The Holyoke Public Schools communications team has earned national recognition for their work on key initiatives tied to some of the district’s highest priority focus areas, including attendance, inclusive learning opportunities, and school culture.
The National School Public Relations Association recently announced its 2025 Publications and Digital Media Excellence winners, representing some of the best communications work produced by public relations professionals from school districts across the United States and Canada. Winning entries will be recognized during the Annual Meeting and Celebration of Achievement during NSPRA’s 2025 National Seminar July 20-23 in Washington, D.C.
HPS submitted a total of six entries this year, and all six were selected for national recognition. These include:
Awards of Excellence for two stand-alone videos produced in-house, including an inside look at Sullivan School’s new innovative learning spaces and an overview of the lasting impact that the Student Summit has had on learning and school culture at Holyoke High School North.
An Award of Merit for a series of videos produced in-house that showcase the positive, inclusive atmosphere at Holyoke High School Dean Campus.
An Award of Excellence for Writing for a news article that highlights the colorful contributions of a local artist whose sidewalk art has enhanced Morgan School’s walking school bus route.
An Award of Excellence for a marketing campaign to engage and inform families and staff around health guidelines for school attendance. Elements of that campaign can be found on the Attendance page of the district website.
An Award of Merit for an infographic developed last year to aid families and staff in their understanding of how Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) support students and their families and to help break down the complexities of special education for all stakeholders.
The awards were presented to Media Center Director Michael Hines, Senior Communications Coordinator Kat Johnson, and Communications Director Jennie Oesterreicher for their respective work on these projects.