School public relations professionals across the state were honored on Jan. 27 for the products of their craft during the North Carolina School Public Relations Association’s annual Blue Ribbon Awards for Effective Communications celebration at the Hilton Garden Inn in Durham. Twenty-five school districts totaled 83 awards in 11 categories.

Included in the list of winners is Angela Noblitt, Director of Community-School Relations, for the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public School System. Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools received a Blue Ribbon award in the handbook category for design, content and versatility of a handbook publication.

NCSPRA President Michael Yarbrough, Communications Specialist with the Department of Public Instruction Communications Division, said the work of the award winners rivaled the best work of public relations practitioners in any field. “The work of these colleagues was judged to be superior and a credit to the practice of school public relations,” Yarbrough said. “This roster of excellence is tangible evidence that NCSPRA’s public relations professionals are among the nation’s finest.”

Award categories included annual reports, calendars, electronic media, writing, Internet website, marketing, newsletters/ newspapers, special purpose publications, identity/imaging packages, handbooks and photography. Entries were judged by the Georgia School Public Relations Association.

Featured speaker at the celebration was Dr. Ed Dunlap, Executive Director of the North Carolina School Boards Association, who delivered a message about the importance of school public information officers and the direct impact they have on public education. NCSPRA’s mission is to build support for public education through well-planned and responsible public relations.

Schools name Teachers 
of the Year for 2012-13

School-level Teachers of the Year for 2012-13 were recently announced Each winner will be recognized by the district at the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year Awards Presentation on May 2. The District Teacher of the Year will be announced publicly at the event.

The honorees are:

• Central Elementary: Simona White;

• Elizabeth City Middle: Dollie Liverman;

• H.L. Trigg: Elizabeth Reid;

• J.C. Sawyer Elementary: Latitia Figgs;

• Northeastern High: Jennifer Glass;

• Northside Elementary: Jessica Prayer;

• P.W. Moore Elementary: Kelly Cowell;

• Pasquotank Elementary: Marquita Morris;

• Pasquotank County High: Donna Gregory;

• River Road Middle: Dyann Stephens;

• Sheep-Harney Elementary: Kirsten VanOrden;

• Weeksville Elementary: Melanie Carter.