Spring Branch ISD Featured News

The Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) recently recognized Spring Branch ISD’s Communications and Community Engagement division with 12 awards. 

The awards recognize outstanding education communications projects during the 2021-22 school year. 

This year, SBISD received a Crystal Commendation Award, a Certificate of Merit, four Gold Stars, five Silver Stars and one Bronze Star. TSPRA award winners were announced on Feb. 22, during the Star Awards conference banquet in Fort Worth, Texas. 

After placing as a finalist among 11 other districts, SBISD received the Crystal Commendation Award for Spring Branch Super Saturday: Unity in Our Community, an event held on April 23, 2022, that brought together nearly 5,000 students, parents, staff and community members to celebrate the district's 75th anniversary. 

Alongside high school student leaders, the Communications and Community Engagement team began planning Super Saturday in September 2021. Seven months of planning yielded a free festival with an array of 70 booths and more than 100 event volunteers. 

“I am so proud of our Communications and Community Engagement team! This award is very well-deserved,” said SBISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Blaine. “In a time when people across our nation are divided on so many issues, I am grateful that through this event we were able to provide an opportunity for people across our district to come together for one unified purpose. It was truly an amazing day!”  

The Crystal Commendation Award is one of TSPRA’s top awards and is based on the effectiveness of promotional programs or campaigns employing a variety of media, occurring over a period of time and encompassing well-defined goals, strategies or activities. 

“The Crystal Commendation Award represents the #CollectiveGreatness and #CollaborativeSpirit of our student leaders, every district division, our partners and our community,” said Linda Buchman, SBISD Associate Superintendent for Communications and Community Engagement. “We were honored to be the host team bringing everyone’s #LimitlessCuriosity to fruition. We thank the Spring Branch Education Foundation for its generous support as our presenting sponsor for this event!” 

SBISD was also one of four Crystal Commendation finalists for the 2022 Bond Election Campaign and received a Certificate of Merit. 

In February 2022, the SBISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to call an $381.6 million bond election to appear on the May 7, 2022 ballot. The 2022 Bond campaign was centered around the continual partnership between the community and the school district. SBISD worked to develop goals responsive to the overall theme and the challenges faced. The Communications and Community Engagement division’s efforts that supported the 2022 Bond would prove to be effective with SBISD voters passing the $381.6 bond referendum with 73% of the vote. 

All submissions for TSPRA awards are evaluated by outside judges and winners are determined based on the TSPRA-established criteria. School districts across Texas compete in three categories based on total student population. SBISD competes in the 15,000 - 40,000 students category, which includes some of the largest urban school districts in the state. 

“I am beyond proud of our entire Communications and Community Engagement team for the work they do every day to share the great things happening in SBISD and for creating great opportunities for our community to engage with us in support of Every Child,” concluded Buchman.

2023 TSPRA Awards earned by SBISD Communications and Community Engagement include: 

Crystal Commendation Award 

Spring Branch Super Saturday: Unity in our Community

Special Event Category 

Crystal Commendation Certificate of Merit 

Spring Branch ISD 2022 Bond Election Campaign

Bond Election 

Gold Star 

#SBISDProud 

Social Media Campaign Category 

Leadership U Program 

Program Category 

Spring Branch ISD Enroll Website 

Web Site - Template-Driven Design Category

Spring Branch ISD Homepage Redesign 

Miscellaneous Digital Media Category 

Silver Star 

Achieving T-2-4: Stratford alumnus conducting cancer research at Rice University 

Writing Category 

Cornerstone Academy student serves as SBISD’s Superintendent for a Day 

Published News or Feature Category 

SBISD agricultural science students gain the ultimate class pets 

Published News or Feature Category 

The Beloved “W” 

Photo Category 

Top Ten 

E-newsletter Category 

Bronze Star 

Northbrook High School senior receives $200,000 scholarship from U.S. Navy to attend Prairie View A&M 

Writing Category 

Leading the award-winning division is SBISD Associate Superintendent for Communications and Community Engagement, Linda Buchman. Communications staff members include Paul Bryant, Chris Elliott, Betty Head, Paris Keal, Lorena Lara, Lexi Marshall, Kristen Watts Cain, Melissa Wiland and Zoe Zamora. Community Engagement staff members include Amy Accardo, Betsabeth Beyk, Derrick Brent, Kary Castillo Marroquin, Christopher Marroquin, Mary Pizana-Uribe, Katie Redd, Leticia Verdinez and Abby Walker.