The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) is pleased to announce the following recipients of its 2025 distinguished individual recognition awards:

This year's award recipients will be honored at the NSPRA 2025 National Seminar during the General Session on Tuesday, July 22, in Washington, D.C. Read more about the honorees and their respective awards below.

2025 Presidents Award: Lesley Bruinton, APR

The Presidents Award is one of the highest honors bestowed on an individual by NSPRA. Each year, the award recognizes a living association member for outstanding professionalism and integrity throughout a career as a school public relations practitioner and for contributing to the advancement of school PR. In addition, the award also recognizes the recipient’s active involvement and leadership at a national level as well as substantive professional contributions to NSPRA.

Lesley Bruinton, APR, is widely recognized as a trailblazer in school public relations—an innovator whose work has reshaped the profession and inspired colleagues across the country.

From leading crisis communications at Tuscaloosa City (Ala.) Schools during the area’s devastating 2011 tornadoes to launching national programs that support the growth and development of school communication professionals, Bruinton’s career reflects both courage and vision. “Lesley was born to do the work of school public relations,” shared Jason Gaston, APR, coordinator of public relations for Alabaster City (Ala.) Schools and a past NSPRA board member, in his nomination. “She’s unafraid, unapologetic and unwilling to settle for anything less than perfection.”

During her tenure as NSPRA president in the 2020-2021 school year, Bruinton helped guide the association through pivotal moments, including the selection of its current executive director and the creation of NSPRA’s first formalized strategic plan—an initiative that helped drive a 55% increase in membership. She helped initiate NSPRA’s first formal presidential transition meeting, ensuring continuity and stronger governance for years to come. She also led the content development of the association’s Leadership in School Communication (LISC) program, provided the vision for expanding the APR Cohort program to support members’ accreditation journeys, and helped to launch the NSPRA Academy Mid-Career program.

Bruinton’s contributions extend beyond programs and positions—they reflect a career-long commitment to strengthening the profession and supporting those who work within it. Whether encouraging new professionals, building connections across the field or shaping national conversations about the role of school communicators, she leads with clarity, purpose and conviction. Her influence is equally felt at the state level, whereas a two-time president of the Alabama School Public Relations Association, she led this state chapter of NSPRA to new levels of visibility, engagement and recognition.

While working in school districts, she also earned NSPRA’s prestigious Gold Medallion Award for superior school public relations programs and campaigns grounded in strategic communication best practices.

Bruinton is known not only for her strategic insight, but also for her deep commitment to mentorship. She has supported countless professionals on their accreditation journeys and continues to serve as a frequent speaker, awards judge and trusted advisor. Her leadership has consistently opened doors for others, encouraging greater participation, representation and collaboration across the field.

Now President and CEO of School Spirit PR, Bruinton continues to drive impact through consulting, mentoring and speaking engagements.

2025 Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award: Danielle Clark, APR

Named for NSPRA past-president Barry Gaskins, APR, the Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award recognizes a practicing school public relations professional for outstanding efforts in mentoring colleagues new to school public relations; providing counsel and advice on job success; and assisting colleagues in their professional development by creating or providing programs and activities designed to improve PR skills and knowledge.

Danielle Clark, APR, is a cornerstone of the school public relations profession—an accomplished leader, dedicated mentor and passionate advocate whose influence has uplifted countless colleagues and strengthened the field nationwide.

Currently serving as chief communications officer for the Harris County Department of Education in Houston, Clark leads strategic communications for an agency that serves nearly 1 million students across 50 school districts. Her impact, however, reaches far beyond her role. With more than two decades of experience in school communication roles across four states and leadership positions in three NSPRA state chapters, she has become a trusted advisor and mentor to professionals at every stage of their careers.

“Danielle has been unknowingly doing for her profession what HCDE does for public education—identifying blind spots and finding ways to support others,” said James Colbert, Jr., county superintendent of HCDE. “She is the standard to which others aspire.”

Clark has guided colleagues through earning their accreditation in public relations, helped new leaders step into director roles and developed communications teams from the ground up. “She is not just a mentor; she’s a friend, a sister and a confidant to so many of us,” wrote Kristyn Cathey, APR, president of the Texas School Public Relations Association, in her nomination of Clark. “Her sole focus is to uplift the profession and ensure we are all prepared to lead.”

Clark served as TSPRA’s APR Chair for multiple years and currently co-chairs the association’s Professional Development Committee. Under her leadership, TSPRA launched its first-ever TSPRA Academy pre-conference program for early-career professionals and is now building an on-demand program to support early-career school PR practitioners across Texas.

Dr. Jordan Ziemer, director of communications for Abilene Independent School District in Texas and TSPRA president-elect, described Clark’s mentorship as transformative: “Danielle is currently serving as my APR mentor and did not hesitate to say yes when I asked her to guide me,” he said. “I look forward to becoming the communications professional my district deserves because of her belief in me.”

Clark’s legacy lies in her ability to make everyone around her better. “She reminds me of Barry Gaskins in the way she always lends a listening ear or offers her guidance and support,” said Carol Birdsong, executive director of communications for Williamson County Schools in Tennessee. “With Danielle, everyone feels welcomed, included and appreciated.”

Through strategic vision, personal connection and a profound belief in others’ potential, Clark continues to shape the future of school communication—one relationship at a time.

2025 Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award: Mark Bedell, Ed.D.

The Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award is given annually to a practicing superintendent or CEO of a school district, education agency or service center in recognition of outstanding leadership in school public relations and communications. This award is given in memory of Robert L. Grossman, ASPR, an NSPRA past president who believed that the support and commitment of our top education leaders is vital to successful school communication.

From the moment he took the helm of Anne Arundel County Public Schools in 2022, Superintendent Mark Bedell, Ed.D., made a promise to lead with transparency and authentic engagement. Nearly three years later, his commitment to open, honest communication has helped build community trust, elevate the voice of stakeholders and position communications as a central driver of district success.

“Dr. Bedell has brought us hope, courage, clarity of focus, trust, improved relationships and notable academic improvement,” wrote Dr. Mary Dadone, a community education advocate, in her letter of support of Bedell’s nomination. “He has been a model of transparency.”

Dr. Bedell’s leadership reflects the ideals championed by Bob Grossman: that effective school communication begins at the top. He launched his tenure with a 16-stop Listening and Learning tour—three sessions conducted in Spanish—drawing more than 1,000 participants. The feedback was not only published publicly, but also acted on quickly, guiding real-time adjustments across the district. That early investment in community voice set the foundation for continued engagement, including a second-year Community Conversations tour with cabinet members and a third-year Partners in Progress tour led by school system leadership—both designed to keep dialogue open and ongoing.

Dr. Bedell’s commitment to stakeholder-driven decision-making was especially evident in the development of the district’s new strategic plan. Crafted with the input of a 60-plus member steering committee representing parents, students, educators and community members, the result was a shared vision: “Anne Arundel County Public Schools is a school community where everyone can belong, grow, and succeed." The plan, according to Bob Mosier, chief communications officer for the district, is one built and owned by the community to be implemented by the school system.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman called Dr. Bedell’s approach “a model of how school leaders should approach engagement.” In his nomination letter, Board of Education President Robert Silkworth credited Dr. Bedell’s efforts with “cultivating trust through transparency and meeting with virtually anyone who has asked.”

Dr. Bedell’s influence is seen in the structural and cultural shifts he’s championed. Under his leadership, the district expanded its communications division and aligned it with the Office of School and Family Partnerships. AACPS now maintains Facebook pages in six languages, produces weekly “Thursday Thoughts” video updates from the superintendent and engages in multilingual, multimedia outreach to serve its increasingly diverse community.

A former NSPRA Superintendent to Watch and recipient of numerous national honors, Dr. Bedell remains deeply engaged with his community—attending student events, mentoring high schoolers, meeting regularly with union leaders and hosting a Teen Advisory panel. He exemplifies how strategic, inclusive and responsive communication can transform not only systems, but also relationships.