In the news:
District communications staff
strikes gold at TSPRA awards

For its excellence in communications, the Pasadena ISD Communications Department recently received 11 Gold Star Awards and two Best of Category honors at the annual Texas Schools Public Relations Association (TSPRA) convention in San Antonio.

Award entries were made in 35 categories with three divisions including districts and organizations with less than 10,000 students or members, 10,000 to 30,000 students or members, and more than 30,000 students or members. More than 900 award entries were submitted for this year’s Star Awards.

Graphic Arts Coordinator Bruce Stone and Graphic Designer LaVonna Alexander-Carew won a gold star and best of category in the original art category for their illustrations and design of the district’s “Heroes” marketing mailer. Stone and Carew also earned another gold star and best of category for their design of the district’s Child Nutrition Calendar.

Communications Specialist Mark Kramer captured a gold star in the external newsletter category for the “Pinnacle.” Kramer, Stone and Associate Superintendent for Communications Candace Ahlfinger also won a gold star for their “Financial Focus for Student Success” brochure.

Former Communications Assistant Ashley Holt won two gold stars for in the writing and published news categories. Holt is now the Coordinator of Public Relations/Education Foundation in Alvin ISD.

Ahlfinger, Kramer, Stone, Carew and Holt won a gold star for in the booklet category for the “Heroes” marketing mailer, while Stone and Director of Community Relations Cindy Parmer struck gold for the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation’s Shining Stars Gala booklet.

In addition, Stone and Parmer earned a gold star award for the Education Foundation’s website and Carew captured a gold star for her design of the district’s Winter Concert Program.

The district’s communications staff also won four Silver Star Awards. They include:

  • External Publication – “Partners in Pasadena” – Holt, Parmer, Carew, Stone and Kramer
  • Sports Photo – Kramer
  • Computerized Presentation – Recruiting video – Ahlfinger, Kramer, Stone, Holt, Carew and Parmer
  • Computerized Presentation – Foundation E-Card – Parmer, Ahlfinger, Kramer, Stone, Holt and Carew

The district’s Printing Department played a vital role in the production of these award-winning publications. Members of the printing department include Maria Alcala, LaVonna Alexander-Carew, Rachel Arevalo, Mike Kravetz, Rosie Lopez, Christine Luis, Gwen Nguyen-Tang, Cody O’Quinn and Van To.

TSPRA is a nonprofit, professional organization dedicated to promoting public schools through effective communications with more than 850 members comprised primarily of public information and communications professionals who serve the public school districts and education organizations of Texas. The membership also includes superintendents, principals and other school administrators. TSPRA is an award-winning chapter of the National School Public Relations Association chartered in 1962.

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