Tuscaloosa City Schools communications team honored with national NSPRA awards

The Tuscaloosa City Schools Board of Education on June 24 recognized the district public relations team after the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) gave the staff several awards for publications, photography and video.

Board members praised the communications staff for documenting the district's progress and engaging the community. Dr. Daria, the superintendent, told the board the PR team's work helps the public see the district's improving outcomes and that staff would travel to St. Louis in July to receive the awards.

Lydia Avant, PR director, said the annual report "shows the culmination of all of everything, the successes of the previous school year" and credited strong photography and videography for helping tell those stories. Dave Crutchfield, a member of the communications team, said the work allows him to "promote the positive things in our schools" and described the job as a ‘‘blessing.’’

Board members repeatedly commended the team. One board member said the awards were welcome recognition but added that the system already knew the staff were performing at a national level. The board did not take any formal action beyond recognition.

The awards named by the board included a Publications and Digital Media Excellence award for the district annual report, a financial publication award of excellence, an in-house single video award of merit for a piece called "Everyday Amazing," and honorable mentions in photography and video credited to Dave Crutchfield and Eddie McClinton.

The recognition occurred near the start of the board’s regular meeting and was presented in-person by Avant and Crutchfield; McClinton was noted as absent and on vacation.