Terri Brewer named Alabama's School Communicator of the Year

Rena Philips — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:47:16 GMT

The Alabama School Public Relations Association has selected Terri Brewer, APR, as its 2026 Alabama School Communicator of the Year.

Brewer was recognized recently at ALSPRA’s statewide conference in Tuscaloosa, where she also received an Excellence in Strategic Communication Award for her work in redesigning the school system’s website to meet new Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, as well as two Excellence in Communications awards for the TCSS Educator Recognition Awards and for the TCSS newsletters.

“Terri represents the very best of our profession. It has been a privilege watching her transition over the last eight years from a career in television news into the school public relations leader that she is today,” said ALSPRA President Rena Philips. “She leads with integrity, lifts up those around her, and approaches every challenge with both strategy and heart. Terri is not only an outstanding communicator—she is a model for all of us in school public relations.”

The Alabama School Public Relations Association (ALSPRA) is a statewide network of school communicators dedicated to strengthening public education through effective communication. ALSPRA supports members with professional development, best practices, and strategic resources to enhance transparency, engagement, and community support for schools.

Each year, ALSPRA selects a member as Communicator of the Year, in recognition of outstanding work in the field of school public relations.

Terri Brewer has served as Director of Public Relations for the Tuscaloosa County School System since 2018. Brewer is a two-time recipient of the National School Public Relations Association’s Gold Medallion Award, which is the organization’s highest honor for strategic communication work. She has presented at two NSPRA National Seminars, sharing her expertise with school public relations professionals from across the country.

Brewer also led the development and implementation of TCSS University, a program to inform and engage advocates for students and schools. As of this year, nearly 200 Tuscaloosa County residents have completed TCSS U. TCSS U has been recognized with state and national honors, and several other Alabama school systems have created similar programs modeled after TCSS U.

“What stood out most to our selection committee was her integrity, her mentorship of others, and her unwavering commitment to telling the story of public education with care and purpose,” ALSPRA Treasurer Nicole Wheeler said.

Brewer holds the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation, a national credential that demonstrates strategic communication expertise, ethical practice, and a dedication to continuous learning.

As an affiliate of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), ALSPRA’s Communicator of the Year honoree becomes a nominee for National School Communicator of the Year.

ALSPRA's Cindy Warner named National School Communicator of the Year

Rena Philips — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 18:55:38 GMT

Each year, the National School Public Relations Association, in partnership with Finalsite, honors one outstanding professional whose leadership, service and strategic impact have strengthened school communities and elevated the field of school communication. In 2025, the honor belongs to Cindy Warner, APR, public relations and community education supervisor for Shelby County Schools in Alabama, who was recently presented with the award at the NSPRA 2025 National Seminar in Washington, D.C.

“Cindy’s work shows what happens when communication is treated as mission-critical to public education,” said NSPRA Executive Director Barbara M. Hunter, APR. “She’s helped transform her district’s communications and inspired professionals across the country with her mentorship, leadership and care.”

Over the past two decades, Warner has shaped public relations, crisis response and family engagement efforts for one of Alabama’s largest school systems, serving more than 21,000 students and 2,800 employees. Her work reflects national trends in school communication, from prioritizing student mental health and attendance to incorporating research-based messaging strategies and inclusive, multi-platform engagement.

Warner’s work exemplifies the power of school communication to build trust and support student well-being, outcomes backed by decades of research showing that active family engagement leads to higher grades, better attendance and improved emotional health.

“Having a strong communications leader is essential to building a trusting, thriving community,” said Finalsite Chief Marketing Officer Risa Engel. “Cindy's leadership proves how strategic communication can engage families, unite stakeholders, and drive stronger outcomes for public schools.”

Notable highlights from Warner’s career in school communications include:

Led development and rollout of a districtwide strategic planthrough a multi-phase communications effort. The initiative earned a 2024 NSPRA Gold Medallion Award, the association's top honor for outstanding school communication programs, for its success in engaging stakeholders and reinforcing the district’s shared vision.
Helped launch the Shelby Cares mental health initiative, a strategic effort to reduce stigma and promote proactive care through student-led messaging, educator training and in-school services. The communications campaign earned a 2019NSPRA Golden Achievement Award.
Proactively strengthened the district’s brand through nationally recognized initiatives that celebrate student and staff achievements across digital, video and print platforms.

Led media relations and crisis communication for the district for more than two decades, managing thousands of media inquiries and coordinating responses to major events, weather emergencies, student safety, legal challenges and more.
Modernized internal and external communication tools, implementing a unified school-home platform to strengthen staff engagement and streamline parent communication across 31 schools.
Launched a districtwide social media campaign, “Missing School is Missing Out,” to address post-COVID chronic absenteeism. The campaign used grade-specific videos and FOMO-inspired messaging to reach more than 15,000 users and generated over 9,600 video views. The district’s most recently reported chronic absenteeism rate has since shown a downward trend, decreasing from 13.84% to 13.53%, well below the current national average of approximately 19%.
Supported the professional growth of more than 30 candidates for accreditation in public relationsthrough direct mentorship, panel service and program leadership. Co-founded NSPRA’s APR Cohort program, which supports 200+ participants annually on their path to accreditation.

Warner is also a three-time president of the Alabama School Public Relations Association, a former Southeast Region vice president for NSPRA and a dedicated volunteer and board member for multiple community nonprofit organizations.

“Cindy Warner is a trusted member of my executive cabinet and a confidant,” said Dr. Lewis Brooks, Superintendent of Shelby County Schools. “She is a reliable presence in times of (both) celebration and crisis…(and) our ability to effectively communicate has gotten exponentially better under her direction.”

In her acceptance remarks at NSPRA 2025, Warner shared her gratitude and reflected on the educators, mentors and students who shaped her journey.

“Thank you for letting me represent you as Communicator of the Year,” she said. “I promise to continue doing everything I can to elevate public education because I’m proud to be a product of it.”

Alabama School Public Relations Association Spotlight Alabama

Terri Brewer named Alabama's School Communicator of the Year

ALSPRA's Cindy Warner named National School Communicator of the Year