Experience

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  Elgin ISD

  • Elgin, Texas, United States

  • Communications Coordinator

    • Jul 2022 - Present
    • Elgin, Texas, United States

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  Pflugerville ISD

  • Communications Coordinator

    • Jul 2015 - Aug 2022

    • Implements the communication strategies for a Texas public school district and 13 of its elementary, middle and high schools• Coordinates strategic communications planning for the district, including crisis communications• Conducts interviews with faculty, alumni, key stakeholders, project leads/managers and students to develop announcements for publication and market content• Through usage of digital photography, increases district and campus awareness and assists in curating content for district publications• Leads communications planning for district's nonprofit foundation, to include news coverage of foundation grant funding for teachers and partnerships in education awards• Supports the school district’s goals of providing results-driven education to students in elementary and secondary levels and development of life-long learners committed to serving others• Fosters a central social media vision among the district’s educators through establishment of aligned training strategies • Promotes community support and student engagement through relentless pursuit of achievement and recognition in marketing and community relations• Won Texas School Public Relations Association Gold Level Photography – sports (10,000 to 30,000 students) award in 2017 and was named Pflugerville Education Foundation Ambassador of Education in 2018• Planned and implemented staff social media training (Twitter) at in-district high school: 2017

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  Round Rock Leader/Pflugerville Pflag

  • Editor

    • Sep 1999 - Jul 2015

    • Began as news reporter simultaneously covering courts, county, public safety and water district news beats• Coverage of Moore murder case contributed to Round Rock Leader being named best all around newspaper (Division III) by the South Texas Press Association in 2004• Through on-the-job training, developed photography, copy editing and graphic and page design skills • Became assistant editor and, later, editor of Round Rock Leader community newspaper, before assuming simultaneous command of Pflugerville Pflag community newspaper • As editor, managed staff of reporters, copy editors, graphic designers and freelance personnel• Newspaper captured South Texas Press Association Best All Around (Division III) award under my leadership in 2008, 2009 and 2011, as well as Texas Press Sweepstakes (Division 5) award in 2010 and 2012. • Won South Texas Press Association (Division III) Photographer of the Year award in 2011 and Texas Press Association best feature photo (Division 5) award in 2015• Received supervisor training provided by Austin American-Statesman and attended week-long course at Texas Center for Community Journalism at the Texas Christian University Bob Schieffer College of Communication

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  The Brownsville Herald

  • reporter

    • Jan 1994 - Aug 1999

    • Initially hired as editorial assistant, writing community features for weekly edition while still attending college• Took on entertainment beat as editorial assistant, securing interviews with musicians Kris Kristofferson, Sammy Hagar and David Ellefson of Megadeth and comedian Paul Rodriguez• Promoted to city reporter after college graduation, regularly writing 4-5 council and city news articles a week• Also on assignment in Mexico City covered presidential visit by Bill Clinton, secured interview with acclaimed author Americo Paredes and wrote about Pope John Paul II’s papal visit

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  United States Marine Corps

  • Marine

    • Jul 1989 - Jul 1993

    • Enlisted Marine with communications specialty• Assigned to Marine Corps Base Telecommunications Center, Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan from 1990 to 1992; held NATO Top Secret security clearance• Oversaw classified message traffic processed by shift for Marine base and wing commands on Okinawa• Thrice selected Marine of the Month for Camp Butler communications center• Assigned to 2nd Force Service Support Group, Camp LeJeune, N.C. from 1992-93 • Was a staff non-commissioned officer on a deployment to Turkey in support of NATO training exercise Display Determination in 1992, and a cold weather training exercise above the Artic Circle in Norway in 1993• Received Marine Corps Meritorious Mast commendation while assigned to 2nd FSSG• Honorably discharged with National Defense Service Medal, Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, Overseas Service (with service star) Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal