ESC Region 12 Wins Four
State Awards in
School Communications 
WACO—The Education Service Center (ESC) Region
12 recently received four state awards for excellence
in school communications. The awards were announced
at the Texas Public Relations Association (TSPRA)
Star Awards Banquet during the organization’s
annual conference in Austin on Feb. 19.
Each year TSPRA, with more than 500 members, recognizes
school communicators for outstanding work in both
print and electronic media. Almost 700 entries were
received this year. Entries selected as best in the
state were honored with Silver Star, Gold Star and
Best of Category awards. Also, Crystal Commendations
were presented for outstanding entries that featured
special programs and events, and a Platinum Award
was given for the best comprehensive communication
program.
ESC Region 12 won a Gold Star award for its internal
online employee newsletter the ESC Insider, which
is produced bi-monthly. A Gold Star was also awarded
for the center’s Child Find Services commercial,
which was produced by KWTX
Channel 10. A Gold Star is awarded to an education
publication or program that not only achieves its
purpose with noticeable creativity, craft and skill,
but, in the opinion of the judges, does so in an exceptional
way.
The department also won two Silver Star awards.
One award was given for its Educator Events Catalog,
produced three times a year. Publicity materials produced
for the 2004 State Evaluation Personnel Conference
also won a Silver Star Award. The Evaluation Conference
materials were designed by Patrick Contreras, of Creative
Man Studio, in Waco and printed by Davis
Brothers Publishing, also in Waco.
A Silver Star is awarded for an education publication
that achieves its purpose with noticeable creativity,
craft, and skill. Communications Coordinator Jennifer
Marshall-Higgins was nominated for Rookie of the Year
in School Communications as well.
The director of Public Information is Mary Ann Moody
and the communications coordinator is Jennifer Marshall-Higgins.
Tom Norris is the executive director for ESC Region
12.
About TSPRA
TSPRA, based in Austin, is a professional organization
whose members are dedicated to improving public education
in Texas by promoting effective public relations practices,
providing professional development for its members,
and improving communications between Texans and their
public schools.
About
ESC Region 12
One of 20 centers throughout Texas, the Education
Service Center (ESC) Region 12 assists 78 independent
school districts and 11 charter schools in attaining
the Texas Education Agency’s goals and objectives.
Based in Waco, with offices in Copperas Cove, Corsicana,
and Hillsboro, the ESC Region 12’s service area
includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone,
Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan
and Navarro counties.
###
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
