Libertyville School Staff Honored

Libertyville Elementary District 70 Public Relations Facilitator Robin Smith Kollman recently was presented with a Distinguished Communicator Award of Excellence by the Illinois chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA).

Kollman was nominated last winter for the Distinguished Communicator Award.  

Established in 2007, the Distinguished Communicator Award, formerly known as the INSPRA Public Relations Professional of the Year, is one of the highest and most prestigious honors presented by INSPRA. Its purpose is to recognize an INSPRA member for a career that exemplifies the professional practices of school public relations and deserves recognition for an outstanding body of work sustained over time.

Schaumburg School District 54 Community Relations Director Terri McHugh was also named the 2011 recipient of the Distinguished Communicator Award.

Kollman and McHugh were recognized at INSPRA’s Distinguished Service Awards luncheon on May 6 at the Park Ridge Country Club. The Distinguished Service Awards were presented by INSPRA President Bridget McGuiggan and NBC Channel 5 reporter and anchor Dick Johnson served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Kollman was recognized for her passion for enhancing communication throughout the District 70 community and her commitment to keeping the community informed about the school district. She was praised for her skillful writing and her talent for building relationships with the district’s many stakeholders. She is serving her second year as co-vice president of programs for INSPRA.

“She has a gift, shares her gift and is a gift,” District 70 Superintendent Guy Schumacher wrote in his nomination essay.