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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 Anakaren Cardenas Ureño
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

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

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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