Barrow County School System (BCSS) has been honored with the Marie Wofford Professional Award - School Communicator of the Year from the Georgia School Public Relations Association (GSPRA). The annual award recognizes a GSPRA member for outstanding work in the field of communications before and during the previous school year. It’s named in honor of the contributions of Marie Wofford, a long-time member who passed away in 2007.

BCSS Director of Communications and Engagement Nicole Valles said her name is on the award, but she sees it as a team recognition. "I'm so lucky to get to work with the remarkable people of BCSS. As a proud parent of two Apalachee High School graduates, I sincerely respect and care for this community and am committed to doing the best I can to keep them informed and connected." Nicole is dedicated to continually enhancing communications for the district. For example, BCSS is now implementing a new mass communications platform to improve message efficiency and streamline notifications for families.

BCSS Superintendent Dr. Dallas LeDuff said he nominated Nicole for the award because he couldn’t imagine anyone more deserving. “It’s her heart that truly sets her apart. She never lost sight of the people behind the messages, our students, families, and colleagues. Through her work, she helped us begin to heal, and she reminded us of the extraordinary people who make our schools so special.”

Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Houston said, “Nicole’s ability to navigate the complex demands of crisis communication, while centering on the needs of those most impacted, was a powerful testament to her skill and humanity. She is a trusted voice, a thoughtful leader, and a tireless advocate for transparency and compassion. The qualities that define the Marie Wofford Professional Award -- excellence, leadership, and impact -- are all reflected in her work and in the deep trust she has earned throughout Barrow County.”

Multi-Media Production Coordinator Jakson Hensley added, “She has a level of compassion for each person who comes through her door that I have never seen out of anyone else. I met Nicole when I interviewed for my job. She radiated joy and immediately made me feel welcome. Three years later, she’s one of the people that I respect the most in this world. She’s led me through the best and hardest moments of my career and taught me what it truly means to care for other people. And she still radiates that same joy.”

Nicole will represent GSPRA at the National School Public Relations Association seminar this summer, where she will be among 26 others nominated for NSPRA’s School Communicator of the Year Award.