McAllen ISD media team earns 15 state awards

McAllen ISD’s Marketing and Communications team earned 15 state awards in education communications this year.

The awards were presented by the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) during the association’s 63rd annual conference held in February in San Antonio. Members from across the state received honors from the association for their outstanding work in education communications earning Gold Star, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Best of Category, Certificate of Merit, Crystal Commendation and/or Platinum awards.

“The team works really hard each year to cover all the great things students, teachers and staff are doing in McAllen ISD,” Marketing and Communications Director Mark May said. “All of us are storytellers. We have the immense responsibility to tell the school district’s stories so it makes me very proud to work with such dedicated, talented and creative people.”

McAllen ISD submitted 13 videos and photos and all 13 earned an award (11 Gold Stars, one Silver Star and one Bronze Star). Two of the Gold Star winning videos went on to win a medal – emblematic for the best in Texas.

The two Best in Texas medal winners included:

Video – News Package           A Valley first! McAllen High student makes history on stage
Video – Live Sports Event      McAllen ISD Baseball Playoff – Memorial at McAllen High 2024

The News Package award winner was a video about Victoria Martinez, a senior at McAllen High School, who became the first student from the Rio Grande Valley to earn a trip to New York’s world-famous Jimmy Awards.

The Live Sports Event winner featured live web coverage of a baseball playoff game between McAllen Memorial High and McAllen High in the spring of 2024. The crew used four cameras (including one behind the outfield fence), graphics and announcers to bring the game to online viewers.

Historically, McAllen ISD has earned multiple awards for coverage of its live sporting events.

Each year, TSPRA recognizes communicators in school districts, education foundations, education associations and organizations for their work in print and electronic media categories. There are 47 main categories covering various media such as newsletters, programs, posters, reports, writing, image/identity packages, photography, graphics, video, electronic presentations, campaigns, events and websites.

This year, a record-setting 1,940 entries were received. For the first 47 categories, the entries are divided into three divisions based on the number of students the district, foundation or organization serves – under 15,000 students; 15,000 – 40,000 students; and more than 40,000 students. McAllen ISD competes against school districts which serve 15,000 to 40,000 students.

 About TSPRA
The Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) is a nonprofit, professional organization dedicated to promoting public schools through effective communications. TSPRA, a chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), was chartered in 1962 and incorporated in 1977. With more than 1,200 members, TSPRA is comprised primarily of public information and communications professionals who serve the public school districts and education organizations of Texas. The membership also includes superintendents, administrators, principals, web/technology/ electronic media and graphic professionals, education foundation executive directors and their boards, association executive directors, school consultants, vendors and others who support public education in the state. TSPRA provides professional development, resources and networking opportunities for members and others in the education community.

 CAPTION FOR PHOTO
Pictured above are members of McAllen ISD’s Marketing & Communications team. From left to right, they are Roy Gonzalez II, Erica Guerrero, Raul Ramos, Mark May, Tori Alvarado, Felicia Villarreal and Joe De La Garza.