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Awards

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Submission for the 2026 Annual Communications Contest and School Communicator of the Year Award are now open!

Each year, CHESPRA celebrates excellence in school communication across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Through its annual awards program, CHESPRA recognizes outstanding work produced by school divisions and local schools that advance the practice of school public relations.

These awards honor creativity, strategy and impact and encourage  members to reflect on and elevate their communications efforts.

Submissions for the 2026 Annual Communications Contest and 2027 School Communicator of the Year Award are currently being accepted with an extended deadline of 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 19! Winners recognized at an awards celebration during the CHESPRA Fall Conference.

See below for this year's contest rules and eligibility.

Submit Your Work Today!

 

CHESPRA Communications Contest

The CHESPRA Communications Contest recognizes outstanding communications produced by public school divisions located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. 

For additional information or questions about the communications contest, please contact CHESPRA Vice President of Awards & Recognition Claire Mitzel at cmitzel@rcps.info.

Rules & Eligibility

  • Entries must have been produced during the previous school year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
  • Each communications contest entry costs $35. Each school division receives one free entry, making it easier than ever to recognize the incredible work happening across our region! 
  • The timeline for submissions will take place from August 24 through September 19, 2026.
  • All entries, both print and electronic, must be submitted in some digital form, either via URL or file upload. The same publication may not be entered in more than one category. Choose the primary distribution method when deciding a category.
  • Multiple issues of the same publication count as one entry.
  • Student-written and/or student-produced publications are not eligible for this contest.

Winners will be announced at the CHESPRA Fall Conference. Register today!

Judging and Recognition

  • The top award in each category is the Award of Excellence, followed by the Award of Distinction and Honorable Mention.

  • Entries will be judged against criteria for content and design. Districts and divisions of all sizes are encouraged to submit entries.
  • Judging will be conducted by media and public relations professionals who are members of other SPRAs or who work for entities not eligible to enter the contest.
  • Winners will be notified and awards distributed at the Fall CHESPRA Conference. School divisions not in attendance will receive notification via email following the conference with digital copies of their certificates.

Contest Categories

School Communicator of the Year

The CHESPRA School Communicator of the Year Award (CSCOY) recognizes the outstanding leadership, professional achievements, and contributions of active, front-line school communication professionals serving public school districts and educational service agencies throughout the Chesapeake region. The award honors communicators who demonstrate excellence in leadership, strategic communication, professional growth, and community engagement while advancing public education and strengthening trust in their schools and organizations.

The CHESPRA School Communicator of the Year will be selected as the chapter's nominee for the NSPRA National School Communicator of the Year Award. This award is intended to recognize current practitioners and is not designed as a retirement or lifetime service recognition. Current members of the NSPRA executive board are ineligible to receive this award.

For additional information or questions about the communications contest, please contact CHESPRA Vice President of Awards & Recognition Claire Mitzel at cmitzel@rcps.info.

Rules & Eligibility

  • Each CHESPRA School Communicator of the Year entry costs $35.
  • All nomination materials must be submitted by Saturday, Septmber 19, 2026.
  • Current members of the NSPRA Executive Board are not eligible for this award.
  • Nominees must be full-time school communication professionals employed by a public school division or educational service agency.
  • Nominees must have been a CHESPRA member for a minimum of five consecutive years.
  • Nominees must have attended at least one CHESPRA conference annually during the past three years.
  • All accomplishments, activities, and supporting evidence submitted for consideration must have occurred within the previous five years.
  • Nominees must demonstrate the written communication, public speaking, leadership, and interpersonal skills necessary to represent the school communication profession effectively.
  • Nominees must maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and recognize the public trust associated with their role.

Submission Requirements

Each nomination must include the following materials:

  • Biographical Sketch: Include the nominee's name, title, organization, and years of service in school public relations. Also include a narrative of up to five paragraphs highlighting the nominee's career achievements, professional contributions, leadership accomplishments, and current role.

  • Letters of Support: Submit a minimum of two letters of support describing why the nominee deserves recognition. Letters should reference the award criteria and provide specific examples of the nominee's leadership, professionalism, communication effectiveness, community involvement, and personal integrity.

  • Additional Supporting Materials: Submit up to five pages of supplemental materials, which may include work samples, awards and recognitions, evaluations, articles or publications, campaign summaries, and/or other materials that demonstrate excellence in school communications.

Judging

Nominees will be evaluated based on four key criteria:

  1. Leadership: Demonstrated leadership in meeting the communication needs of a school system or educational service agency. Examples may include leading successful communication initiatives, addressing significant communication challenges, or developing strategic communication plans that achieve measurable results.

  2. Communication: Demonstrated excellence in both personal and organizational communication. Judges will consider evidence of effective engagement, relationship building, influence, transparency, and communication strategies that support organizational goals.

  3. Professionalism: Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and service to the profession. Examples may include earning APR accreditation, serving as a mentor, presenting at professional conferences, participating in NSPRA programs, or contributing to the advancement of school communications.

  4. Community Involvement: Demonstrated engagement in community activities and awareness of issues affecting public education. Examples may include volunteer service, community partnerships, public outreach efforts, advocacy initiatives, fundraising activities, or published work that reflects a broad understanding of education and community issues.