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Oak Harbor Public Schools' Communications Department Receives National Top Honors for 2025 Levy Renewal Communications Campaign

Posted Date: 5/23/25 (9:10 PM)
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The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) announced the Oak Harbor Public Schools’ Communications Department is a recipient of a prestigious 2025 Golden Medallion Award. Oak Harbor Public Schools was one of only thirteen honorees nationwide to be selected for the association's top honor for outstanding school communications programs. The organization and team are also among the smallest out of all of the winning campaigns. 

Communications Officer Sarah Foy, APR, Communications Specialist Lisa Jones, and Executive Assistant/Communications Specialist Katey Andrews were recognized for the district’s Levy Renewal Informational Campaign. 

The campaign was centered in the district’s new strategic plan and included tactics that were all produced in-house to inform the Oak Harbor community. These tactics included a branding package, social media campaign, video series, toolkits for ambassadors and schools, over 25 presentations to community organizations and schools, buttons, print materials, public-facing banners, and a website with consistently updated FAQs. The department also cultivated community ambassadors to help tell the story of levy-supported programs from a peer-to-peer perspective.

The 2025 Levy Renewal overwhelmingly passed with over 62% approval, marking the highest approval rating for any election measure in Oak Harbor Public Schools in nearly a decade. The election also showed a notable increase in turnout among parents/guardians and staff. 

“This recognition is a reflection of how impactful strong communications can be, especially when we saw the results of the February election. It’s easy to overlook the remarkable things happening in our schools every day, but when we prioritize time to tell those stories, our community sees the heart, effort, and excellence happening across Oak Harbor”, said Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula, Superintendent of Oak Harbor Public Schools. “I am incredibly proud of the talent, dedication, and hard work of this small, but mighty team. Their storytelling not only informed but united and inspired our #OneOakHarbor community.”

The winning communications campaign will be recognized on the national stage at the annual NSPRA Seminar in July in Washington, D.C.