With more than a decade of experience in strategic communication and a proven track record of excellence, Anakaren embodies the qualities of an outstanding public relations professional. As the first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrants, she understands the incredible importance of education and has brought her considerable talents back to the school community that helped her grow and achieve so much. 

Anakaren’s extensive educational background, holding both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Communications from California State University, Fullerton, provides her with a strong foundation in the field. Her professional journey, spanning from public relations agencies to higher education and K-12 school districts, showcases her versatility and expertise in navigating diverse communication landscapes.

Alignment with NSPRA Award Criteria:

Demonstrated Leadership: Anakaren's leadership is evident in her strategic approach to communication. As Leisa Winston, Dept Superintendent, Laguna Beach USD, notes, Anakaren supports strategic communication planning and has expanded the district's social media reach, leveraging data-informed practices to enhance communication strategies. Her ability to mentor students in media coverage of athletics and her active participation in the district’s Leadership Academy further illustrate her commitment to leadership and growth. In addition, Anakaren has consistently volunteered at both the state and national level, presenting on a variety of topics and serving on leadership advisory committees.

Strategic Communication Planning and Implementation: Anakaren excels in developing and implementing comprehensive communication plans. Her creation of the monthly “It’s a Wrap” newsletter and the annual community update, which won a CalSPRA Award of Excellence, demonstrates her ability to effectively communicate complex information. Her work during the COVID-19 response at the Los Angeles County Office of Education highlights her strategic planning skills in crisis communication. Her recent media relations session at the CalSPRA conference received a stunning average of 4.9/5. Session attendees commented that it was informative and engaging, extremely helpful, exclaiming, “what a powerhouse of wisdom and energy! I learned so much, and I was excited to see her win an award on Friday night.”

Effective Use of Communication Technology: Anakaren is adept at utilizing technology to enhance communication. She leverages data-informed practices to improve communication strategies and effectively utilizes social media to expand reach. Her implementation of quarterly metrics summaries, as mentioned by Leisa Winston, showcases her ability to use data to drive effective communication.

Building Strong School-Community Relations: Anakaren is deeply committed to fostering strong school-community relations. Her initiation of a partnership with a local radio station to highlight student stories and her ability to handle challenging community issues, such as the student AI discipline issue, with clear and concise updates demonstrates her dedication to community engagement. Jim Kelly, Elected trustee of Laguna Beach USD, praises her ability to get appropriate messages out to support students and families.

Ethical and Professional Conduct: Anakaren's integrity and ethical conduct are consistently demonstrated through her working style. Jan Vickers, former board member, Laguna Beach USD, describes her as a “really good, nice, and ethical person.” Her ability to deliver difficult information in a straightforward but constructive way, as highlighted by Leisa Winston, further demonstrates her professionalism. She is highly sought after in our CalSPRA community as someone wise beyond her years that is always willing to provide support and advice.

Measurable Impact: Anakaren’s impact is clearly measurable. Her work has resulted in increased social media reach, and improved communication strategies that have benefited students and families in the communities she has served. Her ability to produce quarterly metric reports demonstrates her dedication to tracking and improving communication efforts so that energy and resources are focused on impact.

Anakaren’s dedication to her work and her unwavering commitment to effective communication make her an exceptional candidate for the National School Communicator of the Year award. Her ability to navigate complex situations, build strong relationships, and deliver impactful results is truly commendable. CalSPRA is incredibly proud to see Anakaren receiving this well-deserved recognition.