BGISD communications director awarded Gold Medallion in national competition

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Bowling Green Independent School District communications director Leslie McCoy is being nationally recognized for her achievements.

McCoy has been awarded a Gold Medallion presented by the National School Public Relations Association.

The school district says the award is the top national competition for superior school public relations programs and campaigns grounded in strategic communication best practices.

Eight 2023 Gold Medallion winners were selected from school districts across the United States and Canada. They were celebrated at an awards luncheon, and shared about their campaigns with colleagues during Gold Mine Roundtable sessions at the National Seminar in St. Louis, Missouri.

“This year’s winning submissions are truly reflective of best-in-class, effective school communication plans,” said NSPRA executive director Barbara M. Hunter, APR. “Each demonstrated a rich understanding of strategic communication best practices and resulted in a positive, authentic impact on their communities.”

The BGISD communication plan submitted to NSPRA included the efforts to open the Teranga Academy for multilingual teens. The district says this included a summary of research, planning, implementation and evaluation, beginning with the partnership with the Fugees Family, Inc., to recruiting and hiring staff, enrolling students, expanding community partnerships, social media and media coverage.

McCoy says, “It is an honor to receive a Gold Medallion for a project that has been a highlight of my career. I appreciate the trust and support of my colleagues on the BGISD leadership team, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a small part of Project Teranga with the Fugees Family.”