Meet the Next Steward of the InspirED Brilliance Awards

When we announced our retirement, one question came up again and again:

"What will happen to the InspirED Brilliance Awards?"

The answer mattered deeply to us because these awards have always been about more than recognizing great marketing. They celebrate the creativity, passion, and dedication of the professionals who help schools tell their stories.

Finding the right steward for the Brilliance Awards was one of the most important decisions we would make. We wanted someone who shares our values, understands this community, and is committed to protecting the integrity of the awards for years to come.

We are delighted to announce that Aubrey Bursch will become the next steward of the InspirED Brilliance Awards.

Many of you know Aubrey through Easy School Marketing, the Small School Leaders Conference, and the Mindful School Marketing Podcast. She has spent her career connecting school leaders, supporting school marketers, and celebrating the incredible work happening across independent schools. She has also served as a Brilliance Awards judge for several years and has seen firsthand the impact these awards have on individuals, teams, and schools.

To preserve the independence and integrity of the awards, Aubrey has established them as a separate organization guided by an Advisory Board of respected school leaders and industry experts. Together, they will help ensure the Brilliance Awards continue to recognize excellence with fairness, transparency, and the same spirit that has defined them from the beginning.

We couldn't be more excited for this next chapter and are grateful to know the Brilliance Awards are in caring, capable hands.

The Brilliance Awards open September 4, 2026 — stay tuned! We hope you'll enter.

⭐You are brilliant.⭐

Liza & Rob