HOUSTON The Harmony Public Schools Department of Communications & Marketing was honored with 33 awards for excellence in school communications by the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) this month at the organization’s annual awards in Fort Worth.
Each year, TSPRA recognizes communicators in school districts, education foundations, education associations and organizations for their work in print and electronic media categories.
In 2021, Harmony became the first Texas public charter school in TSPRA history to earn a Star Award. Within two years, the department has grown into a school PR powerhouse. Harmony’s 33 awards were the sixth-most of any school system of any kind in Texas, a news release said.
Among the awards earned by Harmony were 14 gold awards, 14 silver, three bronze, one “best of” and the coveted Crystal Commendation in Marketing, which was awarded for a campaign promoting substitute teaching during the peak of the COVID-19 resurgence in Spring 2022.
“Our team is honored to be recognized by our TSPRA colleagues across Texas for the work we do in spreading positive school culture throughout our system,” Harmony Chief Communications & Marketing Officer John Boyd said in the release. “Harmony has a tremendous story to share, and we’re proud to work alongside our students, teachers and school leaders to tell it each day.”
Those from Harmony recognized were:
- John Boyd, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer (Crystal Commendation, 5 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze).
- Susan Campbell, North Texas District Director of Communications & Marketing (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze).
- Evelin De La Rosa, Marketing Manager (1 silver).
- Sarah Dugas Richard, Communications Director (1 bronze).
- Delfina Glenn, West Texas District Director of Communications & Marketing (1 “best of,” 1 gold, 2 silver).
- Sadan Gunonu, Videographer (2 gold, 2 silver).
- Tim Hallila, Graphic Designer (1 “best of,” 4 gold, 3 silver).
- Tracie Seed, Central Texas District Director of Communications & Marketing (2 gold, 2 silver).
Harmony also was awarded four Awards of Excellence last summer from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).
Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-born, Texas-wide public charter school system with campuses serving PreK-12 students in 23 cities across the state, including Greater Houston, DFW, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco, Lubbock, Odessa, Bryan, Beaumont, and the Rio Grande Valley. Harmony’s curriculum places a heavy focus on STEM skills, Character Education, project-based learning, and college readiness. Harmony is now accepting applications for both students and team members for the 2023-24 school year.
The Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) is a nonprofit, professional organization dedicated to promoting public schools through effective communications. TSPRA, an award-winning chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), was chartered in 1962 and incorporated in 1977. With more than 1,150 members, TSPRA is comprised primarily of public information and communications professionals who serve the public school districts and education organizations of Texas. The membership also includes superintendents, administrators, principals, web/technology/electronic media and graphic professionals, education foundation executive directors and their boards, association executive directors, school consultants, vendors and others who support public education in the state. TSPRA provides professional development, resources and networking opportunities for members and others in the education community.
