San Angelo ISD Communications Team Honored with 11 Star Awards

San Angelo ISD celebrates the District Communications Team which was honored with eleven Star awards at the 2025 Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) Conference. The award-winning Communications Team includes Jack Wilcox, Creative Director; Alba Banuelos, Secretary; Sun Cha, Director of Community Relations; and Shannon Schwartz, Executive Director of Communications. Together, the team received two Best of Category Awards, eight Gold Star Awards and one Silver Star Award. The awards honored work from the previous school year, and were announced at TSPRA’s 63rd annual Star Awards Celebration held on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

“Accurate and timely communication is a key component to the successful day-to-day operations in our school district,” said Dr. Christopher Moran, San Angelo ISD Superintendent of Schools. “San Angelo ISD is blessed with a strong team of individuals who work tirelessly to share information with parents, students and staff with the goal of keeping everyone informed. I am thankful to serve with such an experienced and talented team who provide information our community can trust.” 

TSPRA’s annual Star Awards recognize outstanding communicators in school districts for their work in the areas of print, electronic and visual communications. Awards are given in 47 main categories covering various media such as newsletters, programs, posters, writing, photography, video, websites and more. Bronze, Silver, and Gold Stars are awarded in each category and judges review their highest scoring Gold Star winners to select a Best of Category winner in each category. Larger, more comprehensive projects are entered in one of ten Crystal Commendation categories. 

The SAISD Communications Team was honored with the following awards: 

Best of Category Awards

• District Celebration/Difference Maker Day (Category: Special Event)​
• Community-Based Accountability Report (Category: Magazine)​

Gold Star Awards

• District Celebration/Difference Maker Day (Category: Special Event)​
• Community-Based Accountability Report (Category: Magazine)​
• San Angelo ISD Campuses Utilize Capturing Kids’ Hearts Social Contracts as Culture Builders (Category: Writing)​
• HR Recruiting Postcard - Become a San Angelo ISD Difference Maker (Category: Invitation/Announcement/Postcard/Thank You Note)​
• Convocation 2024 - Dr. Dethmetal and the Metalheads - "We Will Rock You" (Category: Video – Promotional)​
• Goliad Elementary Identity Package (Category: Image/Identity Package)​
• Goliad Elementary Logo (Category: Logo, Trademark, Symbol)​
• PAYS Graduation 2024 Testimonials (Category: Video – Feature Story)​

Silver Star Award

• Students and Staff from McGill and Austin Elementaries Sign Last Beam for New Construction, Hold Topping Out Ceremony (Category: Published News or Feature)​

"At San Angelo ISD, our mission is to engage all students in a relevant and inspiring education that produces future-ready graduates," said Executive Director of Communications Shannon Schwartz. "Our Communications Team is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of our students and the incredible Difference Makers who shape their success every day. We work to keep our community, students, and families informed, foster meaningful partnerships, and share the inspiring stories that showcase the heart of our district."

The Communications Team serves as a connection between the school district and our community, facilitating effective communications between school staff, administrators, the Board of Trustees, students, parents and community members. They support district initiatives and community engagement through management and coordination of communications. 

To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD and see more work by the Communications Team that celebrates all the ways our students are smart and the impactful work of our SAISD Difference Makers, please visit the SAISD website at www.saisd.org and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and X. SAISD videos like the award-winning ones above, may also be viewed on our official SAISD YouTube channel.