In May, several school districts and education leaders from Southwest Washington received 2025 National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Awards, recognizing their excellence in strategic school communication and drawing national attention to the Educational Service District (ESD) 112 region.
NSPRA announced a record number of entries this year, underscoring the growing importance of effective communication in education. Among the standout recipients were ESD 112’s communications team, Kelso School District, and a collaborative branding project involving the Peninsula School District, all of which received national honors for excellence and innovation.
ESD 112 Recognized for Statewide Impact
ESD 112 received the prestigious Golden Achievement Award for its collaborative initiative, “Leveraging Partnerships to Tackle Big Problems with School Funding.” The project, a joint effort with the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), addressed a critical need: to help school districts statewide communicate complex funding challenges while WASA advocated for legislative solutions.
Under the leadership of Monique Dugaw Greenwell, Executive Director of Communications & Public Engagement at ESD 112, the team created a clear and cohesive informational web page and communications toolkit utilizing publicly available data and reports to explain the primary reasons why so many Washington school districts were experiencing financial challenges. The “Core Issues with School Funding” website and toolkit was made accessible to all 295 school districts in Washington to help them articulate their various financial challenges to their constituents.
“I’m incredibly proud of this team’s work and the partnerships forged in this effort,” Dugaw Greenwell said. “This initiative illustrates how strategic communication and statewide collaboration can clearly explain complex funding issues and empower local school leaders to impact change.”
Kelso School District Earns Recognition for Community-Centered Publications
Kelso School District has received a Publications and Digital Media Excellence Award for its community newsletter, Hilander Highlights. This award recognizes the quality and impact of two issues submitted for review, which connected families and stakeholders to district news, achievements, and initiatives.
The newsletter, led by Public Information Officer Michele Nerland and Superintendent Mary Beth Tack, was created through a visual design collaboration with ESD 112’s Melissa Burt, Senior Graphic Designer & Content Strategist. The publication distinguished itself with its accessible, engaging format and emphasis on celebrating student success and district values.
Regional Creativity Shines in Peninsula School District Rebrand
In a category recognizing rebranding excellence, Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor received a Golden Achievement Award for its “Bridging Communities Through Student Vision” logo rebrand. Notably, the effort featured design contributions from ESD 112’s Heidi Barnes, Director of Creative & Web Development, highlighting the region’s broader influence in school communication design and development.
Communication as a Catalyst for Connection
The NSPRA awards highlight the crucial role of communication in fostering trust, transparency, and connection within school communities. This year’s honors confirm that Southwest Washington’s education professionals are not only meeting national standards, but they are also setting them.
“These national school communications recognitions are a great honor,” Dugaw-Greenwell said. “But perhaps more importantly, they emphasize the power of intentional communication in uniting districts and ultimately better serving students and families.”
Amid growing efforts to improve communication in schools, the work from the ESD 112 region stands as a subtle yet powerful example of what can be achieved through purpose and collaboration.
