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Author: NSPRA/Friday, May 29, 2026/Categories: News
The National School Public Relations Association is proud to celebrate the outstanding leadership, innovation and service of school communication professionals from across the country. Presented in partnership with Finalsite, the National School Communicator of the Year Award is among the highest national honors in the profession, recognizing front-line communicators whose strategic leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact on their schools and communities.
This year, 28 exceptional professionals were nominated by their state or regional chapters for the national honor. Each nominee had previously been recognized at the chapter level as a Communicator of the Year or equivalent award recipient.
2026 Finalists
Congratulations to the following four finalists, who were selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges in recognition of their exemplary leadership, professional excellence and contributions to the field of school communication. The finalists will be honored and a winner will be announced during the General Session at the NSPRA 2026 National Seminar on Monday, July 20, in New Orleans.
Holly Brooker
Director of Community Relations Ulster BOCES
New York School Public Relations Association
Celi Haga, APR
Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Strategic Communications Eastern Carver County Schools
Minnesota School Public Relations Association
Lori Perlow
Public Information Officer, Communications Consortium Haddon Township School District
New Jersey School Public Relations Association
Tove Tupper, APR
Chief Communications Officer Highline Public Schools
Washington 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 2026 National Seminar on Monday, July 20, in New Orleans., where the national winner of the award will also be announced.
Denise Barr, APR
Director of Communications and Public Engagement
Huntley Community School District 158
Illinois School Public Relations Association
Ted Beasley
Deputy Chief of Communications Louisiana Department of Education Louisiana School Public Relations Association
Ja'Leasa Bolden
Director of Communication Moss Point School District Mississippi School Public Relations Association
Terri Brewer, APR
Director of Public Relations Tuscaloosa County School System Alabama School Public Relations Association
Amy Buckman
Director of School and Community Relations Lower Merion School District Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association
Kristyn Cathey, APR
Chief of Communications Alief Independent School District Texas School Public Relations Association
Michael Cyze
Chief Communication Officer Dubuque Community School District Iowa School Public Relations Association
Evan Debo
Executive Director of Communications South Western City Schools Ohio School Public Relations Association
Russ Elek, APR
Communication and Public Relations Specialist Burlington School District New England School Public Relations Association
Gabriel Gamiño Guerrero
Director of Community Relations
Alhambra Elementary School District #68
Arizona School Public Relations Association
Candace Gibson
Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services Kentucky School Public Relations Association
Beth Graser
Communications Director Hillsboro School District Oregon School Public Relations Association
Tyler Hill
Chief of Communications and Planning Arlington Community Schools Tennessee School Public Relations Association
Kimberly Koop, APR
Director of Community Engagement and Recruitment USD 490 - El Dorado Public Schools Kansas School Public Relations Association
Fermin Leal
Chief Communications and Community Relations Officer Santa Ana Unified School District California School Public Relations Association
Emily LeMay
Director of Student and Family Engagement MSD Decatur Township Indiana School Public Relations Association
Jessica Pupillo, APR
Chief Communications Officer Mehlville School District Missouri School Public Relations Association
Mitchell Roush
Director of Communications and Marketing Grand Island Public Schools Nebraska School Public Relations Association
Diana Spencer
Communications Officer Baltimore County Public Schools Chesapeake School Public Relations Association
Jessica Stilger, APR
Director of Communications Berkley School District Michigan School Public Relations Association
Jim Strick
Communications Director Neenah Joint School District Wisconsin School Public Relations Association
Erica Taylor, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Communications and Business and Community Partnerships Orangeburg County School District South Carolina Chapter of NSPRA
Tara Thompson, APR
Chief Communications Officer Broken Arrow Public Schools Oklahoma School Public Relations Association
Lindsay Whitley, Ed.D.
Associate Superintendent, Communications and Community Engagement Cumberland County Schools North Carolina 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 2026 National Seminar. Be sure to join us there in New Orleans this summer where the National School Communicator of the Year Award winner will be announced!
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