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Each year, the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) celebrates School Communicators Day on the second Friday in May in recognition of the incredibly valuable work of school communicators and school public relations professionals. In 2025, School Communicators Day is Friday, May 9.
A school communicator is anyone in your district who plays a role in shaping, sharing or managing your school system’s messages—whether through media, design, websites, photography or direct communication with families and the public. In some districts, this may be one individual. In others, it may be a team.
School communicators can hold many different titles, including:
🧠 Chief communication officers leading overall strategy and messaging 🗣️ Public relations coordinators or specialists managing day-to-day communications ✍️ Writers and content creators crafting newsletters, press releases and updates 🎨 Graphic designers creating visuals that engage and inform 💻 Webmasters maintaining accurate, accessible websites 📸 Photographers capturing the moments that tell your district’s story 🎥 Video producers bringing your schools’ stories to life 📱 Social media managers keeping families and communities connected 📝 Executive assistants and administrative staff who help coordinate and distribute key messages
In short: If they help communicate your district’s message, they’re a school communicator.
In addition to celebrating school communicators, NSPRA is also using School Communicators Day as an opportunity to continue providing district leaders and education professionals with further insights on the role of school communication professionals.
Learn more about school communicators, their immeasurable value to a school system and communities and how you can recognize their tireless efforts.
Don't have a school communications professional in your district? Learn more about how and why to create a communications/public relations program in your district.
Recognition Toolkit
What Does a School Communicator Do?
Send one—or all three!—of the below to NSPRA before School Communicators Day on May 9. We'll feature the submissions on our website, on our social media channels and with school communication professionals on School Communicators Day and beyond.
Download our printable sign, add a personal message if you'd like, and upload a photo of you holding it for us to share!
Print and Upload
Send 1-2 sentences recognizing your school communicator—along with a photo of them, if possible—and we’ll take care of the rest.
Share a Quote
Record a brief video thanking your communication professional(s). Not a video wiz? Click below for super easy directions and samples!
Submit Video
These ideas make it simple to publicly celebrate the impact your communicator has on your schools.
Use this resolution template to officially declare the May 9, 2025 as School Communicators Day at a board meeting.
Template
Customize a certificate to present to your district's communication professional(s) at a staff meeting.
Certificate
Shine a light on your school communication team with a public shout-out message on a district outdoor sign or marquee.
Samples
Download sample messaging & graphics to create a meaningful social media post on School Communicators Day.
Templates
Bring the celebration into the office with easy ways to make your communicator feel appreciated.
Show your appreciation to the school communication professional(s) on your team by sending a Happy School Communicators Day e-card.
E-Card
Use sample messaging to give shout-out to your district communication professional or team on School Communicators Day in an all-staff email.
Messaging
Download banners, signs and more to decorate your communicator’s workspace to celebrate the day.
Celebration
Looking for a fun way to show appreciation? Gift your communicator a one-of-a-kind school PR tumbler, tote bag, socks, or plushie!
School PR Swag
Is Your School Communicator a Member of NSPRA?
In addition to the ideas above, one of the most impactful ways to show appreciation is by investing in your school communicator’s professional growth. If they’re not already a member of NSPRA, encourage them to join for access to year-round learning, resources and support.
Send Them to NSPRA 2025 (And Join Them!)
Give your communicator the opportunity to grow and connect by sending them to the NSPRA 2025 National Seminar, July 20–23 in Washington, D.C. It’s the largest professional development event in the country for school public relations professionals, superintendents and education leaders. Bonus: We offer a special one-day track just for superintendents!
While communication touches every aspect of a school system, it can be common for communities—and sometimes even district leadership—to not fully understand the role and value of school communicators.
Schools involve two of the most important resources for a community: its children and its tax dollars. That’s why most school systems invest in their ability to communicate with local stakeholders. Beyond the tactical duties of drafting newsletters, distributing media releases and coordinating events, school communicators serve as a critical conduit between school systems and community members on the topics they care about most.
Highly effective school communicators are strategic thinkers who assess stakeholder needs and school situations to better engage in a two-way exchange of information that:
Builds trust between a school system and its employees, families and wider community.
Increases employee morale, job satisfaction and retention.
Increases family and community members’ engagement in their local schools.
In 2024, we asked school communication professionals to identify their primary areas of focus. Among the most common responsibilities were crisis communications (57%), social media (49%), external communications (47%), community relations and public engagement (43%), website management (43%), and media relations (42%). These are the day-to-day types of responsibilities for a communications professional.
But the ultimate impact of a school communicator is seen in building positive relationships and helping increase understanding between a school system and its stakeholders, including students and their families, school employees, residential taxpayers, local business owners, elected officials and more.
These communicators may often share positive stories about local schools, but they also gather stakeholder feedback and coordinate listening efforts that inform district and school leaders’ decisions. During a crisis or other challenging situations, they ascertain the facts, offer guidance and ensure accurate, timely and appropriately transparent information is shared with those affected by the situation as well as with the media. They can provide training, tools and resources for other school employees to help them communicate more clearly, accurately and engagingly with families, fellow employees and the public. The majority of school communicators are members of their school system’s cabinet or leadership team, and in that role, offer advice about communications on school initiatives that will strengthen relationships and understanding.
Today’s education landscape can be complex and, at times, divisive. A dedicated school communication professional plays a critical role in helping districts and organizations navigate these challenges—building trust, fostering authentic engagement, and bringing your vision to life through strategic, impactful messaging.
A Seat at the Table: Research on the Relationship Between Superintendents and School Communicators
SchoolCEO x NSPRA I April 2024
Read
The Role and Value of School Communicators
NSPRA.org I Dec. 2023
Starting a School Public Relations Program
NSPRA.org
Profile of a School Communicator
NSPRA.org I Sep. 2023
American School Board Journal I Jan. 2024
School Administrator Magazine I Jan. 2024