This story was originally published for the Sylva Herald
Jackson County School District is golden. They won nine Gold and one Silver awards for outstanding communications in 3 categories of digital media engagement, photography, and electronic media. David Proffitt, Jackson County Public School Chief of Communications, is the man who contributed the most to this success.
The North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) announced the winners on their annual Blue Ribbon Ceremony on Feb. 5.
Ken Derksen, The President of NCSPRA, congratulated the recipients for their excellent work that reflects communication programs across the county in a Feb. 23 press release for Jackson County Public Schools.
“Blue Ribbon Awards are among the highest and most prestigious honors that a member of our organization can attain,” Derksen said. “I congratulate Jackson County Public Schools for achieving this statewide recognition and for the superior work being accomplished in the area of school communications.”
Proffitt was very proud of the role he played in developing a successful communications program. Proffitt’s education in communications
contributed to the establishment of this program from a one-man position and while this is a new role for him, his time with JCPS dates back almost three decades.
“This is my 32nd year with Jackson County Schools, but this is really a new position. So, I have been in this position (Chief of Communications) for 2 years now… Most of the school districts that have a communications position are the larger districts and they’ll usually have a whole department, so I’m a one man show here,” Proffitt said in a zoom interview.
Proffitt served as the director of technology under JCPS for 16 years and is the first ever Chief of Communications for JCPS. He also explained how he managed to pave his own way in the professional world with his college education and how it has benefitted his career.
“My bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina was in radio/television… Back then, you would go work at a TV or Radio Station … But I never worked it, so right out of college I went to work for the school system.”
This paid off well in the annual Blue Ribbon Award Ceremony this year where Proffitt said the JCPS communications program received “two awards in photography, one for digital media engagement, and seven awards for electronic media” which Proffitt said is “basically video.”
Proffitt further explained how this new position has brought him back to doing what he thought he was going to do for a profession originally and how it benefits him now.
“I’ve kept up with technology and all that. And the concepts are all the same, you know when you make a video, the concepts of exposure and composition. They are all the same, it’s just a whole lot easier than it was. So that is what I like to do, and I have been able to do that in this position.” Proffitt explained.
Proffitt credited his photography skills to his mentor, Mark Haskett, who was the head photographer for Western Carolina University.
“He actually helps me periodically and kind of taught me still (life) photography which I have grown to love, and you know was a category that we received a couple of awards in.”
Proffitt believes that the quality of work coming from the district office “says something about the standard that we set.” Proffitt further explained that even in the school system, there is still competition between “charter schools, private schools, church schools etc.”
For more information on the Blue Ribbon Awards Ceremony and its recipients visit
