Homewood-Flossmoor High School administrators and staff won special honors from the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. The presentations were part of a National School Communicators Day program May 12.
In the administrator category, District 233 Superintendent Scott Wakeley received the Distinguished Service Award for his commitment to communications. Wakeley has pledged that communications will be timely, transparent and two-way. He has welcomed input from students, families, staff and the community in assessing H-F’s communications tools.
In the support category, Pat Gnaster, assistant to the superintendent, received a Distinguished Service Award recognizing the work she does to assist parents, elected officials, community members, board members and H-F staff with the information they need, and the help she gives to keep communication between the superintendent and stakeholders a two-way street. For the past 17 years, she has been responsible for school board minutes and communications between the administration and the school board.
In the teams category, the association recognized H-F’s team of Director of Communications & Community Engagement Carla Erdey; Communications & Website Coordinator Nicole Castagna; Director of Alumni Relations & Development Ann Cherry; Principal Dr. Clinton Alexander; Director of Athletics Matt Lyke; Director of Activities Gail Smith; Guidance Department Chair Jim Schmidt; Fine Arts/English Teacher Matt Holdren; and intern Tricia Walton.
The team developed a strategic communications plan after conducting a communications audit and survey and meeting with focus groups. It established communication plans that align with district goals. The team helped start a Principal’s Advisory Council, three new video series and an H-F News Central webpage.