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NebSPRA
Nebraska Schools Public Relations Association

The NebSPRA 2025 School Communicator of the Year Award, powered by Class Intercom, honors outstanding individuals from the school public relations profession in Nebraska.

The program recognizes the leadership and contributions of active, front-line school communicators working full-time in school districts or education service agencies.

The state-level winner is eligible to compete for the National School Public Relations Association Communicator of the Year Award.

2025 Nebraska School Communicator of the Year - Mindy Burbach, Exec Dir. Lincoln Public Schools

Mindy Burbach, Executive Director of Communications for Lincoln Public Schools, has been named the 2025 Nebraska School Communicator of the Year by the Nebraska School Public Relations Association (NebSPRA). Colleagues praise her as a compassionate, proactive, and visionary leader who has built trust and understanding through her communication strategies. 

 

CRITERIA:

Each candidate of the NebSPRA School Communicator of the Year Award will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Leadership: Demonstrated leadership in successfully meeting the communication needs of their school system/educational service agency and NebSPRA.
    Examples may include leading successful communication campaigns, overcoming an internal communication challenge, creating a robust strategic communication plan, earning a highly credible reputation with peers, and serving NebSPRA in various capacities. 

  • Communication: Demonstrated strength in both personal and organizational communication.
    Examples may include evidence of persuasion, the power of engagement, or influence in decision making.

  • Professionalism: Constant improvement of knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and mentoring to others. Demonstrates ethics and professionalism in communication.
    Examples may include achieving accreditation in public relations (APR), serving as a speaker at the chapter or national level, counseling other educational leaders on communication issues, or earning recognition as a role model and someone whose communication skills have impacted the lives of others.

  • Community Involvement: Active participation in their local community activities and an understanding of regional and national issues.
    Examples may include volunteering in their local community, organizing a fundraising event for their community, or writing an article that demonstrates broad knowledge of the complexities of public education.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Candidates must hold a current membership in NebSPRA.

  • Candidates must plan to continue working in the profession.

  • Candidates can have other duties, but primarily must serve as front-line school communicators who work full-time in school districts or education service agencies.

SUBMISSION MATERIALS:

Nominators will submit the following via a Google Form.

  • Written statements addressing each of the four criteria: Leadership, Communication, Professionalism, and Community Involvement

  • Two letters of recommendation

  • May also upload a written document (maximum of two pages) that provides additional information to support the nomination. The document may include links to examples of work.

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:

  • A physical award presented at a monthly NebSPRA meeting

  • Statewide recognition through NebSPRA publications, website, and social media

  • Notification to their superintendent and school board

  • Local NebSPRA membership for the subsequent year

  • NSPRA Professional Level Membership for the subsequent year

JUDGING:

  • School communications professionals from other SPRAs will judge the submissions, and determine the final winner.

 

Previous Nebraska School Communicators of the Year