Last year, the National School Public Relations Association announced its new National School Communicator of the Year Award in partnership with Finalsite, designed to recognize the outstanding leadership and contributions of active, front-line school communicators.

Twenty-seven NSPRA members were nominated by their state/regional chapter for this national honor, which is being awarded for the first time in 2024. All nominees were first selected by their chapter as its Communicator of the Year (or similar award equivalent), a criteria of eligibility for the national award.

Congratulations to the following four nominees who have been selected as finalists for the national award, as identified by a blue-ribbon panel of judges.

Danielle Airey, APR Chief Communications Officer Peoria Unified School District, Phoenix, Ariz. Nominated by: Arizona School Public Relations Association	Jared Revlett  Public Information Officer Owensboro Public Schools, Owensboro, Ky. Nominated by: Kentucky School Public Relations Association

Dirk Tedmon Executive Director of Marketing and Communications  Eden Prairie Schools, Eden Prairie, Minn. Nominated by: Minnesota School Public Relations Association	Kelly Wachel, APR Chief Communications Officer  Park Hill School District, Kansas City, Mo.  Nominated by: Missouri School Public Relations Association

And, congratulations to the following school communicators who were submitted as nominees for the national award! ALL nominees will be invited to be recognized on stage at the General Session at the NSPRA 2024 National Seminar on Monday, July 15, in Bellevue, Wash. The national winner of the award will be announced live at that time.

Nicole Anderson Marketing and Foundation Director Columbus Public Schools, Columbus, Neb.  Nominated by: Nebraska School Public Relations Association   Randy Barber Chief Communications Officer Boulder Valley School District, Boulder, Colo. Nominated by: Colorado School Public Relations Association   Dane Baxa Director of Community Relations Goddard Public Schools, Goddard, Kans. Nominated by: Kansas School Public Relations Association Carol Birdsong Executive Director of Communications Williamson County Schools, Franklin, Tenn. Nominated by: Tennessee School Public Relations Association   Kevin Christian, APR Director of Public Relations Marion County Public Schools, Ocala, Fla. Nominated by: Sunshine State (Fla.) School Public Relations Association Barbara Clymer Communication Coordinator Bethlehem Area School District, Bethlehem, Pa. Nominated by: Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association Heather Daniel Director of Communications and Policy Edison Township Public Schools, Edison, N.J. Nominated by: New Jersey School Public Relations Association Cassie Dietrich Public Information Officer Dublin City Schools, Dublin, Ohio Nominated by: Ohio School Public Relations Association Sundeep Dosanjh Chief Communications and  Community Engagement Officer Rocklin Unified School District, Rocklin, Calif. Nominated by: California School Public Relations Association Johnathan Graves Director of Communications Greenwood School District 50, Greenwood, S.C. Nominated by: South Carolina School Public Relations Association Paul Griser Assistant Public Relations Coordinator CiTi BOCES, Mexico, N.Y. Nominated by: New York School Public Relations Association

Diana Gulotta Director of Communications Prince William County Public Schools, Manassas, Va. Nominated by: Chesapeake School Public Relations Association Susan Haynes Communications Director Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation, Mooresville, Ind. Nominated by: Indiana School Public Relations Association John Huddleston Supervisor of Public Relations Jefferson County Schools, Birmingham, Ala. Nominated by: Alabama School Public Relations Association   Melissa Messinger Chief Communications Officer Evanston/Skokie School District 65, Evanston, Ill. Nominated by: Illinois School Public Relations Association Jessica Morgan Director of Communications Sunnyside School District, Sunnyside, Wash. Nominated by: Washington School Public Relations Association    Micki O'Neil Chief Communication Officer Ingham Intermediate School District, Mason, Mich. Nominated by: Michigan School Public Relations Association Kayla Ralston  Director of School and Community Relations  Calhoun City Schools, Calhoun, Ga. Nominated by: Georgia School Public Relations Association Rochelle Santos  Media and Communications Manager  Framingham Public Schools, Framingham, Mass. Nominated by: New England School Public Relations Association Stacy Tapp, APR Chief of Communication and Community Engagement  Racine Unified School District, Racine, Wisc. Nominated by: Wisconsin School Public Relations Association Jackie Tisdell  Public Information Officer  Ascension Public Schools, Donaldsonville, La. Nominated by: Louisiana School Public Relations Association Athena Vadnais, APR Director of Communications and Community Engagement  Gresham-Barlow School District, Gresham, Ore. Nominated by: Oregon School Public Relations Association Chris Williams Communication and Operations Director Davis School District, Farmington, Utah Nominated by: Utah School Public Relations Association

Join NSPRA in congratulating these school communication leaders on their well-earned nominations. And, be sure to join us at NSPRA 2024 where the winner of the first-ever National School Communicator of Year Award will be announced!

Read the press release of this announcement here.