Press Releases
Crnkovich and three other finalists were honored at Apptegy’s SchoolCEO Conference
[Little Rock, AR, October 8, 2024]
SchoolCEO is pleased to announce that Katherine Crnkovich, APR, CPRC, communications officer of Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) in Florida, has been named the recipient of its first-ever SchoolCEO Excellence in School Marketing Award.
“Katherine Crnkovich is the epitome of a passionate and innovative school communicator,” said SchoolCEO Editor Melissa Hite. “Her creative work at Seminole County Public Schools is rooted in a deep love for public education and student success. We are proud to highlight her great work, as well as that of our other three finalists.”
SchoolCEO, the only marketing magazine in K-12 public education, created the award to honor school comms professionals for innovative work that pushes the fields of school communications and marketing forward. The winner was announced at the annual SchoolCEO Conference, presented by Apptegy in Little Rock.
Crnkovich is in her 10th year as a school communicator. She is the president of the Sunshine State School Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA), which is a division of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). Under her leadership, SCPS launched “CTE Rocks on Tour,” an innovative plan to bring business partners, legislators, faith-based organizations and other stakeholders onto campuses to learn about the district’s career and technical education offerings. Crknovich’s passion for supporting students has also led her to several volunteer positions, including mentoring refugee students and acting as a court-appointed special advocate for children.
“Ms. Crnkovich is passionate about public education and motivated to do everything within her power to ensure every student has an opportunity to receive a quality education,” said SCPS Superintendent Serita D. Beamon. “She works tirelessly to reach out to our families and community.”
Three other finalists for the award were also honored:
- Dr. Lauren Nolasco, APR, Chief Communications Officer at Portsmouth Public Schools, Virginia
- Dr. Erica Taylor, Assistant Superintendent for Communications and Business and Community Partnerships at Orangeburg County School District, South Carolina
- Kristi McNerlin, Chief Communications Officer at Blue Valley Schools, Kansas
Full stories on all four finalists will appear in print and online in the fall 2024 issue of SchoolCEO Magazine. You can read each finalist's feature here.
Earlier this year, SchoolCEO Partnered with NSPRA to conduct an original research study titled “A Seat at the Table.” Of the survey’s 600 respondents—all of whom were school communicators—47% indicated that they work as a team of one. What’s more, an alarming 77% responded that they were at least “sometimes” burned out, with 37% answering that they were “always” or “often” burned out.
“This is not an easy job, but it is truly built for people who are passionate about what education can do and about sharing that with the communities they serve,” said Crnkovich. “I am constantly inspired by what my colleagues do and the amazing work happening to tell the stories. Thank you SchoolCEO for the opportunity to share this field and celebrate the people who are in it.”
About SchoolCEO
SchoolCEO is a research and perspectives magazine for school superintendents, communications professionals, and other K-12 leaders. Published quarterly in print and online, it is the only magazine focused on marketing in K-12 public education. With more than 20,000 readers, SchoolCEO is leading the conversation on communications, recruitment, and branding in public education. For more information, visit www.schoolceo.com.
About Apptegy
Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Apptegy is an education technology company dedicated to helping school leaders build powerful identities for their schools. For more information, visit www.apptegy.com.
SchoolCEO’s new research reveals how teachers select jobs and what they need from school leaders to be happy and stay in the classroom
[Little Rock, AR, February 1, 2023]
SchoolCEO, the only magazine focused on marketing in K-12 public education, released a new teacher recruitment study that seeks to understand what elements of a work environment teachers prioritize most, how they learn about open positions, and what schools can do to attract—and retain—the best educators in the field.
The nationally representative study, which is the largest of its kind, collected responses from more than 1,000 current public school educators who ranked which factors are most important to them in a workplace. While there have been many attempts to solve the challenges of teacher recruitment and retention, this study goes directly to the source by asking teachers how they found their job, what they want from leaders, and what they need to be happy in their position.
Aside from salary and benefits, teachers most highly value a school’s location, leadership, and school culture. Surprisingly, only 39 percent of educators responded that their selection of a position was driven primarily by salary and benefits.
“The current teacher shortage means that school districts must be strategic about how they recruit and retain educators,” said SchoolCEO editor Melissa Hite. “While districts cannot control their location, they can certainly control their leadership and school culture. This new research helps school leaders better understand what teachers want and know what to focus on as they build recruitment material for the next school year.”
Read the executive summary and download the full report at https://www.schoolceo.com/teachers-recruitment-research-report-2023/
About SchoolCEO
SchoolCEO is a research and perspectives magazine for school superintendents and other K12 leaders. Published quarterly in print and online, SchoolCEO is the only magazine focused on marketing in K-12 public education. This publication equips its community of innovative educators with the unique and actionable ideas they need to brand and market their schools in a highly competitive environment. With more than 20,000 readers, SchoolCEO is leading the conversation on communications, recruitment, and branding in public education. For more information, visit https://www.schoolceo.com/