Illinois School Communicator of the Year Award

This program is the highest award a school communicator can receive in the state of Illinois and is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership, professional excellence, and meaningful contributions of a full-time school PR professional working in a school district or education service agency. Nominees must be INSPRA members in good standing, with demonstrated impact across leadership, communication, professionalism, and community involvement.

All accomplishments must have taken place within the past five years, and the nominee must plan to continue working in the profession. This award is not designed to be a recognition of service at retirement, which is part of INSPRA’s Distinguished Service Celebration.

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 are reviewed and scored by a panel of judges who are past winners of the Illinois School Communicator of the Year award and recent INSPRA past presidents.

The winner is recognized at the annual INSPRA Communications Awards Luncheon and submitted as Illinois' nominee for the NSPRA National School Communicator of the Year Award.