Issuu

THANKYOUTO

Booth

SEMINAREXPERIENCE MAKETHEMOSTOFYOUR

TIPSFORSUCCESS

here to learn, connect and grow and we're here to help you make it count.

STEPOUTSIDEYOURCOMFORTZONE.

Attend a session outside your specialty area or comfort zone You never know where your next great idea will come from!

CONNECTWITHSOMEONENEW.

Introduce yourself to someone you don't know Build your network and exchange ideas; you're not alone in the work you do

EXPLORETHEMARKETPLACE.

Visit exhibitors, discover new solutions and gather resources that can help you and your district communicate even more effectively.

SHAREIDEASANDINSIGHTS.

Engage in conversations during sessions, roundtables and breaks Your perspective matters, and someone else could benefit from it.

CAPTUREIDEAS.TAKEACTION.

Identify three ideas you’ll implement when you return home. Small actions today can lead to lasting impact in your schools and communities

Leave Inspired. Make an Impact.

You are a powerful voice for your schools and communities. Thank you for all you do!

PLAN AHEAD

Review the schedule, build your personal plan and leave room for surprises.

BE PRESENT

Put away distractions and be fully engaged in the experience

BALANCE YOUR TIME

Mix learning with networking and relaxation you'll recharge and gain more

STAY INFORMED

Check the Seminar app and signage for the latest updates and room changes

MAKE IT YOUR OWN

There's no one right way to experience Seminar. Explore what interests you, make meaningful connections and create an experience that works for you

Thank You, LASPRA Members!

A very special thank you to our wonderful New Orleans hosts from the Louisiana SPRA chapter including the host chapter committee and the entire LASPRA Executive Board Thanks for the warm Louisiana welcome! You're

CONFERENCE

REGISTRATION

Grand Salon/Grand Ballroom Foyer - Floor 1

Sat: 12 - 5 p.m.

Sun: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Mon: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tue: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wed: 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Pick up your name badge, badge ribbons and more.

GETSTARTED

MEMBER CENTER

Churchill Ballroom - Floor 2 (In the Marketplace)

Mon: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Tue: 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Whether you're a longtime member or new to NSPRA, the Member Center is your place to ask questions, explore resources, connect with staff, pick up free “I ❤ Public Schools” pennants and win prizes in the new “Unlock the Connection” member game

ALSO IN THE MARKETPLACE! MARKETPLACE

Churchill Ballroom - Floor 2

Visit with exhibitors offering tools and services to strengthen your district’s communication efforts Learn about the latest innovations and connect with representatives who can help you find the right solutions for your schools.

Mon: 7:30am -3:30pm Litebitesat7:30a.m.and11:45a.m.

BOOKSTORE

Churchill Ballroom - Floor 2 (In the Marketplace)

HOURS - BOOK SIGNINGS

Mon: 11:50 a.m., 1:30 p.m. Tue: 12:20 p.m.

Buy your favorite school PR gear: ROAD2NSPRA Seminar T-shirts NSPRA fleece pullovers, socks and Bolt plushies School PR totes and water bottles And explore industry books, including titles authored by Seminar speakers. PLUS, check out the Book Bargain Bin!

All Seminar attendees must observe the Seminar Code of Conduct CONDUCT

Tue: 7:30a.m.-3p.m. Litebitesat7:30a.m.and12:15p.m. nspra.org/SeminarConduct

QUIET ROOM

Boardroom - Floor 3

This low-sensory room offers a peaceful environment for anyone who needs a moment to recharge

Private space will be available at the Seminar host hotel for anyone who needs a quiet, comfortable place to pump or nurse. Stop by registration for the keys.

FOCUSAREAS SESSION

An icon before the title of a session denotes the general focus area of the session as indicated below. Each focus area designation is based on information submitted by the presenter(s), and a session may cover a broader perspective.

Floor3

YOGA

ST.JAMES BALLLROOM FULTON

PARISH NSPRA2026 PROGRAM SPACES

BOURBON BOARDROOM

QUIETROOM Breezeway andPool

On your mobile device, navigate to guidebook.com/space/nspra

Download the app via the App Store or Google Play.

Where prompted, enter your email:

Email you registered with for NSPRA 2026

An email with a login link will be sent.

When prompted, reenter:

Complete your profile and download the NSPRA 2026 guide.

Visit the Registration Desk onsite for assistance.

EXECUTIVEBOARD NSPRA

KellyWachel,APR President

JuliaBurgos VicePresidentatLarge forEngagement

TerriMcHugh,APR NorthCentralRegion VicePresident

HeidiVega,APR Immediate PastPresident

MonicaLester,APR NortheastRegion VicePresident

JakePotter,APR SouthCentralRegion VicePresident

JanineThorn VicePresidentfor DiversityEngagement

Dr.JenniferCruz VicePresidentatLarge -Superintendents

AndrewRobinson MideastRegion VicePresident

DavidBeil NorthwestRegion VicePresident

KateCrowder SoutheastRegion VicePresident

ChristyMcGee,APR SouthwestRegion VicePresident

CANDIDATES MEETTHE

Ifaraceisuncontested,theExecutiveBoardmayaffirmthecandidateby acclamationduringtheAnnualMeetingattheNSPRA2026NationalSeminar inJuly Allcandidatesforofficein2026arerunninguncontested

TermsfornewlyelectedboardmemberswillbeginonOctober1,2026

CAMPBELL

for

CLARK, APR SHAYLA CANNADY, PH.D.

SCHOEMER

Scan this QR code or visit nspra org/News/four-candidates-seek-election-to-nspra-executive-board-1 to learn more about the candidates

Sunday,July19

1-2:30p.m.

GrandBallroomD(Floor1).

Regional vice president candidates will speak during their respective Regional Colleague connections meetings: (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX) CURTIS

The candidates for president-elect and vice president for diversity engagement will address attendees at the Annual Meeting and Celebration of Achievement

Sunday,July19 4-5p.m.

TRANSCRIPTS REALTIME

QRcodeslistedbelowlinktoreal-time,AI-generatedaudioortranscriptsofthepresentationsthroughWordly. Bringyourowndeviceandheadphonestolisteninorreadalongwiththepresentationcontent.

Fulton Grand Ballroom ABC

Grand Ballroom D

Grand Salon 3-6

Grand Salon 7-10

Grand Salon 9-12

Grand Salon 13-16

Grand Salon 15-18

Grand Salon 19-22

IfyouregisteredfortheFULLNSPRA2026National Seminarasanon-member,thatmeansyou’vealready paidtheadditional$200non-memberrate.

SCHEDULE SEMINAR

12 - 5 pm

Registration

JULY 18

GrandSalon/GrandBallroom Foyer(Floor1)

PRE-SEMINAR WORKSHOPS

7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Registration

GrandSalon/GrandBallroom Foyer(Floor1)

8 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Pre Seminarworkshopsrequireseparateregistrationand a ditionalfee.

9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

NSPRA Academy for Crisis Communications

- Applying Strategy in a Live Simulation

Prince of Wales (Floor 2)

Chapter Leaders Meeting and Breakfast

8 a m - 12 p m

Rick Kaufman, APR, Bloomington Public Schools, Minn.

NSPRA Academy for New Professionals

Parish (Floor 3)

Melissa McConnell, NSPRA, Kan.

9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Family and Community Engagement

Churchill A2 (Floor 2)

Patricia Weinzapfel, Ind.

1 p.m.

Leading a Communications Team

Churchill A2 (Floor 2)

Danielle Airey, APR, Peoria Unified School District, Ariz

1 - 5 p.m.

Managing High-Stakes Media Inquiries

Churchill A1 (Floor 2)

Lesley Bruinton, APR, Ala.; John Huddleston, Ala.; and Todd Jaeger, J.D., Ariz

TNER POWER SESSION

tner Power sessions are not included with Seminar gistration; separate, advanced registration is required.

Lead Unreasonably: Branding, Marketing and Hospitality That Sets Your District Apart

Grand Salon 7 & 10 CESO Communications

1 2:30 p.m.

Annual Meeting and Celebration of Achievement

St. James Ballroom (Floor 3) 2:45 - 3:45 p m

Room: Grand Ballroom D (Floor 1) esiding: Kelly Wachel, APR, NSPRA President

How to Make the Most of Your First NSPRA Seminar

Grand Ballroom D (Floor 1)

Mary Helen Downey, Rapides Parish School Board, La., and Holly Holland, Calcasieu Parish School Board, La Sponsored by AnswerQuest

Programming with Purpose: A Step-by-Step Blueprint for a High-Value Chapter PD Calendar M

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

Trinette Marquis, APR, California SPRA Chapter

REGIONAL AND SUPERINTENDENT

CONNECTIONS

4 - 5 p m

Regional Colleague Connections - Mideast

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

Leader: Andrew Robinson, NSPRA Mideast Region VP D.C., Ind., Ky., Md., Mich., Ohio, Va., W.Va.

Regional Colleague Connections - North Central

Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1)

Leader: Terri McHugh, APR, NSPRA North Central Region VP Ill., Iowa, Minn., Neb., N.D., S.D., Wis., Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario

Regional Colleague Connections - Northeast

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

Leader: Monica Lester, APR, NSPRA Northeast Region VP Conn., Del., Maine, Mass., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Penn., R.I., Vt., New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Eastern ON, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Regional Colleague Connections - Northwest

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Leader: David Beil, NSPRA Northwest Region VP Alaska, Idaho, Mont., Ore., Wash., Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Regional Colleague Connections - South Central

Grand Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

Leader: Jake Potter, APR, NSPRA South Central Region VP Ark., Kan., La., Mo., Okla., Texas

Regional Colleague Connections - Southeast

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

Leader: Kate Crowder, NSPRA Southeast Region VP Ala., Fla., Ga., Miss., N.C., S C., Tenn., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Regional Colleague Connections - Southwest

Grand Salon 13 & 16 (Floor 1)

Leader: Christy McGee, APR, NSPRA Southwest Region VP Ariz., Calif., Colo., Ha., Nev., N.M., Utah, Wyo

Colleague Connections - Superintendents

Fulton (Floor 3)

Leader: Dr. Jennifer Cruz, NSPRA VP at LargeSuperintendents

6:30 - 8:30 p m

Opening Reception

SKILL SESSIONS

Federal Advocacy 101: How to Communicate Federal Education Issues to Your Community

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1) Julie Feasel, Consortium of State School Boards Associations

From Decline to Destination: How DeSoto ISD Reduced Enrollment Loss From 16% to 2% in Four Years

Grand Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1) anie Blackmon-Jones and Usamah Rodgers, DeSoto ISD, as

From Messenger to Strategist: How Communications Can Lead AI Integration in School Districts

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

Ricardo Carlos, Rialto Unified School District, Calif

Fillin’ Seats & Feedin’ Futures: A Cajun Recipe for Enrollment Growth in the Age of School Choice (Product Demo)

Churchill B2 (Floor 2) In the Marketplace

10 - 11:45 a.m.

Lifting School Voices Through Agile Communication and AI: Building What Stakeholders Need, Not Just What’s Planned

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

Amanda Materre-Banks, Ed.D., BrighterCogs, Texas

Making Money Make Sense: Creative Strategies for Telling Your School Finance Story

General Session

GrandBallroom (Floor1) sponsored by 2026NationalSchool CommunicatoroftheYear Honoring All Chapters’ Nominees, NSPRA FinalistsandWinner

St. James Ballroom (Floor 3)

Debbie Brewster, Wisconsin School Public Relations Association, Wis., and Emily DeBaker, Racine Unified School District, Wis

RealMatters: BuildingTrustinanUnrealWorld MarianaAtencio,KeynoteSpeaker, Peabody Award-Winning JournalistandBestselling Author

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Tailoring Community Engagement for Real Impact

Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1)

Raquel Williams, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Colo

Partnerships Helped Us Turn Bond Failure into a Massive Success

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

Kevin Dudley and Theresa Tanner, Spokane Public Schools, Wash.

When Social Media Strikes: Supporting Staff in the Age of Online Criticism

Grand Salon 13 & 16 (Floor 1)

Marci Orr, APR, Mexico School District #59, Mo

9:30 - 10 a.m.

DocAccess - Making District Documents

Accessible Without the Headache (Product Demo)

Churchill B1 (Floor 2) In the Marketplace

Taylor Gordon

Product Demos BREAK

HollyBrooker DirectorofCommunity Relations UlsterBOCES

NewYorkSchoolPublic RelationsAssociation

CeliHaga,APR ChiefofStaffandExecutive DirectorofStrategic Communications

EasternCarverCountySchools

MinnesotaSchoolPublic RelationsAssociation

2026 NATIONAL SCHOOL COMMUNICATOR OF THEYEARFinalists!

LoriPerlow PublicInformationOfficer HaddonTownshipSchool DistrictCommunication Consortium

NewJerseySchoolPublic RelationsAssociation

THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE GENERAL SESSION

ToveTupper,APR ChiefCommunications Officer

HighlinePublicSchools

WashingtonSchoolPublic RelationsAssociation

Monday, July 20, at 10 a.m. GRAND BALLROOM (FLOOR 1)

HEAR FROM ALL FOUR FINALISTS AT THE NATIONAL SCHOOL COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS PANEL DISCUSSION

Monday, July 20, at 2:15 p.m. Grand Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

Scan to explore the complete list of 2026 School Communicator of the Year honorees representing NSPRA chapters nationwide nspra.org/SCOY

11:45 a m - 2 p m

Networking Lunch BREAK

Churchill (Floor 2) Light bites in the Marketplace; view menu

12 - 1:30 p m

Superintendents’ Luncheon by invitation only

GrandSalon3&6(Floor1)

Keynote:LaurieDent,PhD,2026BobGrossmanLeadership inSchoolCommunicationsAwardWinnerandSuperintendent, Sumner-BonneyLakeSchoolDistrict,Wash

Recognizing2026honorees

JOB-ALIKE NETWORKING

Find Your People

DuringtheNetworkingLunchBreak Dropin, andgrowyourprofessionalnetwork. join the conversation,

MONDAY, JULY 20 12 - 2 P.M.

At the Member Center (in the Marketplace - Churchill Floor 2)

Connect with peers who share your role, your challenges and your goals.

12-12:20p.m.

CommunicationsDirectorsand Leaders

12:25-12:45p.m.

TeamofOne/SmallDistrict Communicators

12:50-1:10p.m.

DigitalMediaandSocialMedia Professionals

1:15-1:35p.m.

Videography,Photographyand ContentCreators

1:40-2:00p.m.

SharedServiceAgencies(BOCES, ESA,IU,CountyOffices)

12:15 - 12:55 p.m.

From Listening to Legitimacy: Engineering Trust Through Voice Infrastructure

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1) Dana Cave

Level Up: Fixing the Communication Systems Frustrating Your Families

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1) Greg Turchetta

1:05 - 1:45 p.m.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS SESSIONS

Jazzing Up District Communications: Finding Your Rhythm Across Every Channel Re-Engaging Lapsed Volunteers for Long-Term Retention I USTRY INSIGHTS SESSIONS

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1) Lindsey Fowlkes

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1) Mark Hopwood

NSPRA’s year-round series of webinars helps school communicators grow their skills, build connections and lead with confidence anytime, anywhere. All designed for you. All included with your NSPRA membership.

MEMBER MONDAY

Monthlyfacilitated conversationson timelytopics,real challengesand practicalsolutions

K12PRCHAT

Monthlypeer-topeerchatsto shareideas,ask questionsand learnfromschool communicators acrossthe country.

LEADERS

LEARN Virtualpanel discussionswith communication leadersand expertson relevant educationissues.

Practical communication tactics,tipsand bestpractices sharedthrough real-worlddistrict examples PR

POWER HOUR

All offerings are virtual, on-demand and included in your NSPRA membership, making it easy to learn, connect and grow on your schedule

Hands-on sessionsfocused ondigitaltools, platformsand workflowsthat supportschool communication work. MINI LABS

Download the 2026-27 Professional Development guide. Supportedby

NSPRA members also receive discounts on National Seminar registration, NSPRA Academy tracks, NSPRA Studio sessions, professional development programs and more!

Learn more at nspra.org/ProfessionalDevelopment

Pre-recorded learningbursts thatzoominon onepracticaltool, platform,or communication workflow * MICRO LABS

2:15 - 3:15 p.m.

SKILL SESSIONS

National School Communicator of the Year

Finalists Panel Discussion

G d Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

Moderator:

Beyond the West Wing: The Strategic Value of a School District Chief of Staff

F on (Floor 3)

Coty Kuschinsky, Saginaw Intermediate School District, Mich.

Creating a Shared Vision: The Process Behind Our Strategic Plan

Cindy Warner,APR,2025 NSPRA School Communicatorof theYear

Panelists:

Holly Brooker,UlsterBOCES,NY

and Salon 13 & 16 (Floor 1)

ee Bunch-Boney, Ed.D., Fallon Graham, Ed.D., and Maranda Hall-Bell, Ed.D., Chesapeake Public Schools, Va.

Data Without the Dread: Telling the Story of Your Digital School Communications

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

Mia Murphy and Amber Parker, North Carolina Virtual Public School, N.C.

CeliHaga,APR,EasternCarverCounty Schools,Minn LoriPerlow,HaddonTownship School District,N.J. ToveTupper,APR,HighlinePublicSchools,Wash

Elevating Accessibility for Multilingual Audiences Through Cultural Communication

Grand Ballroom B (Floor 1)

oria Martinez and Raj Rai, APR, San Juan Unified School District, Calif

Neighbors by Chance, Partners by Crisis: School PR in Times of Staff Misconduct

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

Jill Browning, APR, Community High School District 99, Ill.; and Anna Gonzales and Todd Mielcarz, West Aurora School District 129, Ill

Pocket to Pro: Photography that Grows with You

Grand Ballroom D (Floor 1)

Danielle Evans, Ascension Parish Public Schools, La.

Escape the Content Chaos: 3 Keys to Unlocking Clear Website Content

Grand Ballroom C (Floor 1)

Monica Agudelo, Chesapeake Public Schools, Va

Small Team, Big Support: Making Consultants Work for You in a OnePerson Communications Office

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

From Listening to Leading: How Student Town Halls Are Transforming Engagement, Belonging and Decision-Making

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Joan Sahlgren, Loudoun County Public Schools, Va.

More Than Memos: Building Culture Through Strategic Internal Communications

and Ballroom A (Floor 1)

Elena Olmstead, Educational Service District 123, Wash.

The Impact of AI on Your Digital Content and Online Search (SEO)

and Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1)

Chelsea Janke, CEL Marketing PR Design, Minn.

Adam Breen and Shawn Tennenbaum, Ed.D., San Benito High School District, Calif., and Emily F. Popek, APR, Nichols Strategies, Calif 4:45 p.m.

Mitchell Roush, Grand Island Public Schools, Neb 3 3:30 p m

Calibrating Creativity - Equipping Your [Small] Team to be the Best Storytellers Without Burning Out

Grand Ballroom D (Floor 1)

Changing for Good (News): Defying the Traditional Divide to Build Lasting Media Partnerships

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

BriAna Wycoff, Lincoln Public Schools, Neb

Culturally Responsive Communication and Newcomer Engagement: Using the Welcome to ACPS Toolkit and Home Visits

Grand Ballroom B (Floor 1)

Julia Burgos, APR, and Krishna Leyva, Alexandria City Public Schools, Va

Verified: Fighting for Trust in a Sea of Speculation

Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1) x Wolff, Pelham Union Free School District, N.Y

Words That Work: Messaging to Build Trust and Unite Communities Around The Public Education Promise

Grand Salon 13 & 16 (Floor 1)

Shane Haggerty, APR, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Va.

TUESDAY, JULY 21

Flipping the 80/20: How Hybrid Human + AI Workflows Supercharge School Communications

7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Registration

GrandSalon/GrandBallroom Foyer(Floor1)

Grand Ballroom C (Floor 1)

Elizabeth Graswich, Ed.D., Los Angeles County Office of Education, Calif., and Drew Mathias, Heartfelt Strategy, Calif

From “Take What You Get” to Strategic Ask: Building a Case for Your PR Budget

Grand Ballroom A (Floor 1)

Elizabeth Domite, Rapides Parish School Board, La

Marketplace, NSPRA Member Center and NSPRA Bookstore Hours

7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Churchill (Floor 2)

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Bagels and Belonging Breakfast featuring lite bites

Churchill (Floor 2) In the Marketplace

Power in Partnership: How an ESC Led a Countywide Public Schools Week Campaign That Lifted Every District’s Voice

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

Amanda Rice, Butler County Education Service Center, Ohio

Storytelling That Puts Money Back into the Classroom

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

Jennifer McClain and Lucha Ramey, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp., Ind.

The Clock Is Ticking: Building Your District’s Digital Accessibility Plan

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Jillian Aykens, CESA 6, Wis

Trauma-Informed Leadership: A Playbook for School PR Pros and School Leaders

Grand Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

Rick J. Kaufman, APR, Bloomington Public Schools, Minn.

8 9:30 a.m.

L SESSIONS

Conversations at Scale: Why Your Surveys Are Failing and How We Fixed It

Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1)

Rich Stowell, Alpine School District, Utah, and Babatunde Ilori, Parsec Education, Calif

Elevating Education Together: Highlighting the Collective Impact of Northern Kentucky Public Schools with the First Regional Accountability Scorecard

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

Candace Gibson, Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services, Ky.

From Viral to Survival: How One School Division Turned a Viral Negative Moment Into Transformative Change M

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Chelsea Vongehr, Petersburg City Public Schools, Va., and Brendan Williams-Kief, Georgetown Public Affairs, D C

A joint AASA and NSPRA professional

learning experience

Lead with clarity. Build public trust.

Elevated scrutiny. Competing expectations. Rapid misinformation. Higher stakes.

Communication isn’t a downstream function. It’s a core leadership responsibility.

Leadership for Public Trust is a joint learning experience presented by NSPRA and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, designed for school communication leaders, superintendents and district leadership teams who must lead collaboratively during critical moments.

THREE

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES. ONE POWERFUL IMPACT.

Navigating complexity, competing expectations and public trust.

Make confident decisions grounded in student needs, community context and long-term public trust.

Shaping understanding, alignment and momentum.

Build a shared narrative that reflects your purpose and advances your district’s vision.

STRONGER TOGETHER.

The experience is most impactful when superintendents and communication leaders participate together.

Leading with clarity, credibility and care under pressure.

Prepare, respond and recover in ways that protect trust and move your district forward.

Leading Together: Practical Ways Communicators Can Help Principals Build Trust and Drive Vision

Grand Ballroom C (Floor 1)

Alisha Erickson, Susannah Gentry and Amy Patton, Franklin Special School District, Tenn.

Staying, Growing and Thriving: Building a Sustainable Career in School PR

Grand Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

Jessica Hull, Roseville City School District, Calif

Stop Guessing, Start Connecting: The Role of Analytics and AI in Next Gen Communication

Grand Ballroom A (Floor 1)

Eric Hansen, Diamond Lake School District 76, Ill.

Students as Strategic Communicators: Inside Porterville USD’s Camp Create Model

Grand Ballroom B (Floor 1)

Diego Corona and Hannah Moore, Porterville Unified School District, Calif., and Jill Johnson, Ed.D., Class Intercom, N.J

CANCELLED: The Breakfast Club Effect: Empowering Storytellers from Within

Grand Ballroom D (Floor 1)

Becky Coyle and Brandon Langer, Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, Pa

The Communicator’s Guide to School District Data and Analytics

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

Adam Cibulka, ECRA Group, Ill

When Everything Goes Dark: Communicating Through a Ransomware Attack

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

Tove Tupper, APR, Highline Public Schools, Wash. 9:30 - 10 a m

Winning at the Ballot Box When It’s Harder Than Ever: Research-Based Strategies for Passing Referendums

Grand Salon 13 & 16 (Floor 1)

Annette Eyman, APR, Kordica Communications, Neb

Product Demos BREAK

Communicating Through Budget Deficits: Modern Strategies for Engagement (Product Demo)

Churchill B1 (Floor 2) In the Marketplace

Grand Salon 7 & 10

Jessica Scheckton, APR, and Alyssa Teribury, NSPRA; and Nick Kohn, Ph.D., Qualtrics

Driving Results: A RPIE-Driven Roadmap From Recruitment Crisis to Fully Staffed Bus Routes

Grand Ballroom A (Floor 1)

Marybeth Kench, Kingsport City Schools, Tenn.

From Communicator to Strategic Advisor: Leading When Trust Is on the Line

Grand Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

Jill Wagner, APR, Idea Emporium, Calif

From Crisis to Cohesion: How Strategic Communications Preserved Culture After a School Safety Scare

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Lori Buselt and Raquel Greer, Ed.D., Maize USD 266, Kan.

From Receivership to

Grand Salon 13 & 16 (Floor 1)

Henry Pettiegrew II, East Cleveland City School District, Ohio

Leading with Listening: Building Trust Through Two-Way Engagement

Grand Ballroom C (Floor 1)

Ahmad Gibson and Laurie Heinz, Community Consolidated School District 15, Ill

Branding Made Easy: Building an All-InOne Brand Portal Anyone Can Use

Grand Salon 13 & 16 (Floor 1)

Georgie McKean and Renée Roa, Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES, N.Y.

Let the Good News Rule: Use Communications to Build the District You Want

F on (Floor 3)

Amanda Ensor, Talking Points, Colo., and Patti Moon, Aurora ublic Schools, Colo

Maximizing Community Partnerships: Building Lasting Connections Between Your District and Local Businesses

Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1)

Don’t Stop Believing: The Psychology Behind School PR’s Irreplaceable Role in the Age of AI

Ana Munguia, Pasco School District, Wash.

Playful on Purpose: Creative Storytelling Strategies for School Communicators

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

Ashlee Meredith, New Kent County Public Schools, Va.

Removing Barriers at the Front Door: Using Engagement to Improve Early Registration

Grand Ballroom B (Floor 1)

Gladis Bourdouane, Alexandria City Public Schools, Va

Solo iPhone to Full Video Team: Scaling Your Video Strategy for Every Budget

and Ballroom D (Floor 1)

Janet Mann, Zionsville Community Schools, Ind., and Paul eller, Central Indiana Educational Service Center, Ind.

Three Bond Attempts, One Breakthrough: What Finally Made the Difference

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

Stacy Hawn, Bennington Public Schools, Neb

1 :15 a m

Beyond Helping Hands: Leveraging Volunteer Ambassadors to Enhance Community Engagement

Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1)

Emily Gagnon and Kate Martin, APR, Bloomington Public Schools, Minn.

Grand Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

Sondra Whalen, APR, Vernon Verona Sherrill CSD, N.Y

Families Don’t Leave Schools. They Leave Experiences. How Communications Leaders Stop Enrollment Loss and Win Trust Back

Grand Ballroom A (Floor 1)

Justin Elbert, APR, Klein ISD, Texas, and Greg Turchetta, Apptegy, Ark.

Managing Meaning: How Narrative and Storytelling Accelerate Organizational Change

and Ballroom D (Floor 1)

Shane Haggerty, APR, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Va

Not a Ghost Story: How Authentic Engagement Guided Kaukauna’s $198 Million Facilities Journey

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

anna Moody, Kaukauna Area School District, Wis.; Debbie ewster, Howick Associates, Wis.; Kit Dailey, Eppstein Uhen Architects, Wis ; and Megan Prestebak, Miron Construction, Wis

On the Record and Under Budget: Vodcasting

and Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Sonja Bailes, Jason Rowland and Andrea Schwartz, Bossier Schools, La

Seizing Social Space: How Data Improves Your School District’s Social Content M

Grand Ballroom B (Floor 1)

Maneka Monk, Bob Mosier and Meghan O'Brien, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Md.

The Best Time to Communicate About Your Finances Was Yesterday - And Every Day!

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

Justin Dearing, APR, Coley Fehringer and Julie Thannum, APR, CESO Communications, Minn.

The Future Moves with Us: Passing a Career Technical Education Referendum Six Decades in the Making

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

Ashley Kryscynski, Andrew Munson, APR, and Ryan Rowe, Washtenaw ISD, Mich.

Trust at the Roots: 5 Tips to Build a Brand on a Budget

Grand Ballroom C (Floor 1)

Carlondrea Hines and Ashley Sukhu, St. Louis Park Public Schools, Minn.

12:15 - 2:30 p m

Networking Lunch BREAK

Churchill (Floor 2) Light bites in the Marketplace; view menu

12:30 - 2 p.m.

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1) Brian Epperson

Private location, shared with NSPRA past presidents via email 1:35 - 2:1

2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

SKILL SESSIONS

Current APR Professionals Networking Luncheon Bu for INDUST

- 1:

and Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Morgan Delack and Joshua Sauer, APR

The Ripple Effect: How Misaligned Communication Undermines Engagement

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

Steven Anderson

Private location, shared with registered APRs via email Lunch sponsor Beyond the First 48 Hours: Crisis Comms When the Crisis Doesn’t End

Grand Ballroom C (Floor 1) Melissa Reese, Allentown School District, Penn.

Grand Ballroom D (Floor 1)

Shawn Jansen and Viviana Miyake, Merced Union High School District, Calif.

Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1) Diego Perez, San Mateo-Foster City School District, Calif

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

Courtney Bonfante, Monticello Central School District, N.Y

LEVEL UP YOUR IMPACT.

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

Professional learning built for every stage of your school communications career.

WHY NSPRA ACADEMY?

BUILT FOR EVERY STAGE

Programsfornewprofessionals, experiencedleaders,small districtsandmore

NEW PROFESSIONALS

Acomplete learningjourney forthose0-3 yearsinthe profession

EXPERT-LED TRAINING

Learnfromtrusted schoolPRleadersand industryprofessionals

4SIGNATURETRACKS

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Buildstrategy Drive engagement Leadwith confidence

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

Prepare,respond andleadwhenit mattersmost

ELEVATE YOUR CAREER

Gainin-demandskills andadvanceyour impactandinfluence

SMALL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS

Practical communication strategiesfor today’s superintendents

PRACTICAL LEARNING. REAL-WORLD RESULTS STRONGER TOGETHER

That’s the NSPRA Academy advantage.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

Programs designed to fit your schedule and your needs.

7 FOCUSED TRACKS

REGIONAL SERVICES

SOLO COMMUNICATOR

WORKFORCE COMMUNICATIONS

COMMUNICATION TEAM LEADERSHIP

PRINCIPALS

CUSTOMER SERVICE

FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (FACE)

Lights, Camera, Connection: Using Film to Strengthen School Communications

Grand Ballroom B (Floor 1)

Kimberly Pruitt, Saginaw Intermediate School District, Mich.

One District, One Vision: Navigating Identity Through Consolidation

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

emy Batchelor and Stacy Quinones, Youngstown City School District, Ohio

Signal Boost: Turning Campus Whispers into District Roars

Grand Ballroom A (Floor 1)

Mary Helen Downey and Jeff Powell, Rapides Parish Public Schools, La

Small Team, Big Results: Creating an Award-Winning School Magazine with AI

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

llison Bergeron, Mater Dei High School, Calif

The Ethical Compass: Making High-Stakes Decisions in School Public Relations

and Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

Lesley Bruinton, APR, School Spirit PR, Ala

The New Role of Print Media in a Digital Age

and Salon 13 & 16 (Floor 1)

ora Wilson and Kaitlin Witzberger, The Impact Group, Ohio

Throw Yourself a Lifeline: Navigating Today’s School PR Storms

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Danielle Clark, APR, Harris County Department of Education, as

Why Print Matters: Elevating School Communications Through Thoughtful Design and Professional Printing

F on (Floor 3)

Louis Petersen and Catherine Sherlock, Orange-Ulster BOCES, N.Y.

3:45 - 4 p m 4 - 5 p.m.

SKILL SESSIONS

Behind the Lens: Real World School Video That Reflects Every Voice

Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1)

Elyjah Wilbur, San Juan Unified School District, Calif

Beyond the Logo: Building a Unified District Brand Across Diverse Schools

Grand Salon 15 & 18 (Floor 1)

Kaela Lewis and Alani Morales-Paulino, Jefferson Parish Schools, La

Crisis to Clarity: Being the Calm During the Chaos

F on (Floor 3)

Karin Butyn, Ohio County Schools, W.Va.

FAMnopoly: Connecting Families, Schools, and Communities to Cultivate Student and Family Success

Grand Ballroom D (Floor 1)

laria Benton, Wanda Walker and LaSheka White, Guilford County Schools, N.C

Fear-Free Content Calendars: A Practical, Flexible Approach

Grand Salon 19 & 22 (Floor 1)

ora Meyer, APR, Slide Nine, Ohio

The Cost of “Perfect”: Why Authentic Visuals Build More Credibility Than Flawless Ones

Grand Salon 7 & 10 (Floor 1)

Shanti Clancy, Ed.S., Lincoln County Schools, N.C

The Good News Beehive: Building an Ambassador Network to Share Success Stories M

Grand Salon 21 & 24 (Floor 1)

ton Brellenthin, Albuquerque Public Schools, N.M.

Unlocking Every Narrative: Shining Light on Our Most Unique Students’ Journeys N

Grand Salon 9 & 12 (Floor 1)

Kerri Schuette, Shasta County Office of Education, Calif

Whilemanyfirmsfocusonasingle

■

■IN-HOUSEARCHITECTS&FACILITY

- 9 p m

NSPRA Awards Celebration and Dinner

TICKETREQUIRED view menu

GrandBallroom A-C(Floor1)

2026 Gold Medallion Awards Presentation

2026 Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communication Award

Recipient: Laurie Dent, Ph.D., Sumner-Bonney Lake School District, Wash.

2026 Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award

Recipient: Danielle Airey, APR, Peoria Unified School District, Ariz

2026 Presidents Award

Recipient: Trent Allen, APR, San Juan Unified School District, Calif.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22

7:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Registration

GrandSalon/GrandBallroom Foyer(Floor1)

8:30 - 9:30 a m

SKILL SESSIONS

NSPRA Micro Labs Mic Drop

Grand Ballroom A-C (Floor 1)

Inspired by NSPRA's new Micro Lab series on NSPRA Plus, this fast-paced session brings short-form learning to the Seminar stage. School communicators will each have just five minutes and one slide to share a practical tool, workflow, shortcut, or strategy you can try in your own district. Expect quick demos, fresh thinking, and real ideas you can put to work right away.

AI Translations and Captions for Meetings

Nicholas Fuentes, Wordly

Quick Hit Website Tips

Monica Agudelo, Chesapeake Public Schools, Va

Quick Hit Photography Tips

Janet Mann, Zionsville Community Schools, Ind.

Sounding Good on Camera

Chad Oliver, Collier County Public Schools, Fla

Social Media Student Intern Tips

Kari Yeagy, Hallsville School District, Mo.

AI Music Generation

Kate Crowder, Germantown Municipal School District, Tenn.

Canva Templates

Hatara Tyson, Orangeburg County School District, S.C.

Crisis Readiness

Kevin Dudley, Spokane Public Schools, Wash.

Messaging Review Tips

Raj Rai, APR, San Juan Unified School District, Calif

Enrollment Marketing Wins

Kristyn Hunt Cathey, APR, Alief ISD, Texas

2026 INDIVIDUAL

LAURIEDENT,PH.D. Superintendent Sumner-Bonney LakeSchoolDistrict(Wash.)

DANIELLEAIREY,APR ChiefCommunicationsOfficer

PeoriaUnifiedSchoolDistrict (Ariz.)

TRENTALLEN,APR ChiefofStaff

SanJuanUnifiedSchoolDistrict (Calif.)

Hearthisstoryandmoreuniquewaysleadersaremovingfrom

Schedule: Wed., July 22 (continued)

9:45 - 10:55 a m

GOLD MINE ROUNDTABLE SESSION 1

Grand Ballroom A & B (Floor 1)

Table Numbers and Topics:

GOLD MINE ROUNDTABLE SESSION 2

GrandBallroomA&B(Floor1) Sponsoredby TableNumbersandTopics:

#1 Quick Tips for Using AI to Improve Your Comms

#2 Join the Team that Drives the Future: A Regional School Bus Driver Recruitment Campaign*

#3 “Choices Are Worth It” Enrollment Marketing Campaign*

#4 Magic Starts By Showing Up Attendance Campaign*

#5 Off the Shelf and into Schools: Communicating Your District’s Strategic Plan

#6 Building Trust on a Tight Budget: Practical Strategies for One-Person Shops

#7 Turning Pages Together: Building Community By The Book

#8 Local Love, Real Stories: Social Campaigns That Build Trust and Engagement

#9 District Leadership Undercover: Our Take on “Undercover Boss” to Humanize the Superintendent

#11 Using Student Voice on Facebook to Grow Engagement

#12 HR Summit: Strengthening Leadership and Talent*

#13 Cowboys United We ARE the Choice Campaign*

#14 Our Voice, Our Safety: A Student-Driven Campaign*

#15 Walking Through Time: A Celebration of 150 Years*

#16 District-Wide Logo Rebranding Initiative*

#17 Discover Excellence: School Choice Campaign*

#18 Regional Crisis Communications Coordination to Support Students and Families*

#19 Because You Know Where the Bodies Are Buried (Figuratively): How to Transition from PR Professional to Elected School Board Member

#21 Champions for Kids: Building a Culture of Appreciation Through Weekly Staff Recognition*

#22 Attendance Matters: Your Future Starts with Attendance Campaign*

#23 TCSS U: Informing Advocates for Our Schools*

#24 2026 Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy Vote Campaign*

#25 Anytime. Anywhere. Early Literacy Media Campaign for the State of Michigan*

#26 I AM SDP District Marketing Campaign: Using Authentic Voices to Change the Public Narrative*

#27 Show and (Don’t) Tell: What Happens When You Choose Authenticity Over Perfection

#28 Take Our 2-Minute Survey! Parent Perception Survey Campaign*

#29 From Confusion to Clarity: Birth - 4 Years Enrollment Campaign*

#31 Customizing High School: LPS Focus Programs Strategic Enrollment Marketing Campaign*

#32 Power of an Exit Poll: From Setback to Success*

#33 Flight Plan 2035: Launching an Academic Vision*

#34 Grow With Us: GCS Celebration of Excellence*

#35 Choose TISD Pre-K Enrollment Campaign*

#36 Bus Driver Recruitment Campaign*

#37 Positioned to Compete: Research-Driven Hiring*

#38 CVSD Paraeducator Shortage: We’re Hiring! Campaign*

#39 Highline Education Levy Campaign*

#40 Come Together! Communication Platform Roll-Out*

#41 NSPRA Research Services: Get the Data You Need for More Strategic Communications

#42 Bond Issue Proposal: From Feedback to Progress*

#43 “Northeast Early College: More Than A High School” Enrollment Marketing Campaign*

#44 MCPSS-U: Building Advocates for Our District*

#45 School Engagement Dashboards: Turning Data into Action*

# 46 Celebrating the Denver Public Schools Experience: A Storytelling and Recruitment Campaign*

#47 The : Facts and Fiction

Note: #10, 20 and 30 OPEN in Session 2 26GoldMedallionAwardorGoldenAchievement Awardwinners

1 - 12:30 p.m.

Seminar Closing, 2027 Seminar Preview and Live Prize Drawing for a 2027 Registration

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