Harris County Department of Education has been awarded the 2020 Gold Medallion Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The top honor was awarded to eight school districts and education organizations across the nation in a competitive entry process.

The award recognizes the comprehensive, strategic communications campaign HCDE launched in 2019 called “See the Impact.”

The campaign is the brainchild of HCDE communicators and includes video, billboards, social media advertisements and print messaging which explains HCDE programs and services and their impact on the education in the region and the community as a whole. It was designed to raise awareness of HCDE in the region and help taxpayers and residents understand what the organization does and how it positively impacts not only the greater Houston area, but Texas and the country as well.

“We are extremely proud to provide services such as special schools, school-based therapy, the largest adult education program in Texas, Head Start and afterschool programs to school districts and the general public in greater Harris County,” HCDE Superintendent James Colbert Jr. said. “This campaign helps us spread the word about our valued services so that we can increase our reach and improve the quality of life for residents, educators and students alike.”

A virtual celebration of achievement will be hosted by NSPRA in early July to display the winning campaigns. Several winners, including HCDE, will present during a virtual breakout session, discussing their winning campaigns and giving tips to other districts for how to create and implement strategic communications efforts. The winners are typically awarded at the national convention, which is cancelled due to the pandemic.

NSPRA is a national nonprofit organization which provides school communication support, training and services to several thousand school leaders throughout the United States and Canada. It is one of a handful of internationally recognized public relations associations.

About Harris County Department of Education: HCDE is a unique, educational hybrid serving school districts, governmental agencies, nonprofits and the public in the third-largest county in the U.S. HCDE annually serves a quarter-million students and educators through schools for students with profound special needs; the largest adult education program in Texas; Head Start early childhood education; school-based therapy services; and afterschool programs. Educator professional development and certification, school safety, records management, and a purchasing cooperative are also provided. #SeeTheImpact at www.hcde-texas.org.