District recognized for communications excellence

The Port Jervis City School District has been recognized for outstanding achievement in educational communications by the New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA). Award-winning recipients in NYSPRA’s 29th Annual Communications Awards will be honored on October 17 at the annual NYSPRA Awards Luncheon held in conjunction with the 2008 New York State School Boards Association Convention in New York, NY.

The Port Jervis School District received an Award of Merit for its 2007-2008 calendar in the contest, which continues to be one of the largest of its kind in the nation. With approximately 400 entries in 14 categories from across New York State, the 2008 contest was a closely drawn competition.

The annual calendar is one of the publications produced by communications specialist Debbie Jackson, who also serves as the webmaster for the district's web site, www.pjschools.org. The theme for the award-winning calendar, which was designed to inform the community about the district's recent technology initiatives, was "Wired for Success: Building Better Schools Through Technology."

“This year’s winners should feel especially proud of their awards which recognize excellence in school communications,” said Marcia Kelley, NYSPRA President and School Information Officer of the East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District. “Entries were judged by a distinguished panel of professionals from around the country. The judging was very competitive, with only one-third of all entries receiving awards.”

NYSPRA is a chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. As a statewide group of professional school communicators, members are committed to the development and dissemination of communications designed to engage parents, staff, community residents, partners in education and other stakeholders.

The statewide awards provide an opportunity for recognition of the outstanding work performed by school communication professionals who support student achievement and school improvement initiatives through effective communications.