Burbach earns Nebraska School Communicator of Year honor

November 21, 2024

Mindy Burbach learned Wednesday morning that the amount of trust, admiration and respect she has earned from other people stretches from Chadron to Cass County.
 
Members of the Nebraska School Public Relations Association (NebSPRA) honored Burbach with the Nebraska School Communicator of the Year Award powered by Class Intercom. Her family and friends joined dozens of NebSPRA professionals from across the state for the surprise presentation. The celebration took place at the beginning of the Nebraska School Communication Conference at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
 
Burbach is executive director of communications at Lincoln Public Schools and leads a 13-person team that supports LPS students, staff, families and the Lincoln community. NebSPRA President Bridget Blevins said she was thrilled for Burbach to receive a standing ovation from everyone in the room.
 
“It was such a joy to be able to see the look on her face when she won the award, and to see her surrounded by colleagues, family and people who care so much about her,” Blevins said. “To be able to have someone like Mindy, who’s such a professional and cares so much about her work, be able to be recognized for that work was really special. I think it was something that everybody who was here today really enjoyed being a part of.”

 
Jennifer Sibal was one of the NebSPRA members who wore bright smiles during the award presentation. Sibal, the director of communications and engagement at Gering Public Schools, has known Burbach for seven years and has sought her advice on many communications topics.
 
“It was phenomenal to see her so moved and to see her celebrated by communications professionals across the state,” Sibal said. “Just being able to elevate her like she has elevated so many of us was special. I’m so proud of her.”
 
LPS Superintendent Paul Gausman and LPS Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Sarah Salem said many people in Lincoln have benefited from Burbach’s compassionate and strategic approach to her job. She has developed a deep reservoir of communications and leadership strategies that cover a wide range of subjects.
 
“I have served as a school superintendent in three districts in three states, and in witnessing her leadership firsthand, I can confidently say that Mindy is the best communications director I have worked with,” Gausman said.
 
“Mindy does it all,” Salem said. “From crisis management to school alerts to proactive storytelling, Mindy strives for clear and honest communication that provides our community with important information.”

 
Burbach grew up in Thedford and graduated from Bayard High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2001, and she worked in the television news industry for KOLN/KGIN for more than five years. She was communications director for Scottsbluff Public Schools for three years and spent time at both Western Nebraska Community College and Platte Valley Companies in Scottsbluff.
 
Burbach joined LPS as a communications specialist in March 2015 and became communications coordinator in August 2017. She began working in her current role as executive director of communications in October 2019.
 
One of Burbach’s signature accomplishments has been her role in the creation and communication of the All Means All action plan at LPS. The action plan created a detailed vision for the school district that ensures every student is supported and celebrated.

 
Blevins and Sibal both said they have appreciated Burbach’s willingness to share her knowledge with others. She regularly speaks with NebSPRA colleagues about a wide range of communications topics, and she has presented at district, city and state events. She also organizes and leads area residents at the LPS Citizens Academy each fall.
 
“Mindy is someone who anyone within our organization can go to anytime they have a question about school communications,” Blevins said. “She has such a passion for making sure that students and our school communities succeed, not only in Lincoln but throughout the state.”
 
“Mindy is a phenomenal leader in communications,” Sibal said. “She’s always willing to help out and answer questions, and she’s a source of support and encouragement during challenging times and a cheerleader during positive times.”
 
Burbach will represent Nebraska next summer at the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) National Seminar. She will be the state’s nominee for the National School Communicator of the Year Award. Communications professionals from across North America will gather July 20-23 in Washington, D.C., for the conference.
 
President of Class Intercom Jill Johnson presented the state honor to Burbach as everyone applauded at the NebSPRA event. Johnson, who worked as a teacher and administrator for 30 years, summed up the feelings of everyone as she met Burbach at the front of the conference room.
 
“Mindy, your work over the years has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Johnson said. “You have helped your district navigate complex challenges, celebrate remarkable achievements and, most importantly, build stronger relationships with students, families and the community. You embody the qualities of a true communicator – strategic, compassionate and always forward-thinking.”

To learn more about LPS Communications and how to collaborate with the team, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/communications.
 
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