Establishing a legacy will look different for everyone. For students, it could be a team captain leading the basketball team to its first state championship or a principal heading a school that welcomed multiple generations of the same family. For Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) Danielle Clark, it’s creating a professional development framework that ensures the future of public education is in good hands.  

The Chief Communications Officer’s dedication to mentorship and innovation in school communications has shaped the present and paved the way for future leaders in the field. Her impact extends beyond Harris County, influencing professionals across Texas and beyond.  

That’s why the choice for the Texas School Public Relations Association’s (TSPRA) prestigious 2025 Most Valuable Member Award was simple.  

“Danielle is constantly moving the needle and looking to see what we can do to make the organization better,” said Alief Independent School District Chief of Communications & Public Relations Kristyn Cathey, who nominated Clark for the award. “She came here from another state, but she’s been able to cultivate the idea of friendship and family at TSPRA.”  

Clark is HCDE’s second recipient of the award in four years, joining the Director of Marketing & Client Engagement Stephanie De Los Santos, the 2022 TSPRA Most Valuable Member. 

As a member of the organization for nearly a decade, Clark has witnessed firsthand the gaps in conference offerings. While the event provided valuable insights, she and a colleague from Abilene ISD saw an opportunity to create a more structured approach to professional growth that would serve members at every stage of their careers.  

“We started brainstorming this idea to remodel rookie boot camp, but in our conversation, it just grew,” Clark recalled. “We started thinking it’s more than just our beginner or our new professionals – we need to have something for everyone to give them checkpoints along their career.” 

Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive framework, they developed a three-pronged approach. The model focuses on supporting new professionals through the TSPRA Academy, offering certification programs for those seeking new skills and providing ongoing mentorship and resources from seasoned communicators.  

Several initiatives were displayed at the conference in San Antonio this week as more than 40 members were recognized as the inaugural cohort of TSPRA Academy, which established foundational aptitudes like writing, social media and crisis communication.  

The mentoring program took form through “office hours,” where past TSPRA presidents and those with more than 20 years of experience in school communications gathered in one place to offer guidance on various challenges or provide an empathetic listening ear. 

“I always found throughout my career that the best advice happened at the cocktail bar, over dinner, at the reception or over coffee,” Clark said. “I got to sit down with someone and talk about an issue. We could work through a problem, and then I could take that information back to my district and immediately implement it.” 

Unveiled during an in-person session this week, the program will continue providing support throughout the year with virtual monthly office hours, during which professionals can sign up to chat with seasoned communicators. 

As everyone watched these initiatives come to life at TSPRA, Clark focused on the program’s success, not herself. However, more than 800 people applauded at the general session on Feb. 17 when Cathey announced Clark as the Most Valuable Member Award recipient. Surprised and visibly moved, she found herself – for a rare moment – at the center of attention after years of elevating those around her.  

“I’m honored, humbled and proud that this brainchild has morphed into something that not just the organization, but the members find value in and that something that I’ve done or had a hand in will have a lasting impact on the profession for years to come,” an emotional Clark said. “That’s special, and I think I will remember it forever.” 

Added Cathey: “I was so happy to present Danielle with the award. She genuinely had no idea because she thought we were talking about someone else. She knows she does good work, but she’s not the type of person to be so grandiose and think everything’s about her. That’s what’s great about Danielle.” 

Despite the success of the new initiatives, there is still work to do. Clark and members of TSPRA leadership plan to launch the second prong of the professional development framework in February 2026. School communicators will have the opportunity to complete modules in social media, crisis communications, media relations and more, which will yield a certificate recognized by districts across the state. An accomplishment rooted in continuing education that can also be leveraged for promotions or higher compensation.  

Clark’s legacy isn’t singular to her TSPRA initiative, but it’s woven into the very fabric of HCDE. Whether she’s helping facilitate the Department’s many employee appreciation events or creating collateral to inform lawmakers about the services we provide to districts, Harris County colleagues and stakeholders alike feel her influence daily.  

“Danielle has consistently demonstrated excellence at the leadership level,” said Superintendent James Colbert Jr. upon learning of her award. “She is one of my most trusted agents. She is objective and creative, a problem solver, a good listener and an advisor. But perhaps her greatest attribute is the ability to get things done. Having her as part of my cabinet inspires confidence in my leadership because I know I never have to worry about anything she is responsible for, and she will always exceed expectations. I can think of no greater compliment.”  

Added Clark: “My job is to help my team and other people do their job better and grow them as professionals. This framework is a mechanism for us to do that, to perpetuate the profession, because I firmly believe that without communications, public schools are in jeopardy.” 

Under her leadership, members of #TeamHCDE fully embraced the goal of educating their colleagues at TSPRA, leading two sessions and participating in a panel discussion. Client Engagement staff also sponsored an exhibition where people could test their knowledge of AP style, a writing reference guide.  

At the core of every school communications effort is a simple but powerful mission: to support students. The work done behind the scenes helps ensure schools receive adequate funding for programs and resources necessary to provide students with the opportunity to succeed, whether in the classroom, on the stage or on the field.  

“We must be the people that stand up and say, ‘Remember why you do this. Remember, that number has a little face behind it, and that face goes to bed hungry at night or isn’t going to see a friendly face until they come to our school,’” Clark said. “If we don’t remember that core mission to serve, then what’s the point of what we’re doing?” 

TSPRA’s new Most Valuable Member joins the ranks of other recognized state leaders who have committed their careers to strengthening education and leaving it better than they found it.  

“When I retire, whenever that may be, this award will probably be something that I look back on as one of the pinnacle points of my career,” an emotional Clark said.