With more than 540,000 total page views in its first year, “The Portal,” Harris County Department of Education’s new intranet has proven to be a valuable resource and entertaining hub for staff members.
On April 15, the platform received some well-earned notoriety. Built by Web Content Coordinator Oliver Dyke, The Portal earned a second-place finish in design in the 2026 Best Intranet Award showcase.
Put on by ThoughtFarmer, an industry-leading intranet vendor, the virtual award ceremony recognized the most “innovative, engaging and impactful” intranet platforms across the world. Submissions were reviewed and scored by a judging panel of ThoughtFarmer staff.
Top design intranet platforms feature easy-to-follow templates, cohesive color palettes and graphics, and eye-catching graphics and visuals.
According to the judge comments, The Portal delivers a “bold, space-themed experience” that pairs a distinctive visual identity with its card-based layout. They noted the ease of navigating the intranet, finding information and feeling connected. Within its first year, The Portal features nearly 1,200 active users and more than 540,000 page views.