Classified Administrator of the Year

Director, Public Relations and Communications Services
Riverside County Office of Education

Craig Petinak doesn’t just work for the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) and the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools. His work has a ripple effect across all 23 districts in the county that uplifts the excellence and heart within public education.

Now in his 10th year at RCOE, Craig’s human-centered work blends the creative and strategic with the tactical and timely. From crisis communications and authoring press releases, to leading video productions and crafting internal newsletters, Craig also supports the school public relations professionals within each district to help them elevate their own schools, students, programs, and communications expertise.

With his award-winning team of creative designers, communicators, and video producers, Craig is an unofficial chief storyteller for the transformational impact of education on the lives of individuals, the community, and society as a whole.

Craig's Message

Bob Burg once said, “Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first.”

The swiveling of this spotlight around to shine on my team, and our collective efforts, fundamentally conflicts with my approach of humbly lifting up those around me every single day. None of these accolades happen without an award-winning team that is as focused on the work, as we are on helping each other succeed. Thank you for bringing the best of yourselves to work every day and helping me to do the same.

I’d like to thank the mentors in my life who have inspired me to keep growing, the three county superintendents who have given me the opportunity to raise the bar for communications within the organization and the county, and my family of educators for encouraging me to give of myself and my God-given gifts to elevate all those around me.