Spring Branch ISD Featured News

School district wins six National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) awards, including prestigious Gold Medallion Award for successful 2017 Bond program

Spring Branch ISD’s Communications and Community Relations team has been honored publicly for its winning 2017 Bond program communications plan with a coveted Gold Medallion Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).

The Gold Medallion Award, one of only eight top awards issued by NSPRA this year for an exemplary communication program, was presented July 18 in Anaheim, Calif., to SBISD Community Relations Officer Linda Buchman. The award was issued during NSPRA’s annual banquet meeting. 

In addition to the Gold Medallion, the district team won six awards for past public relations and communications work ranging from Service Awards at Minute Maid Park to video, website, feature writing and blog submissions.

A Gold Medallion was awarded for the district’s entry titled Great Schools. Great Community. Bond 2017 – Spring Branch ISD. Last November, just months after Hurricane Harvey, SBISD gained voter approval by an 80-percent-point margin for an $898.4 million bond package, the largest bond in district history.

NSPRA’s Gold Medallion Awards program is the only awards competition of its kind that specifically recognizes and also highlights comprehensive, strategic school public relations programs. SBISD is one of only a select few districts to receive this honor since the award began in 1981, and it’s the first ever Gold Medallion won by the school district.

For its informational bond campaign, SBISD developed a tight, multiple layered, public information campaign using traditional and new tactics, including faculty and community level presentations, robust web and social media, a school-lobby poster campaign, and community mailers.

SBISD Community Relations Officer Linda Buchman said that the ballot success of the 2017 bond reflected several of the district’s core values at work, including Collective Greatness, Collaborative Spirit and Every Child. 

“I am privileged and grateful to accept this honor on behalf of our superintendent, Scott Muri, our Board of Trustees, our outstanding Communications Team, our tireless community leaders, and especially our one-of-a-kind Spring Branch community that affirmed its strong commitment to our students and district through its support of our 2017 Bond Program,” Buchman said after receiving NSPRA’s highest honor.

NSPRA’s annual public relations award contests draw thousands of entries from public and private schools across the nation, as well as from separate groups representing education and business partners.

Excellent work in SBISD this past year was honored in communication and marketing, including print, electronic, video, website and social media. The district’s recent NSPRA awards include:

Golden Achievement – This award for exemplary public relations is issued to the 2017 SBISD Service Awards, which was the first event held by the district during a Houston Astros baseball game at Minute Maid Park. The event honors district employees and retirees, as well as Teacher of the Year candidates including finalists and the naming of SBISD Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year.

Award of Excellence – SBISD earned Awards of Excellence in two separate areas. The district’s Top Ten e-newsletter, which provides timely news and information, won a plaque. In addition, the district’s new and improved SBISD Recruitment Website won recognition for its lively mix of video testimonials, current information and key links for interested applicants.

Award of Merit – SBISD was honored with two separate awards in this NSPRA category. One award was received for a cinema-format, public service announcement video campaign for new recruitment; a second award certificate went to Communication’s Rusty Graham for excellence in writing for the feature story, Zaida Morales: Defying Odds to Graduate with Class.

Award of Honorable Mention – This recognition was issued for the district’s regular summary news blog posting, known as Board Briefs, which highlights Board of Trustees meetings with easy to understand descriptions and people-focused photographs.

SBISD’s award winning team is led by Community Relations Officer Linda Buchman. The Communications team includes Steve Brunsman, Melissa Wiland, Rusty Graham, Kristen Cain and Paul Bryant.

Community Relations team members include Abby Walker, Becky Wuerth, Pat Waldrop and Andrea Villalobos.

Communications and Community Relations support team members include Betty Head, Sarah Murphy, Katie Redd and Norma Trevino.    

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Visit the NSPRA website to see a complete listing of this year's award winners.