Folsom Cordova Unified honored at CalSPRA conference for leadership and strategic communications efforts
The Folsom Cordova Unified School District has earned statewide recognition for excellence in school communications and leadership in public education during the 2026 California School Public Relations Association Conference.
District officials announced that Superintendent Erik Swanson was recognized as a “Superintendent to Watch,” an honor highlighting education leaders who demonstrate strong vision and leadership while building meaningful connections with students, staff, families and the broader community.
According to district officials, the recognition celebrates Swanson’s commitment to strengthening engagement and communication throughout the Folsom Cordova Unified community since taking the helm of the district.
In addition to the superintendent’s honor, the district’s Office of Communications and Community Engagement received multiple Awards of Excellence and Merit from the California School Public Relations Association. The awards recognized several strategic communications initiatives designed to support student attendance, foster welcoming school environments for students and families, and help introduce Swanson to the community during his first 100 days leading the district during the 2024–25 school year.
The award-winning team includes Angela Griffin Ankhelyi, MBA, APR, Mina West and Gammenia Jolley (Vrioni), whose work focused on strategic messaging, storytelling and community outreach designed to strengthen trust and engagement across the district.
District leaders said the campaigns highlighted the importance of thoughtful communication strategies in connecting schools with the communities they serve.
During the conference, Ankhelyi also shared her expertise with communications professionals from across California by presenting a session titled “From Tactics to Strategy: Elevating Your Role as a Communications Leader.” The presentation focused on helping school communicators expand their impact by shifting from day-to-day communications tasks to broader strategic leadership roles.
The annual CalSPRA conference brings together school communications professionals from throughout California to share best practices, celebrate innovative work and strengthen collaboration between education leaders and the communities they serve.
District officials said the recognition reflects the dedication of the entire FCUSD team and its ongoing commitment to strong communication, transparency and community connection.
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