NebSPRA President, Kara Perchal

Telling the Story of Public Education

Dr. John Schwartz, Superintendent, Millard Public Schools

Dr. Jami Jo Thompson, Superintendent, Norfolk Public Schools

Dr. Josh Fields, Superintendent, Seward Public Schools

Promoting and sharing the message of public education is more important now than ever. Don’t miss this presentation on how to rally together and collectively spread the positive aspect of the day to day accomplishments in your public school. These Superintendents will share the story of how the campaign “Rooted in Academics Grown to Success came to be. Participants will leave this session with “how to strategies” for promoting the positive aspects of public education in your community. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to recruit employees or combat negative perceptions or simply share the positive stories from your district, this session has specific ideas for anyone to use.

Podcasting is a fun and powerful storytelling tool. Starting one, however, can be daunting. This session will unpack the reasons why now may be a good time (or not good time) to take the plunge into school district podcasting.

Building Relationships through Effective Communications
Annette Eyman, APR, Director of Communications, Papillion La Vista Community Schools

Effective communication can make or break any relationship a school or school district has with staff, parents and community. This session will walk participants through step by step how to develop a successful communication plan that strengthens and supports those valuable relationships. Specific strategies will also be given on how to most effectively communicate in those challenging times when things don’t go as planned. When do you communicate? How do you communicate? What messages are effective? These will be just a few of the areas that will be covered. Participants will leave the session with specific communication best practice tips that can be implemented immediately and tips for the tool box if you need them during rough times.

It's What's Inside that Counts: Effective Internal Communication
Melissa McConnell, Manager, Professional Development & Member Engagement, National School Public Relations Association

Staff inboxes are exploding with emails from secretaries, parents, students, colleagues, administrators, and the district. Important events and information are ignored, stress levels skyrocket, and maintaining morale becomes a myth. How to help? Learn how Melissa McConnell improved internal communications at the district level and advised similar practices at the site level, resulting in staff who were well-educated about district operations, deadlines, and incentives.

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You’ve seen the headlines: Teacher burnout — nationwide, there are at least 280,000 fewer public school teachers than there were before the pandemic. School Principals – more than 50% intend to leave the profession. Superintendents — “The toughest job in America,” according to Ron Heifetz at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard. #SchoolPR — need we say more?

The future of public education depends on our people and the energy and momentum of those who have a calling to serve. How can school communicators change the narrative to elevate and honor the teaching profession? Prioritizing employee well-being and human-centered leadership to save our schools.

Vice President, CEL Marketing PR Design

If you’ve mastered the PR tactics yet wish you had more influence, it’s time to think strategically about your communications plan. If you want to be viewed as a leader, you have to think and plan like a leader. That means proactively bringing others along. This session will go beyond RPIE to elevate your strategic communications planning to a leadership level.
You will take away:

• The 4 As for every communications plan
• A strategy for earning support and involvement
• A formula for setting strategic priorities

April Hawkins, Translation and Communications Contractor

Crystal Vaught, Ed. D., Brownell Talbot (crystal.vaught@brownell.edu)

Learn how to build positive relationships with diverse school families. We’ll cover low-lift ways that your communications team or one-person shop can be the district star, reaching beyond cultural and linguistic barriers.

Staying True to the NSPRA Code of Ethics

Diane Ostrowski, APR, Chief Communications Officer, Council Bluffs Community School District

Emily Warren, J.D., Director of Compliance, Council Bluffs Community School District

School communications professionals and school leaders regularly navigate sensitive situations, so it's only a matter of time until you encounter an ethical dilemma in your career. This session will provide real-world scenarios and practical tips for you to stay true to the NSPRA Code of Ethics.