Two staff members of the Fayette County Public Schools Public Relations Department have received national recognition for their work from the National School Public Relations Association. 

Nia Washington, public information specialist, won a 2019 Print and Digital Media Award for social media. She was among 17 entrants in the nation to receive an honorable mention award in social media. This marks the first award that the department has received for social media since Washington began managing the school system’s platforms almost two years ago. Her efforts have resulted in an additional 5,522 followers since 2017.

Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, public information officer, won a 2019 Golden Achievement Award for the work plans she developed and managed for two projects: Fayette County Education Foundation Employee Giving Campaign and Realtor Tour of Schools. The Golden Achievement Award recognizes exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing, and engagement. A total of 144 school public relations professionals across the nation received the award this year.

Dreisbach also received a Print and Digital Media Award for excellence in writing. She won for the press release she wrote last year about a chemistry escape room activity at Starr’s Mill High. Her entry was among 17 across the nation that received a merit award for excellence in writing.
There were 1,148 entries from across the nation submitted in the 2019 National School Public Relations awards program, with 667 of them receiving recognition.