Plainfield – Members of the District 202 Community Relations Department were recognized on September 11, 2020 as part of the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association’s 2020 Annual Communications Contest.

Director of Community Relations Tom Hernandez and Community Relations Coordinators Linda Taylor and Alyssa Groh received these awards:

· Hernandez, Taylor and Groh received an Award of Excellence for the D202 Talks podcast episode: A Conversation with D202’s First Director of Digital Learning and Innovation,

· Groh received two Awards of Excellence for videos about flexible seating and a look at the district’s early childhood education programs,

· Groh and Taylor received an Award of Merit for the video series introducing new school building administrators to the community.

Out-of-state public relations professionals judged 133 entries in 13 categories were judged by out‐of‐state public relations professionals.

Each entry was evaluated by three judges against a rubric of excellence, with awards given to those that scored within the established ranges for merit and excellence.

“The entries in this year’s communication contest not only showcase the ability of our members to thoughtfully and accurately communicate with constituents on a regular basis, but also shined a spotlight on the importance of having professionals in these positions to manage communication during a crisis such as the one we have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said INSPRA President Carol Smith, Director of Communications and Community Relations for St. Charles CUSD 303.

INSPRA works to strengthen support for Illinois public schools and improve education for students through responsible public relations.