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Director of EMS Education Foundation & Community Partnerships Earns State Honor
Published Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Pictured above from left to right: Ally Surface with TSPRA officers and EMS ISD Superintendent, Dr. Jim F. Chadwell. Ally Surface speaks at the TSPRA conference. Ally Surface with her husband and sons.
Ally Surface, Director of EMS Education Foundation and Community Partnerships, was awarded the Partner in Public Education Award by the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) at the TSPRA Annual Conference on February 23 in Denton.
The award is given to an individual or organization outside of the TSPRA membership who has made significant contributions to the cause of public education and/or the profession with actions and/or contributions complementing the mission of TSPRA.
Surface has made significant contributions to the cause of public education through her work as Director of the Education Foundation and Community Partnerships as well as during more than 15 years prior in various leadership positions. She has served with the PTA, including holding leadership positions at the campus and district levels, including serving as district Council of PTAs president and collaborating with Texas PTA. She also takes the time to visit classrooms and volunteer time with students reading as a local celebrity reader, and has even been known to dress in character.
She is or has been a member of the Texas Education Foundation Network, the National School Foundation Association, and Community for Non Profit Management. She serves on numerous non-profit boards, all with an emphasis on creating an environment and culture where children can reach their greatest potential. Her work includes service with Community Link Mission, PTA, and PTO.
In addition, she raised money and volunteered her time for communitywide projects such as organizing events to benefit an all-inclusive accessible playground, advocated in the state capitol for public education, encouraging others to vote, serving on a local news station’s election/voting information panel, and ensuring that local students and families in need have been fed and provided with necessities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She also created and leads a community partnership group consisting of community church leaders, city officials, school officials, and business/organization leaders to benefit students.
Surface is a tireless advocate for public education and the scope of her work impacts not only those in the EMS ISD community but also public school children and educators across Texas. She is an effective liaison who insists on engaging parents and community for the benefit of children and constantly works to increase awareness and information among parents about the value of their child’s education.
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