Communications Specialist/Event Coordinator (Educator Recognition)

Illinois State Board of Education; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 3,200 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

Illinois State Board of Education is seeking a Communications Specialist/Event Coordinator (Educator Recognition) to plan and execute the state’s Teacher of the Year and Those Who Excel Awards programs. This role manages nominations, scoring, and a 1,000-person awards banquet, coordinating with vendors, sponsors, and stakeholders across Illinois.

The position requires superb writing, project management, and event logistics skills, plus light travel to conferences and events.

Qualifications

• Two years of relevant experience (in addition to education requirements) in large-scale event planning, production, and project management.
• Knowledge of large-scale event planning.
• Knowledge of project management, database management, volunteer management and event management best practices.
• Knowledge of awards management software.
• Knowledge of communications/public relations principles.
• Skilled in organization and attention to detail.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Skilled in content creation for digital and print communications, social media management, and some graphic design.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, coordinate diverse stakeholders, and communicate effectively with internal and external audiences.
• Skilled in the creation and utilization of spreadsheets, event databases, and project-tracking tools.

Responsibilities

• Provides Communications and Public Relations support for the Communications department and agency initiatives, including drafting and editing talking points, remarks, press releases, newsletters, web content, social media content, and other communications materials.
• Assists in developing and implementing communications strategies to promote agency programs, events, priorities, and accomplishments.
• Supports content planning, storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and digital communications efforts across multiple platforms.
• Collaborates with Communications staff and program areas to ensure messaging is accurate, timely, and aligned with agency goals.
• Thinks creatively about opportunities to enhance the effectiveness, reach, and impact of Agency communications, educator recognition programs, events, and related initiatives.
• Plans and executes the annual 1,000-person Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel Awards banquet, overseeing and directing all event logistics, including save-the-dates, invitations, marketing collateral materials, web content and updates, guest list and RSVP management, communication with attendees, following the agency's procurement processes to purchase necessary materials, décor and signage, refreshments, entertainment, programming and event run-of-show, and event set-up and breakdown.
• Solicits and manages vendors, volunteers, and stakeholders in the administration and staffing of the event.
• Supports the Communications leadership in following the agency's fiscal processes for budget management, purchasing supplies, travel, and event planning.
• Plans and administers ISBE’s Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel program, including facilitating nominations and applications of outstanding educators across the state.
• Establishes a program timeline and manages the completion of program milestones.
• Solicits and manages volunteers and stakeholders to review and score applications in the agency's online awards management platform.
• Plan and executes other events for ISBE’s Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel Program, including but not limited to surprise virtual calls to each of the Teacher of the Year finalists, a reception for the Teacher of the Year finalist cohort, and a surprise media event for the announcement of the State Teacher of the Year.
• Manages the solicitation of nominations and the coordination and drafting of application packets for additional awards programs, including the Governor’s Blue Ribbon School Awards, Milken Educator Awards and the U.S. Department of Education's Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Awards.
• Provides support to the Teacher of the Year during their paid state sabbatical year, answering questions and supporting the submission of their application packet to the National Teacher of the Year Program.
• Liaises with the Illinois State Teachers of the Year (ILSTOY) Organization.
• Provides support to the Illinois Teacher Advisory Group (ITAG).
• Travels as needed to attend conferences and events for the National Teacher of the Year Program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Event planning

Project management

Communications

Public relations

Budget management

Vendor management

Volunteer management

Content creation

Organization

Written communication

Tools

Awards management software

Job description

Communications Specialist/Event Coordinator ( Educator Recognition) (Principal Consultant #16)

Inventory #

16

Location

Springfield or Chicago

Union

IFSOE

Department

Public Relations

Anticipated Starting Salary Range

$64,322 - $81,284

Full Salary Range

$64,322 - $109,467

Office Hours

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Posted Date

October 7, 2026

Closing Date

Reporting to the Press Secretary/Supervisor, the Communications Specialist/Event Coordinator ( Educator Recognition) plans and executes several awards programs and events that recognize and honor exemplary Illinois educators. In particular, the Event/Project Coordinator administers the agency's Teacher of the Year and Those Who Excel Awards program: facilitating the receipt, scoring, and final selection of applications of outstanding educators across the state, and planning the 1,000-person annual Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel Awards banquet. The Communications Specialist/Event Coordinator, educator recognition is also responsible for other Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel events and programming and for the state's nominations to the RISE Awards and Milken Educator Awards. This role requires excellent event planning and project management skills, including the ability to define project milestones and deadlines and to coordinate both internal and external contractors, vendors, and stakeholders to meet event and project goals and expectations. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in managing multiple projects simultaneously and in administering large-scale events, such as banquets, conferences, and press events. The Communications Specialist/Event Coordinator will demonstrate superior organizational skills and will balance creativity with logistics. They will be able to keep calm and clear-headed while working toward deadlines. They will excel at balancing big-picture goals with small details, effectively utilizing time, resources, and personnel to stage enjoyable, well-executed events. The Communications Specialist/ Event Coordinator will have superior writing and editing ability in order to support the drafting and submission of various awards nomination packets and communications materials promoting the agency's events and programming. In addition to responsibilities related to educator recognition, they will serve as a member of the Communications team and support a variety of communications initiatives, including, but not limited to, copy editing, developing talking points, contributing to newsletters, creating social media content, assisting with graphic design projects, and supporting other communications and public relations activities as needed. Light travel is required to attend educator recognition events, award announcements, conferences, and related agency activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides Communications and Public Relations support for the Communications department and agency initiatives, including drafting and editing talking points, remarks, press releases, newsletters, web content, social media content, and other communications materials.
• Assists in developing and implementing communications strategies to promote agency programs, events, priorities, and accomplishments.
• Supports content planning, storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and digital communications efforts across multiple platforms.
• Collaborates with Communications staff and program areas to ensure messaging is accurate, timely, and aligned with agency goals.
• Thinks creatively about opportunities to enhance the effectiveness, reach, and impact of Agency communications, educator recognition programs, events, and related initiatives.
• Plans and executes the annual 1,000-person Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel Awards banquet, overseeing and directing all event logistics, including save-the-dates, invitations, marketing collateral materials, web content and updates, guest list and RSVP management, communication with attendees, following the agency's procurement processes to purchase necessary materials, décor and signage, refreshments, entertainment, programming and event run-of-show, and event set-up and breakdown.
• Solicits and manages vendors, volunteers, and stakeholders in the administration and staffing of the event.
• Supports the Communications leadership in following the agency's fiscal processes for budget management, purchasing supplies, travel, and event planning.
• Plans and administers ISBE’s Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel program, including facilitating nominations and applications of outstanding educators across the state.
• Establishes a program timeline and manages the completion of program milestones.
• Solicits and manages volunteers and stakeholders to review and score applications in the agency's online awards management platform.
• Plan and executes other events for ISBE’s Teacher of the Year & Those Who Excel Program, including but not limited to surprise virtual calls to each of the Teacher of the Year finalists, a reception for the Teacher of the Year finalist cohort, and a surprise media event for the announcement of the State Teacher of the Year.
• Manages the solicitation of nominations and the coordination and drafting of application packets for additional awards programs, including the Governor’s Blue Ribbon School Awards, Milken Educator Awards and the U.S. Department of Education's Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Awards.
• Provides support to the Teacher of the Year during their paid state sabbatical year, answering questions and supporting the submission of their application packet to the National Teacher of the Year Program.
• Liaises with the Illinois State Teachers of the Year (ILSTOY) Organization.
• Provides support to the Illinois Teacher Advisory Group (ITAG).
• Travels as needed to attend conferences and events for the National Teacher of the Year Program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Two years of relevant experience (in addition to education requirements) in large-scale event planning, production, and project management.
• Knowledge of large-scale event planning.
• Knowledge of project management, database management, volunteer management and event management best practices.
• Knowledge of awards management software.
• Knowledge of communications/public relations principles.
• Skilled in organization and attention to detail.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Skilled in content creation for digital and print communications, social media management, and some graphic design.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, coordinate diverse stakeholders, and communicate effectively with internal and external audiences.
• Skilled in the creation and utilization of spreadsheets, event databases, and project-tracking tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in communications, public relations, content development, or related communications functions.