Houston Co. Wins Seven State Public Relations Awards | Business

Houston County, GA – The Georgia School Public Relations Association (GSPRA) honored Houston County’s Director of Community & School Affairs Beth McLaughlin with seven state awards at its annual conference held in October.  Houston County brought home five Gold awards and two “best of the best” awards. 

Entries were judged by a panel from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association.  The READ posters (pictured below) won Gold and “Best in Category” in Special Purpose Publications and a score of 100. 

North Carolina’s judges wrote:  “We love the posters - they meet the listed goals.  What a great idea and so colorful.  We like the positive impression the photos give of the superintendent and board members.  We also like the fact that they are displaying their favorite book.  WOW, these are wonderful, professional and great to promote reading!  Excellent work!”

In addition, Teacher & Employee of the Year Recognition also won Gold as well as “Best in Category” for Special Events.  The additional Gold Awards of Excellence and their categories are:

·         Month of the Military Child Celebration – Special Events;

·         Years of Service Recognition Program – Special Events; and

·         Opening Session – Special Events.

“It is a joy to work for a Board and Superintendent who allow us to try new things, such as the READ posters and the just-unveiled history webpage,” said McLaughlin.  “I work with an awesome PR team - Teresa Davis and Amanda Wilson - and fabulous administrators!  Houston County is a wonderful place, and I feel privileged to work for our school system, the very same system that provided me and mine our K-12 education!”

R. D. Harter, Dougherty County School System Public Information Director, coordinated the awards contest.  Harter commented, “I noticed that across all the 75+ entries, your work and the value of your events was very obvious to me -- excellent.  And the partnership you have built with your military community is exemplary!”

Each year Georgia public relations professionals are invited to submit publications, photographs and electronic media, falling into 13 categories, for evaluation by a public relations group in another state.  The state awards include Bronze, Silver, Gold and Best in Category.  Judges score each entry on a 100-point scale, evaluating overall professionalism, look and whether or not the piece achieved the intended goals.  For more information on GSPRA, visit www.gspra.org.

McLaughlin is pictured with Karen Stroud, GSPRA President and Community Relations Director for Douglas County Schools.