2026 Professional Awards Winners

Texas City ISD Chief Communications Officer Melissa Tortorici embodies the highest standards of creative, dedicated, and professional school communications. With 28 years of full-time experience in school public relations and more than two decades as a committed TSPRA member, Melissa has consistently demonstrated excellence in every aspect of her work. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in shaping the public image and community trust.

Melissa’s strategic expertise has contributed to the successful career passage of four bond elections, a tax ratification election, and the seamless annexation of a neighboring school district. These historic efforts have strengthened educational opportunities for thousands of students. Her state-level leadership as TSPRA President and continued service on the Past President’s Committee reflect her deep commitment to elevating the profession.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Melissa is a respected mentor, a steady presence during crises and a champion for ethical, empathetic communication. Whether guiding new practitioners, supporting districts through difficult moments or fostering collaboration across communities, she exemplifies integrity, creativity, and service. Melissa’s impact reaches far beyond her district as she has uplifted the entire field of school communications.

She is a connector. She is humble in her work and experience, which is extensive, yet she is always willing to learn. She is open to new ideas and leans into the vision and experiences of her colleagues in a way that is both complimentary and scholarly.

Kim Cathey has been a collaborative part of the foundational work of the Professional Advancement committee, collaborating with committee chairs and members to share best practices for potential learning structures for the first course development. She will be the very first to tell you that she did not lead the initiative, but rather supported the work of other talented colleagues, and that is the key to her success. She supports ideas, digs into the plan, sharing her own experiences, to lift and move ideas to plans, moving plans to progress. This is her strength.

She has been a strong advocate for the value of TSPRA membership, often sharing that it is her connections that have supported her in her work and challenges.

It is in this often-quiet diligence that Kim does the important work that connects us all. She pushes us all to do better and be better, one connection at a time.

Nicole Garcia, a PfISD graduate, has made a remarkable impact on Pflugerville ISD through the quality of her work as a Communications Specialist. She has transformed how the district approaches social media by balancing strategy, engagement, and strong visual storytelling, incorporating video in exciting ways. In just 2.5 years, she’s helped drive significant growth, evidenced by a staggering 429% increase in average engagement per post. It’s now common for students to approach her to ask if they’ll be featured on district social channels—a testament to the connection she has built.

Nicole is not only a skilled social media manager but is also passionate about enhancing the student experience. After attending a TSPRA session on media days, she pitched the idea to our team, created a plan, and launched the project within three months. Now, in its second full year, the program ensures that athletics and band programs without financial resources for media days can still participate in these highly anticipated experiences. The photos have earned NSPRA awards and are widely used across the district.

Nicole’s growth has been impressive. She connects naturally with students, brings energy to every project, and continues to grow in confidence, independence, and professionalism.

Renee Cunningham and Steven Offield demonstrated innovation in creating the Allen ISD Communications Internship. Launched in 2024–2025 and continuing in 2025–2026, this program provides high school students with hands-on experience in photography, videography, content creation, communications strategy, and event planning.

From concept to implementation, Renee and Steven designed every element of the program, including applications, interview rubrics, presentations, and projects. They collaborated with the CTE Department to ensure the program’s success and sustainability. The program has grown from 40 applicants and seven interns in its inaugural year to more than 80 applicants and 12 interns in its second year.

The Communications Internship benefits both students and the district. Interns gain real-world experience, build professional portfolios, and produce content that enhances the district’s communication efforts. Their work appears across Allen ISD’s social media, website, and magazine. The program also gives the Communications Department valuable insight into current trends and topics that matter most to Allen ISD students.

The Communications Internship represents a replicable model for district promotion through meaningful student engagement and storytelling. Renee and Steven earned the Bright Idea Award for creating a program that connects students, strengthens communication, and celebrates the amazing opportunities in public schools.

Wayne Carter is a beacon of light when it comes to schools in North Texas. His signature “Carter in the Classroom” is not an act. It is true-to-form of his efforts to highlight happenings inside classrooms. In the past, he had a segment called “Soup with the Superintendent” where he had one-on-one conversations with superintendents, in their cities and at the restaurant of their choice.

Carter is very specific about what he’s looking for in his coverage and provides detailed information to area school district communications professionals so there is no misunderstanding. In addition, he invites school district communications leaders to the NBC 5 studios for an individual sit-down to gain insight on their district and how collaboration can take place to benefit all. He’s not a “gotcha” kind of guy and leads with integrity in all facets of his role as a journalist.

Ken Kuhl is far more than a dedicated volunteer; he is a strategic communications partner for public schools in Texas. As a Director-at-Large on the Texas PTA Board and former Regional Director for Leadership ISD, Ken has moved from campus PTA service into high-level governance, coaching trustees, and equipping community leaders to advocate for student-centered policy. His impact is recognized statewide through the Texas State Board of Education’s 2022 Heroes for Children Award.

In Fort Worth ISD, he has served as Vice-Chair of the Community Oversight Committee for the 2021 bond and on both the Parent and Community Superintendent Advisories, consistently translating complex issues like school finance, safety, and strategic planning into clear, accessible language for families, media, and legislators. By training parents, coaching advocates, and developing practical tools for data-driven engagement, Ken is building a sustainable, informed movement in support of public education.

Whether he is explaining the nuances of a bond election to voters, advocating for increased public-school funding, or educating community leaders on public schools, Ken embodies the TSPRA mission of promoting better understanding between school districts and their communities.