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NYSPRA Names Holly Brooker 2025 Communicator of the Year

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 1:34 PM | Anonymous
The New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA) is proud to announceHolly Brooker, Director of Community Relations atUlster BOCES, as its 2025 Communicator of the Year. This prestigious honor recognizes a communications professional who exemplifies excellence, leadership, ethics, and a steadfast commitment to advancing public education through strategic communication.

Since joining Ulster BOCES, Brooker has grown the organization’s communications service from a small, tactics-focused operation into a comprehensive, award-winning enterprise serving districts across Ulster County and beyond. Under her leadership, the service has increased its revenue tenfold, expanded staffing from just 2.5 members to a team of 17, which includes 11 full-time and six part-time communications professionals. She and her team have earned a reputation for delivering high-quality, strategic communications aligned with organizational goals.

“To be recognized by colleagues I admire so deeply is both humbling and meaningful,” Brooker said. “School communicators understand better than anyone that this work is rarely about individual voices—it’s about listening, building trust, and helping communities stay connected to their schools. I’ve been fortunate to learn from, collaborate with, and be supported by extraordinary school communication colleagues—most of whom I met through this remarkable state association—whose mentorship and generosity shaped me and continue to elevate our profession. I am deeply grateful to them, and to NYSPRA for this recognition.”

A hallmark of Brooker’s work is her ability to balance strategy, transparency, and trust. District leaders consistently praise her calm, thoughtful guidance during times of crisis, her precision in message development, and her unwavering advocacy for public education. As one administrator shared, Brooker “always knows what the audience needs to hear while ensuring communications remain honest, timely, and grounded in integrity.”

“This recognition is deeply well deserved,” saidDr. Jonah Schenker, Ed.D., Ulster BOCES District Superintendent & Chief Executive Officer. “Holly’s work on behalf of our agency, our county, and partners well beyond Ulster BOCES consistently reflects excellence, integrity, creativity, and a deep commitment to telling the story of our students, our staff, and our mission. The impact of her leadership and her team’s work is felt every day, often behind the scenes, and this award is a meaningful acknowledgment of that impact.”

In every respect, Holly Brooker exemplifies the spirit and purpose of NYSPRA’s Communicator of the Year Award. Her strategic vision, ethical leadership, and unwavering commitment to public education have made a lasting impact on the schools and communities she serves. NYSPRA is honored to recognize Holly Brooker as its 2025 Communicator of the Year.


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