Midway ISD Communications Team Earns Top Honors at TSPRA State Star Awards
The Midway ISD Communications Team has been recognized among the best in Texas, earning multiple top awards at the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) State Star Awards for the 2023-24 school year. The team brought home six Gold awards, including four Best of Category honors, celebrating excellence in school communications.
“This achievement is a testament to the exceptional talent, dedication, and creativity of the Midway ISD Communications Team,” Midway ISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Allen said.
The Midway ISD team was recognized for outstanding creativity and strategy across a variety of communications efforts:
- Gold & Best of Category – Holiday/Greeting Card
- Gold & Best of Category – Communication Plan (Crisis Communication)
- Gold & Best of Category – Website – Original Design (Eclipse 2024)
- Gold & Best of Category – Logo, Trademark, Symbol (Midway ISD PD logo)
- Gold – Published News or Feature
- Gold – Published Print Ad
“Our team is driven by the belief that communication should be purposeful, authentic, and centered around service and celebration,” said Emily Parks, Director of Communications. “Winning these awards is an incredible honor, but more importantly, it reflects our commitment to ensuring that Midway ISD’s students, staff, and community feel heard, understood, and valued.”
Midway ISD’s success is particularly impressive given the size of the district compared to other top winners. Despite serving just 8,800 students, Midway ISD earned four Best of Category awards—matching the total number of awards won by much larger districts like Killeen ISD (44,000 students), Richardson ISD (39,000 students), San Antonio ISD (45,000 students), and Socorro ISD (47,000 students).
In fact, the only district to surpass Midway ISD in Best of Category wins was Cy-Fair ISD (118,000 students)—one of the largest school districts in Texas.
The TSPRA Star Awards recognize outstanding school communication efforts across Texas. Entries are divided into three divisions based on the number of students served - under 15,000 students; 15,000 to 40,000 students; and over 40,000 students. Independent judges evaluate and score each entry based on its own merit. Bronze, Silver and Gold Stars are awarded based on set criteria. Finally, the judges review their highest scoring Gold Star winners and select a Best of Category for each division.
The Midway ISD Communications Team is made up of Director, Emily Parks, Coordinator Robert Pryor, Specialist Katy Durham, and Assistant Tracey Upshaw. Athletics Communications is managed by Athletics Assistant Jennifer Worthen. Congratulations to Midway ISD Communications for setting the standards high and leading the way in school PR excellence!
