DMPS Wins Multiple Awards For Communications

The DMPS Communications Team

For more than a century, Des Moines Public Schools has been communicating with families. The technology and methods of connecting with each other have changed, but the dedication to keeping everyone informed and included in school life remains as strong as ever.

In a district of 32,000 students and 5,000 employees, the district’s small but hearty communications staff takes on the herculean task every year of keeping information flowing for stakeholders, schools and families.

Some of the communication teams most visible work is on billboards, in photographs, blog posts and media outreach. But did you also know that the communications staff creates content for and maintains the district’s websites, social media platforms and television station, designs the logos, mascots and school signs you see everyday, prepares district directories, weekly informative newsletters for families and annual reports, and directs funding-related campaigns, school budget forums and more?

The work of this team is largely unnoticed only because it is all around us, all the time, and becomes more essential with each passing year.

The Iowa School Public Relations Association recognizes outstanding communications work from districts around the state.

The DMPS Communications Team, lead by Director Phil Roeder, and including Amanda Lewis, Adam Rohwer, Kyle Knicley, Jon Lemons and Michael Wellman (retired), took home 25 honors during this week’s ISPRA 2021 Communications Awards, including several Blue & Gold Awards, ISPRA’s top honor. A list is compiled below so you can see the work quietly being done everyday is impactful and well-respected in the school communications community.