WORCESTER— This month, Worcester Public Schools [WPS] was honored with three national awards from the National School Public Relations Association [NSPRA] for its improved communications efforts. The WPS’s Communications Office earned the Golden Achievement Award for a three-month campaign about annual school enrollment.
Additionally, they received two Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards for highlighting student and staff achievements, as well as district news, through social media and Worcester Educational Access Television (WEA-TV).
“Since the Communications Office was launched last year, the Worcester Public Schools has greatly enhanced the sharing of important and uplifting information for scholars, families, staff, and the community,” said Superintendent Dr. Rachel H. Monárrez in a press release. “Effective communications contribute to a greater culture of engagement and belonging, and leads to families being better informed with important information about our schools. It is wonderful to be recognized at the national level.”
The Golden Achievement Award recognizes outstanding strategic work in all aspects of school public relations, communications, and engagement. And, the Publicatoins and Digital Media Excellence Award recognizes outstanding education publications, newsletters, videos, podcasts, websites, social media, and more.
WPS received the Golden Achievement Award for its enrollment campaign from December 2023 to February 2024. The campaign included a redesign of the enrollment page on the WPS website, moving more processes online, and creating a welcome video. The Communications Office designed posters featuring original photos of WPS students, which were shared on social media, Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) buses, and with community partners. The award recognized the collaborative efforts of the Communications and Family and Community Engagement offices, along with several other departments.
WPS won the Publications and Digital Media Excellence Award for its “WooStars” social media campaign, which highlights outstanding students and staff each week. Since its launch last fall, the campaign has received 104 staff nominations and 64 student nominations. The student nominations are linked to the district’s Vision of a Learner framework.
And the school system got an Honorable Mention award for the Claremont Academy episode of “WPS News,” aired in January. Launched last fall, WPS News features a new episode each month hosted by students from different high schools, including an “Ask the Superintendent” segment with Monárrez. The show airs on WEA-TV Spectrum 191 and online, with stories also shared on social media and in the ParentSquare weekly newsletter.
Last December, NSPRA recognized Monárrez as one of 25 “Superintendents to Watch” nationwide for her commitment to communications and family engagement.
Send news and info to Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
