After reviewing nominations from across North America, we’re thrilled to unveil the finalists for our 2026 Excellence in School Marketing Award!

School communications professionals are the storytellers, strategists and brand-builders behind every great district. This award celebrates their innovation, dedication and impact on K-12 education.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s outstanding finalists:

Jacque Ballent, MBA, is the marketing and special projects facilitator for Frisco ISD in Texas, where she leads strategic initiatives that strengthen the district’s brand, connect families with opportunities and support enrollment. Her work has helped launch and grow Access Frisco, Frisco ISD’s open enrollment initiative; Frisco Flex, the district’s virtual learning program; and tuition-based pre-K, combining research, data and audience insights with clear, compelling storytelling.

Cristina Capretta, APR, is the director of marketing and community relations for the Berea City School District, which serves 5,200 students in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Since 2015, she has led multiple strategic award-winning communication initiatives, including a district rebranding, the closing and consolidation of schools, and the opening of new buildings during a pandemic. She is currently serving as president of the Ohio School Public Relations Association.

Brittany Cowan is the director of marketing for Denver Public Schools, leading the district's brand strategy, enrollment marketing and school-based communications efforts. Throughout her career, she has built collaborative teams, created award-winning campaigns and developed systems that help organizations better connect with the communities they serve. 

Skyler Hefley is the director of communications for Longview Independent School District in East Texas, where he leads the district’s marketing, communications and community engagement efforts. Since joining Longview ISD in 2025, he has helped reposition communications as a strategic driver of enrollment, trust and long-term organizational success.

Each of these finalists will be featured in the Fall 2026 issue of SchoolCEO, with the winner announced at SchoolCEO Conference, September 28-29 in Dallas!

Congrats to these incredible communicators raising the bar for school marketing!