Awards Nominate a Colleague School Communicator of the Year Award

NSPRA is pleased to announce that Dirk Tedmon, APR, executive director of marketing and communications for Eden Prairie Schools in Eden Prairie, Minn., has been named recipient of the inaugural National School Communicator of the Year Award. Presented in partnership with Finalsite, the award is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership and contributions of an active, front-line school communicator.

Read more about the award and the 2024 finalists and nominees below.

NSPRA is proud to announce the new School Communicator of the Year Award, in partnership with Finalsite, to honor one outstanding individual from the school public relations profession. The first SCOY award will be given at the 2024 NSPRA Seminar in Seattle/Bellevue.

Eligibility for Nomination

To be eligible for the National School Communicator of the Year Award, candidates must first be selected by their chapter as its Communicator of the Year based on their chapter’s selection criteria. This chapter award may be branded by another name but should reflect the highest award a school communicator can receive. In addition, candidates should be a current member of their chapter, hold a professional membership in NSPRA and plan to continue working in the profession.

This program is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership and contributions of active, front-line school communicators who work full-time in school districts or education service agencies. It is not designed to be a recognition of service at retirement. Current members of the NSPRA executive board are ineligible to receive this award.

For the first three award years (2024, 2025 and 2026), chapters may submit a past winner to allow the alignment of the chapter and national award cycle and criteria. By 2027, chapters should submit their current awardee.

Judging Areas:

Each candidate of the National School Communicator of the Year Award will be evaluated on the following four judging areas:

• Leadership: Demonstrated leadership in successfully meeting the communication needs of their school system or educational service agency. Examples may include leading successful communication campaigns, overcoming an internal communication challenge or creating a robust strategic communication plan.

• Communication: Demonstrated strength in both personal and organizational communication. Examples may include evidence of persuasion, the power of engagement or influence in decision making.

• Professionalism: Constant improvement of knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and mentoring to others. Examples may include achieving accreditation in public relations (APR), participating in NSPRA’s Mentor Match program or serving as a speaker at the chapter or national level.

• Community Involvement: Active participation in their local community activities and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues. Examples may include volunteering in their local community, organizing a fund-raising event for their community or writing an article that demonstrates broad knowledge of the complexities of public education.

All activities or accomplishments must have taken place within the previous five years. Additionally, the nominee must have the ability and skills necessary to represent school communications in a professional manner, including but not limited to high-quality written communication and public-speaking skills. The nominee should maintain the highest standards of personal conduct and recognize that their personal conduct is held up to public scrutiny. 

Nominations:

Chapter leaders may complete an application for their respective nominees. Chapter leaders may also opt to have their nominee complete the application. No other person(s) should complete a nomination. Nominations for the 2025 award will open in January 2025.

Award Benefits:

• All nominees and finalists will be recognized individually on stage at the NSPRA Seminar during the first General Session. The SCOY awardee will be a surprise announcement and receive a physical award.
• The four finalists will be asked to provide a panel presentation at that same Seminar.

The winner will receive:

• National recognition through NSPRA publications, website and social media.
• Notification of the winner’s local media outlets, superintendent and school board
• Free registration and travel expenses for the subsequent NSPRA Seminar (expenses include airfare, four nights at the conference hotel and per diem for meals).
• Listed as a national speaker on the NSPRA website for one year.
• Represents NSPRA at national events such as serving as an exemplar on the LFA Public Schools Week panel.
• A $1,000 scholarship donation to their choice of an education foundation or school.

Judges:

• A blue-ribbon panel of judges who are NSPRA’s past winners of the Presidents Award, the Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award, Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award and the current NSPRA president.

Timeline:

• April 1: Deadline for chapter leaders to complete the application to submit their respective nominees for the National School Communicator of the Year Award. Chapter leaders may also opt to have their nominee complete the application.
• May 1: Four finalists are selected and announced.
• June 15: Four finalists submit videos in response to a prompt question related to the school communications profession.
• July: The National School Communicator of the Year is announced and all chapter winners are honored on stage at the NSPRA Seminar during the first General Session.

Questions? Contact NSPRA Executive Director Barbara M. Hunter, APR, at bhunter@nspra.org.