award will also be announced.

National School Communicator of the Year Award Nominees

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

Join NSPRA in congratulating these school communication leaders on their well-earned nominations, and stay tuned to read more about each of them as we count down to the NSPRA 2025 National Seminar. Be sure to join us there in Washington, D.C., this summer, where the National School Communicator of the Year Award winner will be announced!

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Tags: career advancement leadership Culture of Communication