The Minnesota School Public Relations Association (MinnSPRA) honored Minnesota's best school communications professionals and leaders who champion the profession at its spring conference on April 9 and 10, 2025. Receiving MinnSPRA's highest honor, School Communicator of the Year, is Donnie Belcher, Executive Director of Communications and Engagement for Minnesota Public Schools. She is among the candidates now vying for the National School Public Relations Association's (NSPRA) School Communicator of the Year award this summer.

“Our organization's awards serve as a powerful recognition of the dedication and skill required to effectively bridge the gap between schools and their communities, " said Shawn Hogendorf, MinnSPRA’s president. “Our members constantly elevate the voices of educators, students, and families while inspiring continuous growth and innovation.”

The School Communicator of the Year Award recognizes impeccable leadership of Minnesota’s superb communications professionals, who demonstrate their commitment to strengthening relationships between their district, families and the community they serve. This award honors those who value communication as a crucial role for their stakeholders.

About Donnie

Donnie Belcher, Executive Director of Communications and Engagement for Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), joined the district in 2021. During her time with MPS, Belcher has been an integral part of the district's leadership team, playing a crucial role in communicating with stakeholders throughout the budgetary process, labor negotiations with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT), implementation of the district’s new superintendent's 100-day plan, and more. Her ability to build relationships with MPS leaders has fostered genuine collaboration and transparency, which has helped build trust between MPS and the community. Thanks to Belcher's involvement and leadership, the district keeps the community informed about budget updates, negotiations, school board and superintendent initiatives, and more. Her role recently evolved to include leading the district’s engagement department, a testament to her involvement in the MPS community. One of her roles leading this team includes overseeing Parent Advisory Councils, ensuring that parents have a voice in the decision-making process. Her ability to facilitate meaningful dialogue and collaboration between parents and the district has strengthened community ties and built trust. Belcher's background as a teacher for many years has given her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the education system, further enhancing her credibility and effectiveness as an advocate.

Before joining Minneapolis Public Schools, Belcher was a high school English teacher at Whitney Young Magnet High School and Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in English.