The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), representing more than 2,900 school communicators nationwide, 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.

“Dirk is a true leader in school communications,” said NSPRA President Trent Allen, APR. “His dedication to strengthening the connection and engagement between schools and communities is driven by his passion for student success.”

Presented in partnership with Finalsite, the award is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership and contributions of an active, front-line school communicator. Presented for the first time in 2024, the winner of the award was announced during the first General Session of the NSPRA 2024 National Seminar this week in Bellevue, Wash.

"Finalsite is proud to partner with NSPRA to recognize the exceptional efforts of school communication professionals," said Finalsite Chief Marketing Officer Risa Engel. "This award underscores the profound impact of their work, shining a light on the innovation, creativity and strategic thinking that define the best in school communications."

A nationally recognized school public relations practitioner, Tedmon continually works to advance local and national conversations on education, most recently serving as a speaker on navigating the generative artificial intelligence frontier and managing threats and crises with a comprehensive, empathetic response at this year’s NSPRA Seminar, the premier communications-focused conference for school public relations practitioners and education leaders aimed at enhancing their district's crisis and strategic planning, community engagement efforts and more.

“Dirk is a changemaker and trailblazer,” said Shawn Hogendorf, president of the Minnesota chapter of NSPRA, known as MinnSPRA. “Through his adept communication skills, he fosters a culture of collaboration and transparency. He does not shy away from asking questions or having conversations to better understand a challenge and determine what is best for the district community. He deeply and actively listens to stakeholders' needs and pain points and then identifies solutions and tackles challenges head on.”

Under his leadership, Tedmon’s department was recognized by NSPRA in 2023 with a Gold Medallion Award, the field's top recognition for superior school public relations programs and campaigns grounded in strategic communication best practices. The award honored the district’s work around building community support and understanding for the renewal of a capital project levy, and revoking and replacing an operating levy, guaranteeing five years of financial stability at a tax increase of under $8 per month for the average Eden Prairie home. 

Tedmon is also a two-time NSPRA Golden Achievement Award winner for his work around crisis communication. Under his guidance, the district was also honored by NSPRA for implementing a strategic communication plan resulting in the highest student enrollment the system had experienced in nine years, increasing community ratings of school district quality, decision-making, communication, overall satisfaction and engagement (ranging from 5 percent to 23 percent increases). 

“I have worked with quite a few communications leaders over several decades, and I can think of no one better to honor as the National School Communicator of the Year,” said Joshua L. Swanson, Ed.D., superintendent for Eden Prairie Schools. “Our district has a history and tradition of excellence, but this does not happen by chance. Communication and engagement are critical to our ongoing success.” 

In his acceptance remarks,  Tedmon encouraged colleagues to continue grounding their work in the “why,” but also urged them to look to the example of people who don’t dwell on asking why, such as Superintendent Swanson, the Eden Prairie Schools cabinet, his district colleague Grace Becker, director of marketing and communications for the school system, and others.

“When I came to Dr. Swanson to advocate for more resources to do better, more strategic work, he didn’t dwell on the why, though he definitely asked why,” Tedmon said in his remarks. “And so many others of you who are doing this great and difficult and rewarding and exhausting and beautifully complicated work every day, instead of sitting in why, choose to keep moving forward and make a meaningful impact on the students, families, staff and communities you serve.”

Tedmon has served as a volunteer board member for MinnSPRA since 2020, most recently as president in 2023-24. He is the cofounder of the chapter’s Good Trouble PR initiative, which serves to develop and train a network of school PR professionals who continuously strive to “get into good, necessary trouble” to disrupt systemic inequity and racial injustice. He also was a White House representative for the U.S. Federal Government LGBT Appointee Caucus from 2012-2015.

After four years in the Office of Presidential Correspondence for The White House overseeing messaging and outreach, Tedmon began his career in school communications in 2015 as media relations coordinator for Minneapolis Public Schools, where he co-led a crisis communications team and developed strategic communication plans for district initiatives and events with an intentional equity foundation and focus.

He then served as director of communications and marketing for the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota before being named the executive director of marketing and communications for Eden Prairie Schools.