Gerri Allen, supervisor of communication services for Washtenaw Intermediate School District, was recently named the 2009 Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award recipient by the National School Public Relations Association.

The award, presented at NSPRA’s annual seminar, recognizes a practicing school public relations professional for: outstanding efforts in mentoring colleagues new to school public relations; providing counsel and advice on job success; and assisting colleagues in their professional development by creating or providing programs and activities designed to improve PR skills and knowledge.

According to the selection panel, throughout a 23-year career in school public relations, Allen has been a driving force in school PR training in Michigan.

An active member of NSPRA and the Michigan School Public Relations Association, Allen has mentored hundreds of school PR professionals over the years, the group said in a press release.

Allen was instrumental in developing valuable tools for MSPRA members, such as a Y2K toolkit and Adequate Yearly Progress toolkit, which were duplicated by other NSPRA chapters, and led the effort to collaborate with the Michigan Association of School Administrators in developing a communication plan for the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth initiative. She is also a frequent and popular presenter and counselor at NSPRA’s National Seminar.

Photo: Gerri Allen, left, supervisor of Communication Services for Washtenaw Intermediate School District, receives the 2009 Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award from Sandy Cokeley, president of the National School Public Relations Association.