The SchoolCEO Award seeks to honor school comms professionals from anywhere in North America for innovative work that pushes the fields of school communications and marketing forward. School communications professionals serve as vital team players in the broader mission of schools and deserve recognition for their innovation, thoughtfulness and dedication.

In October 2024, we announced our first-ever SchoolCEO Award winner at the 2024 SchoolCEO Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Honorees

Katherine Crnkovich, APR, CPRC (2024)

Katherine Crnkovich, APR, CPRC, is the communications officer for Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) in Florida. Crnkovich is in her 10th year as a school communicator. She is the president of the Sunshine State School Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA).

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.

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 at: https://www.schoolceo.com/a/celebrating-excellence/

Know someone you'd like to nominate?

Nominations for the SchoolCEO Award are currently closed; however, we will reopen nominations in fall of 2025. If you have someone in mind, we encourage you to return here once nominations reopen. 

All finalists will receive recognition at the 2025 SchoolCEO Conference and have a feature published in SchoolCEO Magazine. Each finalist will also receive a free ticket to the 2025 SchoolCEO Conference. 

Questions? Reach out to editor@schoolceo.com.

SchoolCEO is a research and perspectives magazine for school superintendents, communications professionals, and other K-12 leaders, powered by Apptegy. 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, visit our About page.