Cooperative Educational Service Agency 8’s (CESA 8) Director of Communications, Dean Leisgang, has been recognized by the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) with two Spectrum Awards, celebrating excellence in school communication across the state. The Spectrum Awards honor high-quality communication and engagement efforts conducted by or on behalf of Wisconsin school districts.
“Supporting school districts in telling their stories is truly an honor,” commented Leisgang. “These awards are a reflection of the incredible work happening in our schools every day, and I’m proud to help elevate the voices of educators, students, and communities.”
Leisgang earned a Spectrum Award in the Referendum Campaign category for his work supporting the Shawano Community School District’s successful November 2024 referendum. His efforts included creating clear, accessible messaging that helped the community understand the district’s needs and the proposal's impact.
"We partnered with Dean to increase communication after we failed a referendum in April 2024, said Kurt Krizan/Superintendent of Shawano Community School District. “Dean was great to work with. He brought our district's story to life through video for our community. There is no doubt in my mind that we passed our referendum in November due to the partnership with CESA 8 and Dean."
Leisgang received a second award in the Website category for leading the redesign of CESA 8’s organizational website, CESA8.org. The updated site enhances usability, strengthens the agency’s brand identity, and provides clearer pathways to services and resources.
“Dean’s communication work is instrumental in advancing the core mission of CESA 8, actively ensuring that our stated values are not just words, but are clearly and consistently lived through every message we share,” commented David Honish/CESA 8 Agency Administrator. “This capability is an enormous asset to our organization. We are immensely proud of his crucial contribution to our success.”
WSPRA’s Spectrum Awards were judged by more than 50 members of school public relations associations from across the country, from New York to California.
“Each year we are inspired by the thoughtful, strategic, and heartfelt communication work happening across Wisconsin,” said Emily DeBaker/WSPRA President and Chief of Staff for the Racine Unified School District. "These award-winning projects reflect a deep commitment to transparency, connection, and community pride. We are grateful for the school PR professionals who work tirelessly to ensure families, staff, and community members feel informed, supported, and engaged.”
The awards were presented at WSPRA’s annual conference, held from November 12th to 14th in Elkhart Lake, WI. Leisgang has now earned more than 115 national, regional, and state awards for excellence across multiple communication and media disciplines, including marketing campaigns, video production, website development, newsletters, social media, animation, event management, reporting, anchoring, and distance learning.
If you would like to learn more about CESA 8’s communication services, please visit https://www.cesa8.k12.wi.us/page/communications-services.