Two communications directors at local school districts were given awards for their services recently from the Texas School Public Relations Association at the annual conference in Denton, Texas.
Shelby Akin, director of communications and marketing at Pleasant Grove Independent School District, was given the Rookie of the Year award. Matt Fry, director of communications at Liberty-Eylau ISD, received a "Best of" category Star award. They both won several other gold and silver Star awards.
TSPRA is a statewide organization and its awards recognize work from members in a variety of categories, including graphic design, writing, video, event planning and more.
The entries are divided into divisions depending on student population. Fry and Akin are in districts in the Under-10,000 students division. This year there were 1,406 entries in 51 categories.
"It's definitely an honor," Akin said. "I think Matt Fry and really anyone in Texarkana who's in marketing and communications can relate that a lot of times in our office, we're the only people who do what we do. So having that community once a year to acknowledge the hard work you put in is nice."
Akin and Fry both said the TSPRA network has been beneficial to their careers in Texarkana, and that it's especially flattering to be recognized by people in their field.
"Being recognized with a Star award is especially gratifying because it comes from other people who do what I do every day," Fry said. "The TSPRA organization has been such an important part of my career. We are a network of professionals who are there to help each other and celebrate each other. There are people across the state I can call or email to share ideas and best practices. The annual conference is three to five half days of learning and doing."
Akin said the philosophy she takes day in and day out to do her job most effectively is to highlight the many positive things going on within her district.
"It's my job to tell the story of our district," she said. "There's so many good things going on every day with our students and staff members. I challenge myself to find the good every day and tell that story. To me, that's the philosophy."
They both heaped unprompted praise upon each other for being able to work together in an area where districts often have rivalries.
"She does an excellent job and the love for her school shows up in what she does every day," Fry said. "We probably talk at least once a week about things that are happening and questions about how to handle certain situations."
"Matt has been a really good resource for me and someone I can lean on because we have a similar number of students in our district, and he's been in it for nine years," Akin said. "He's someone I feel comfortable reaching out to for advice and help. That's why I felt like it was important he got an award too, because he's a good mentor for me."
