2023 Professional Awards Winners

Kristin Zastoupil works at Forney ISD as the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications. She has served on the TSPRA Executive Committee as President, and At-Large Vice President, as well as on the Conference Planning Committee, Website Ad Hoc Committee, Budget Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee. She has also been a conference Day Chair. She has received numerous Star Awards for graphic design, websites, school communications, and education foundation initiatives.

Kristin epitomizes the mission and commitment of TSPRA in her service to her district and community, as well as to fellow TSPRA members. From her many years of service in TSPRA to her more than 20 years of dedication to public school communications, Kristin continues to make a positive impact on public education across the state.

Anne Marie Espinoza first joined TSPRA about 12 years ago when she became the Director of Communications at Southwest ISD. She immediately became involved with our professional organization, with the SASPRA group, and embraced the members of TSPRA with enthusiasm and an eagerness to be involved. Espinoza co-chaired the Celebrate Texas Public Schools committee at a pivotal time and garnered support from members across the state.

When the Vice President of the San Antonio region had to suddenly step down, Anne Marie took over the unexpired term without missing a beat and made the transition flawlessly. She epitomizes the characteristics for anyone who is deemed worthy of receiving this award. Her zeal to contribute back to her organization and her desire for excellence has and will continue to make her a great representative of TSPRA.

Veronica Johannsen started her school PR career in July 2020 during the pandemic. She is now the new Chief of Communications, Marketing and Safety and Security at Gonzales ISD. A former bilingual television reporter turned school public relations professional, she made the transition seamlessly. Most would not know she is a rookie based on her high level of expertise.

Since starting her career in school PR, Veronica has had many impressive achievements. She ran a weekly podcast with huge gains in listener growth, garnered a national story with the Today Show for Teacher Appreciation, coordinated the first-ever Back-to-School Resource fair, was selected as NSPRA’s 2021 Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Scholarship Recipient to attend NSPRA ‘22, won several TSPRA Star Awards, served on multiple TSPRA committees, and much more.

During the November 2022 election, Cedar Hill ISD had four propositions on the ballot. The propositions included a VATRE and three bond propositions to support facility needs, technology inefficiencies and replace the turf and track at the high school stadium.

Tierney Tinnin and the communications team held a mock election for students to bring awareness to the CHISD propositions and the other state and local officials on the ballot. The team partnered with the Curriculum and Instruction Department to develop grade-specific lessons for teachers to support the mock election, elementary students received “I voted” stickers and the District’s Teen Superintendent announced the student mock election results. These ideas soon became TSPRA Bright Ideas and were shared with members throughout Texas!

John Oliva is an education reporter and graduate of W.B. Ray High School, in Corpus Christi ISD. No matter the story, John approached his work as a true professional, while also embracing opportunities to share the good, especially when it came to fine arts, which is sometimes overlooked when it comes to coverage. During the holidays, he stopped by the Administration Building almost daily, capturing photos and videos of student performers and filing a wonderful compilation of the merriment brought to school employees.

John pitched a story that would involve him keeping in touch with a diverse group of seniors during their last year on a high school campus that would soon close for a move to a new building. The result was a beautiful feature about the school as well as tender vignettes of each student’s journey through high school, which included COVID-19 years. John is a true cheerleader for students, teachers, and education, making him a deserving honoree of TSPRA’s Media Award!