National School Public Relations Association

2021 Gold Medallion Winners

Bond / Finance Campaign

• School Finance: Fix Our Schools, Fund Our Future
  Nora Carr, Ed.D., APR, Chief of Staff
  Communications Department
  Guilford County Schools
  Greensboro, N.C.

COVID-19 Communications

• Fall 2020 In-person Reopening
  Nicholas Glenn, Communications Director
  North Shore School District 112
  Highland Park, Ill.
• Pattonville Strong: Pattonville COVID-19 Communication Plan
  Mickey Schoonover, APR, Director of School/Community Relations
  School-Community Relations Department
  Pattonville School District
  Saint Ann, Mo.

Special Communication Projects/Campaigns

• The Identity Project: Renaming Schools in a Dual Pandemic
  Julia A. Burgos, Chief of School and Community Relations
  Department of School and Community Relations
  Alexandria (Va.) City Public Schools
• #DiscoverVanguard
  Sabreana Smith, Director of Strategic Communications
  Communications Department
  Mesquite (Texas) Independent School District

 

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2020 Gold Medallion Winners

Bond / Finance Campaign

• Strong Schools, Strong Communities
  Mike Schoemer, Communications Specialist
  Communications and Marketing Department
  Independent School District 728
  Elk River, Minn.

Comprehensive, Strategic, Year-Round Communication Programs

• Pattonville Comprehensive, Strategic, Year-Round Communications Program
  Mickey Schoonover, APR, Director
  School-Community Relations Department
  Pattonville School District
  Saint Ann, Mo.

Marketing/Branding Campaigns

• Technical College High School – Evolving the Brand; Establishing the Why
  Melissa Smith, Assistant Director
  Communications and Learning Solutions Division
  Chester County Intermediate Unit
  Downingtown, Pa.
• See the Impact
  Danielle Clark, APR, Chief Communications Officer
  Communications and Creative Services Division
  Harris County Department of Education
  Houston, Texas

Public Engagement/Parental Involvement

• Senior Citizen VIP Pass
  Tiffany Veno, Director of Communications
  Communications Department
  Garland (Texas) Independent School District

Special Communication Projects / Campaigns

• Choose Your Seat in Cedar Hill ISD
  Tierney Tinnin, Chief of Communications and Marketing
  Communications and Marketing Department
  Cedar Hill (Texas) Independent School District
• ELEVATE Dual Enrollment Scholarships
  Lesley Bruinton, APR, Public Relations Coordinator
  Public Relations Department
  Tuscaloosa City (Ala.) Schools
• Every Student Future Ready: Communicating a New Strategic Plan
  Wendy Johnson, Division Director
  Suzy Finn, Marketing and Strategic Partnerships Supervisor
  Strategic Communications Division
  Wichita (Kan.) Public Schools

 

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2019 Gold Medallion Winners

Bond/Finance Campaign

• Continue the Greatness: May 2018 Bond Issue
  Annette Eyman, APR, Director of Communications
  Papillion La Vista (Neb.) Community Schools
• HSSD Operational Referendum Campaign 2018
  Brian Nicol, Director of Communications
  Howard-Suamico (Wis.) School District

Comprehensive, Strategic, Year-Round Communication Programs

• Engaging the Community to Support Our Students and Schools
  Nicole Kirby, APR, Director of Communications
  Park Hill (Mo.) School District
• #TeamSISD: The right choice for Endless Opportunities
  Daniel Escobar, Chief Communications Officer
  Socorro (Texas) Independent School District

Marketing/Branding Campaign

• Branding the District
  Yolanda Stephen, APR, Director of Public Relations
  Troup County (Ga.) School System
• Discover a World of Opportunities with Wichita Public Schools
  Suzy Finn, Marketing and Strategic Partnership Supervisor
  Wichita (Kan.) Public Schools
• All Education Is Not Equal. Are You Choosing the Best? #ChooseGarlandISD
  Tiffany Veno, Communications Director
  Garland (Texas) Independent School District

Special Communication Projects/Campaigns

• Reinventing the Titans: Ending Modern-Day Segregation and Creating Equity at T.C. Williams High School
  Helen Lloyd, Director of Communications
  Alexandria City (Va.) Public Schools
• We Help: Building a Culture of Help Within a Mental Well-Being Strategy
  Shawn McKillop, APR, Manager of Communications and Community Engagement
  Hamilton-Wentworth (Ontario) District School Board
• Student Census 2018 – Count Me in Peel
  Kayla Tishcoff, Senior Communications Officer
  Peel (Ontario) District School Board

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2018 Gold Medallion Winners

Special Communication Projects/Campaigns

• Parkway Schools, Chesterfield, Mo.
  Parkway Cares: Connecting Employees and Mission
  Communications Department

• Racine (Wis.) Unified School District
  My School. My Choice. Building stakeholder support, buy-in and leadership for transforming RUSD middle schools.
  Stacy Tapp, APR, chief of communication & community engagement

Bond/Finance Campaigns

• Kent Intermediate School District, Grand Rapids, Mich.
  Strong Schools, Strong Communities Ballot Proposal
  Ron Koehler, APR, assistant superintendent of organizational & community initiatives and legislative affairs
• Spring Branch ISD, Houston, Texas
  Great Schools. Great Community. Bond 2017 — Spring Branch ISD
  Linda Buchman, community relations officer

Strategic, Year-Round Communication Programs

• Stillwater Area (Minn.) Public Schools
  Get to Know the “New” Stillwater Area Public Schools
  Carissa Keister, APR, community engagement manager

Crisis Communication

• Peel District School Board, Mississauga, Ont.
  Religious accommodation: Key facts
  Carla Pereira, APR, director of communications & community relations support services

Public Engagement/Parent Involvement

• Tuscaloosa (Ala.) City Schools
  Summer Enrichment Program
  Lesley Bruinton, APR, public relations coordinator

Marketing/Branding

• Omaha (Neb.) Public Schools
  Yes, Omaha Public Schools, You Do Have a Brand! #OPSProud Brand Launch
  Kala Morrissey, coordinator of marketing & visual information &
  Monique Farmer, APR, director of communications

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2017 Gold Medallion Winners

Special Communication Projects/Campaigns

• Capital Region BOCES, Albany, N.Y.
  BOCES Employee Resource Tool (BERT): Using a Social Intranet to Increase Employee Engagement
  Deborah Bush-Suflita, director of communications
• Capital Region BOCES, Albany, N.Y.
  Testing Water for Lead: Communication Resources for New York Schools
  Jessica Scheckton, assistant director of communications & public relations
• Colorado Springs (Colo.) School District 11
  The Uniting of Two History-Rich Schools
  Devra Ashby, public information officer
• Grand Erie District School Board, Brantford, ON
  Be Well Campaign: Supporting the Child and Youth Mental Health Strategy
  Shawn McKillop, APR, manager of communications & community relations
• Racine (Wis.) Unified School District
  Academies of Racine: Transforming High School Education in RUSD
  Stacy Tapp, APR, chief of communication & community engagement
• Ulster BOCES, New Paltz, N.Y.
  Ulster Community Forum on the Opioid and Heroin Crisis
  Holly Brooker, community relations coordinator

Bond/Finance Campaigns

• Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Thornton, Colo.
  Five Star Needs: Investing in Every Student, Every School, Every Community
  Joe Ferdani, APR, director of communications
• Alpine School District, American Fork, Utah
  Growing Forward: A Successful Plan for Development and Renovation
  David Stephenson, administrator of public relations & Kimberly Bird, assistant to superintendent/administrator of public relations
• Ascension Public Schools, Donaldsonville, La.
  Growing at the Pace of Excellence
  Jackie Tisdell, public information officer

Strategic, Year-Round Communication Programs

• Collier County Public Schools, Naples, Fla.
  Opening the Classroom Window, One #tweetcher At a Time
  Greg Turchetta, executive director, communications & community engagement

Marketing/Branding

• Garland (Texas) ISD
  The Area’s Newest Montessori is Just Around the Corner
  Tiffany Veno, director of communications

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2016 Gold Medallion Winners

• Alabama School Public Relations Association, Montgomery, Ala.
   Special Communication Project/Campaign: A Strategic Communication Plan Professional Learning Unit
  Lesley Bruinton, APR, chapter president
• Davis School District, Farmington, Utah
  Bond/Finance Campaign: Room to Learn;
  Christopher Williams, community relations director and Shauna Lund, community relations specialist
• Minnetonka (Minn.) Public Schools
  Bond/Finance Campaign: Educational Excellence: It’s In Your Hands
  Janet Swiecichowski, APR, executive director, communications
• Oregon School Boards Association, Salem, Ore.
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: The Promise of Oregon
  Tricia Yates, communications director
• Peel District School Board, Mississauga, ON
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: Facts Matter: Working Together to Keep Our Students Safe and Healthy
  Brian Woodland, APR, director, communications & community relations
• Poudre School District, Fort Collins, Colo.
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: Long Range Planning: Building Our Future Together
  Danielle Clark, executive director, communications        
• Tolles Career & Technical Center, Plain City, Ohio
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: The Landed Campaign 
  Shane Haggerty, director, marketing & technology

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2015 Gold Medallion Winners

• Brevard County Public Schools, Viera, Fla.
  Bond/Finance Campaign: 2014 Half-Cent Sales Surtax Election Campaign
  Michelle Irwin, director of community relations/PIO

• West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools, Mendota Heights, Minn.
  Bond/Finance Campaign: Focused on Our Future
  Carrie Hilger, APR, director of communications

• Eden Prairie (Minn.) Schools
  Bond/Finance Campaign: 2014 Referendum: Sustaining Excellence
  Jaclyn Swords, director of communications and community Relations

• Oklahoma City (Okla.) Public Schools
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: The Neu Guy
  Tierney Tinnin, senior communications officer

• Peel District School Board, Mississauga, Ontario, Can.
  Bond/Finance Campaign: Fix the Formula: Fair Funding for Special Education
  Brian Woodland, APR, director of communications and community relations

• Portland (Ore.) Public Schools
  Special Communication Projects/Campaign: Go MAD! Madison High School Open Enrollment Marketing Campaign
  Jon Isaacs, chief of communications and public affairs

• Racine (Wis.) Unified School District
  Bond/Finance Campaign: RUSD Referendum 2014: Every School. Every Student. No Tax Increase.
  Stacy Tapp, chief of communication & community engagement

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2014 Gold Medallion Winners

• Bloomington (Minn.) Public Schools
  Bond/Finance Campaign: 2013 Referendum Campaign
  Jaclyn Swords, communications specialist & Rick Kaufman, APR, executive director, community relations

• Dallas (Texas) ISD
  Public Engagement/Parent Involvement: Parent Portal System Bilingual Campaign
  Elsa Valenzuela-Pennell, director, family & community engagement

• Duluth (Minn.) Public Schools
  Public Engagement/Parent Involvement: Think Kids Community Vision & Priorities
  Katie Kaufman, communications coordinator

• Houston (Texas) ISD|
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: PowerUp Communications
  Sarah Greer Osborne, multimedia manager

• Minnetonka (Minn.) Public Schools
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: A Culture of Innovation
  Jake Sturgis, APR (former communications coordinator) & Janet Swiecichowski, APR, executive director, communications

• Peel District School Board, Mississauga, Ontario, Can.
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: Kindergarten Live!
  Brian Woodland, APR, director, communications & community relations support services & Anne-Marie Brown, communications officer

• Trillium Lakelands District School Board, Lindsay, Ontario, Can.
  Special Communication Project/Campaign: Secondary School Pathways to Success - "We've Got You Covered"
  Catherine Shedden, APR, communications manager

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2013 Gold Medallion Winners

• Bentonville (Ark.) Public Schools
  Entry Type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns — “Trail Time”
  Submitted by: Mary Ley, executive director of communications

• Capital Region BOCES/Questar III BOCES, Albany N.Y. and Castleton, N.Y.
  Entry Type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns — “Your Schools in Fiscal Peril: Running Out of Time and Options”
  Submitted by: Deborah Bush-Suflita, senior communications program manager, Capital Region BOCES

• Queensbury (N.Y.) Union Free School District
  Entry Type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns — “Many Voices, One Purpose: Advocacy Campaign”
  Submitted by: Mellissa J. Braham, public information specialist, Capital Region BOCES Communications Service

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2012 Gold Medallion Award Winners

• Harrison School District Two, Colorado Springs, Colo.
  Entry type: Public Eng./Parent Involv. — "Very Involved Parents (V.I.P.S.)" Volunteer Program
  Submitted by: Jennifer Sprague, APR, former public information officer and Christine Lyle, public information officer

• Houston (Texas) ISD,
  Entry type: Special Program — STAAR Communications
  Submitted by: Aggie Alvez, chief of communications

• Minneapolis (Minn.) Public Schools
  Entry type: Special Program — We Want You Back Campaign
  Submitted by: Stan Alleyne, chief communications officer

• Rockwood School District, Wildwood, MO
  Entry type: Special Program — eBackpack - Building the School-Home Connection
  Submitted by: Cathy Orta, APR, communications coordinator

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2011 Gold Medallion Award Winners

• Bloomington Public Schools, Bloomington, MN
  Entry type: Special Program — Elementary Neighborhood School Renewal Project
  Submitted by: Rick Kaufman, Exec. Dir., Community Relations

• Elk Grove USD, Elk Grove, CA
  Entry type: Year-Round Program — Energy Conservation Program
  Submitted by: Elizabeth Graswich, Director, Communications

• Maize USD 266, Maize, KS
  Entry type: Year-Round Program — Communication Program
  Submitted by: Karen McDermott, Director of Communications

• Rockwood School District, Wildwood, MO
  Entry type: Public Engagement/Parent Involvement — Guiding Change FY12 Budget Process
  Submitted by: Kim Cranston, Chief Communications Officer

• Simcoe Muskoka Catholic DSB, Barrie, ON
  Entry type: Special Program — School Website Project
  Submitted by: Diane Legg, Director of Communications & Public Affairs

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2010 Gold Medallion Award Winners

• Arlington Public Schools, Arlington, VA
  Entry type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns – Snow Communications
  Submitted by: Linda Erdos, Assistant Superintendent, School & Community Relations

• Brevard Public Schools, Viera, FL
  Entry type: Public Engagement/Parental Involvement – Classrooms In Crisis
  Submitted by: Christine Davis, Director, District Communications

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte, NC
  Entry type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns – “Play Fair” Athletic-Eligibility Campaign
  Submitted by: Cynthia Robbins Shah-Khan, Media Relations Supervisor

• Detroit Public Schools, Detroit, MI
  Entry type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns – “I’m In” Blue Door Student Retention Campaign
  Submitted by: Steve Wasko, Chief Communications Officer

• Peel District School Board, Mississauga, ON
  Entry type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns – Making My Way
  Submitted by: Sylvia Link, APR, Manager of Communications

• Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, Barrie, ON
  Entry type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns – Making Good Tracks
  Submitted by: Diane Legg, Director of Communications & Public Affairs

• Stanislaus County Office of Education, Modesto, CA
  Entry type: Special Communication Projects/Campaigns – Fit for the Future
  Submitted by: Judy Leitz, Communications Coordinator; Cynthia Fenech, Communications Coordinator; and Jane Johnston, Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services

 

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2009 Gold Medallion Award Winners

• Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Thornton, Colo.
  2008 Mill Levy Override Election
  Submitted by: Janelle Albertson, APR

• Clovis USD, Clovis, Calif.
  Place of Work Marketing Campaign
  Submitted by: Kelly Avants

• Fairfax County Public Schools, Falls Church, Va.
  Community Engagement: Changing School Start and Dismissal Times
  Submitted by: Barbara M. Hunter, APR

• Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Salem, Ore.
  Construction Bond Campaign
  Submitted by: Jay Remy

• Tempe Elementary School District, Tempe, Ariz.
  Scales Technology Academy 2007-2008 Marketing Campaign
  Submitted by: Delaina Biernstein

• Wichita Public Schools, USD 259, Wichita, Kan.
  Our Kids, Our Schools and Our Future – Bond 2008
  Submitted by: Wendy Johnson, APR

• Oklahoma City Public Schools, Oklahoma City, Okla.
  Stop the Violence, Start the Revolution: One Small Step
  Submitted by: Kathleen Kennedy, APR

• Strong Schools, Strong Communities
  Independent School District 728
  Mike Schoemer