SchoolCEO Names Craig Maniglia Winner of 2025 Excellence in School Marketing Award

Maniglia and three other finalists were honored at Apptegy’s SchoolCEO Conference

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SchoolCEO is pleased to announce that Craig Maniglia, director of communications and government affairs at Sarasota County Schools (SCS) in Florida, has been named the recipient of its 2025 Excellence in School Marketing Award. SchoolCEO, the only marketing magazine in K-12 public education, presents the award annually to honor school communicators whose innovative work pushes the field of school marketing forward. The winner was announced at the annual SchoolCEO Conference, presented by Apptegy in Little Rock.

“Craig Maniglia not only deserves this recognition, but he also embodies it,” said SCS Marketing Manager Torie Ewald, who nominated Maniglia. “His work strengthens Sarasota County Schools' voice and, more importantly, the future of its students.”

Drawing on extensive experience in the private sector with Discovery, National Geographic, and others, Maniglia has transformed the way his community views his schools, using subtlety and saturation to shift the narrative. Even in a state with universal school choice, his groundbreaking television marketing campaign led to a 26% increase in enrollment for SCS. His work has previously been recognized with the Sunshine State School Public Relations Association’s highest honor—the Supernova Award—as well as a Gold Medallion from the National School Public Relations Association.

“Craig Maniglia’s wealth of experience in communications and marketing, both in the private sector and K-12 education, have empowered him to do truly exceptional work at Sarasota County Schools,” said Melissa Hite, editor of SchoolCEO. “We are proud to recognize his achievements, as well as those of our other outstanding finalists.”

Four other finalists for the award were also honored:

• Grace Becker, APR - Director of Marketing and Communications, Eden Prairie Schools, Minnesota
• Denyel Beiter (Public Relations Specialist) and Bridget Licata (Communications Specialist) - Lockport City Schools, New York
• Dr. Christopher Villarreal - Director of Communications, Papillion La Vista Community Schools, Nebraska

Full stories on all four finalists will appear in print and online in the Fall 2025 issue of SchoolCEO Magazine.

About SchoolCEO
SchoolCEO is a research and perspectives magazine for school superintendents, communications professionals, and other K-12 leaders. Published quarterly in print and online, it is the only magazine focused on marketing in K-12 public education. With more than 25,000 readers, SchoolCEO is leading the conversation on communications, recruitment, and branding in public education. For more information, visit www.schoolceo.com.

About Apptegy
Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Apptegy is an education technology company partnering with school districts to simplify their communication, elevate their brand and empower every role in their organizations. For more information, visit www.apptegy.com.