The work of telling the Jackson Public Schools story is getting noticed.

The JPS Public Engagement team has earned recognition from school communications professionals at both the state and national levels, highlighting the creativity, storytelling and strategic communication that goes into keeping scholars, families, employees and the community connected to JPS.

This year, JPS received multiple honors from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), one of the nation's leading professional organizations for school communicators. The 2026 NSPRA Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards recognize outstanding communication work in areas such as publications, videos, photography, marketing materials, and digital media. Entries are judged against organizations of similar type and size.

JPS earned seven NSPRA recognitions, including two Excellence Awards and five Honorable Mentions.

The team received Excellence Awards for the JPS Mobile App Poster and a photo (above) featuring the Shirley Elementary School Choir during a holiday performance. Additional recognition included awards for the ​​​JPS Handbook​​​, Spirit of Excellence magazine, JPS Mobile App Features Flyer, Unified Field Day Story and Project SEARCH Story.

The team also earned recognition from the Mississippi School Public Relations Association (MSPRA), receiving three awards for excellence in social media, marketing and newsletter communications. The honors recognize the team's efforts to engage audiences through strategic messaging, creative campaigns, and consistent communication across multiple platforms.

Together, these awards reflect more than individual projects. They represent the daily work of telling the stories of JPS scholars, educators, families and schools in ways that are timely, meaningful, and accessible to the people we serve.

From a photo that captures a special moment to a video that puts a spotlight on a scholar's experience, every communication is an opportunity to help our community see the people and progress behind the work happening across Jackson Public Schools.