The 2023 TSPRA Conference Program by tspra.communication.matters

1 #TSPRA23 TRAILBLAZING TOGETHER 2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE FORT WORTH, TEXAS OMNI FORT WORTH HOTEL FEBRUARY 20-23

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1 TABLE OF CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 5 TSPRA LEADERSHIP & COMMITTEES 7 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE-AT-A-GLANCE 9 PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS 12 FIRST GENERAL SESSION KEYNOTE SPEAKER 14 SECOND GENERAL SESSION KEYNOTE SPEAKER 16 THIRD GENERAL SESSION INFORMATION 17 2023 TSPRA MEDIA AWARD RECIPIENT 18 KEY COMMUNICATOR AWARD RECIPIENT 19 TSPRA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS 20 TUESDAY CONCURRENT SESSIONS 23 COWTOWN CORRAL NETWORKING EVENTS 28 WEDNESDAY MORNING CONCURRENT SESSIONS 29 ROUNDTABLES AND JOB-ALIKE DESCRIPTIONS 34 WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON CONCURRENT SESSIONS 38 VENDORS AND SPONSORS 40 OMNI FORT WORTH MAPS 44 FORT WORTH TEXAS SCHOOL PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

TSPRA MISSION STATEMENT

The Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) is a professional organization whose members are dedicated to improving public education in Texas by:

• Promoting effective public relations practices

• Providing professional development for its members

• Improving communication between Texans and their public schools.

ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY

TSPRA is committed to promoting inclusive environments where persons feel valued, respected, and welcome. TSPRA will not tolerate anyone intimidating, humiliating, harassing, bullying or sabotaging others in our workplace and at events. TSPRA will not discriminate based on age, race, color, gender, religion, physical disability, mental handicap, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any similar status. This policy pertains to all members, including officers, persons appointed to positions, staff, persons attending TSPRA activities, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, vendors, contractors, and anyone else who comes into contact with persons in the TSPRA workplace and at meetings and events. TSPRA is firmly committed to an environment free from all forms of harassment. Harassment violates TSPRA policy and, in certain instances, may violate state and federal laws. It is neither permitted nor condoned.

More information available at www.TSPRA.org

Created and sponsored by: DOWNLOAD THE TSPRA MOBILE APP

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Branding & Rebranding

We have an engaging process that brings diverse input into the process to yield a brand architecture that defines language and imagery for your district.

Employee Recruitment

We help your district find and attract the right potential employees by providing recruitment strategies, utilizing our school PR connections across the country, reviewing applications, developing interview questions and participating in interviews.

Enrollment Marketing

We approach student enrollment with both retention and recruitment strategies, organizing your enrollment marketing into a strategic ongoing process.

Mentoring & Coaching

We guide district communication staff members who are new to school communication, or leaders of small organizations that need coaching and expertise.

Strategic Communication Planning

Having a strategic communications plan helps you proactive and effective, rather than just reacting to daily issues or maintaining status quo. We help you effectively plan for communications that matter most.

Communications Audit

A dedicated team of strategists interview staff and evaluate your processes, then create a customized and prioritized path to more effective communication.

Engagement, Facilitation & Planning

We bring diverse voices into your planning to better inform decisions, and we facilitate engagements to increase involvement and trust in your organization.

Equity Leadership Development & Coaching

We use tools like the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), to help individuals increase their equity leadership and ensure that all students, staff and families feel valued and heard.

Referendum & Bond Planning

We create messaging and strategy for your referendum proposal long before the election date to help your residents better understand the benefit to the community.

Website Redesign & Audits

Your district website needs to be so much more than a file drawer for current families and staff. Let’s turn it into a marketing tool to effectively serve your district now and into the future.

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I am so excited to welcome you to Fort Worth for this year’s TSPRA Conference! We have been working hard to provide a valuable and memorable experience for everyone. I know you will find what you need at this conference and bring back so much knowledge to your district.

The past year has not been as easy as I had hoped. Some of the challenges came as a surprise, while others were expected. Either way, I was able to navigate it all with the help of my amazing TSPRA colleagues. I am so grateful to the Executive Committee, the standing committee members, the Conference Planning Committee, and all the others that pitched in when they were needed.

I also can’t say enough praise for the CESO Communications Team for helping us with all things TSPRA this year. I would not have survived the year without them on our team. They provided so much support for the state office and did everything in their power to make this conference the best one yet!

I also want to say a big thank you to Janet Crock, the TSPRA Programs Manager and long-time TSPRA employee, for keeping everything running and giving us the guidance and support we needed. She is truly a gem, so thank her when you see her!

I hope you enjoy this week being together with your fellow trailblazers at the conference! Thank you for being part of the TSPRA family!

Rebecca #TrailblazingTogether #TSPRA23

5 connect with TSPRA.org @TSPRA TSPRA #TSPRA23

WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT

Conference Wi-Fi Network: TSPRA2023 | Password: ﬁnalsite SPONSORED BY

LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEES

2022-2023 Executive Committee PRESIDENT

Rebecca Villarreal, APR, Fellow PRSA New Braunfels ISD

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Megan Overman, APR, CPC

Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Veronica Sopher, Fort Bend ISD

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Julie Thannum, APR

CESO Communications

VICE PRESIDENTS

Gulf Coast Area

Helen Escobar, Roma ISD

Houston/Beaumont Area

Kristyn Cathey, APR, Goose Creek ISD

East Texas Area

Jamie Fails, Willis ISD

North Central Area

Rachel Frost, ESC Region 10 West Central Area

Jennifer Marshall-Higgins, CPC ESC Region 12

Central Area

Marco Alvarado, Lake Travis ISD Northwest Texas Area

Kenneth Dixon, Lubbock ISD Far West Area

Daniel Escobar, Socorro ISD

San Antonio Area

Kim Cathey, Judson ISD

At-Large Position 1

Jennifer Bailey, CPC, Belton ISD

At-Large Position 2

Stephanie De Los Santos, HCDE

At-Large Position 3

Sherese Nix, Garland ISD

PARLIAMENTARIAN

Christina Courson, Lockhart ISD

2022-2023 Standing Committee Chairs

REVIEW OF FINANCIAL RECORDS & PROCEDURES

Maritza Gallaga, Round Rock ISD

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS

Sean Hoffmann, Seguin ISD

SCHOLARSHIP

Leanne Libby, APR, Corpus Christi ISD

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVALUATION

Megan Overman, APR, CPC; Eagle MountainSaginaw ISD, TSPRA President-Elect

NOMINATING

Megan Overman, APR, CPC, TSPRA President-Elect, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Megan Overman, APR, CPC, TSPRA President-Elect, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw

TELLER

Cynthia Ybarra Leal, Mission CISD

Ad Hoc Committees

STAR AWARDS REVIEW

[Crystal Awards Review and New Categories]

Jenna Simsen, Dickinson ISD

Carrie Pryor-Newman, Goose Creek CISD

Adi Bryant, Royse City ISD

Hailee Fojtasek, Northwest ISD

Erika Foster, Goose Creek CISD

Aliana Peska, Pearland ISD

Lexie Greathouse, Judson ISD

Dianne Folletto, Round Rock ISD

Alyssa Edstrom, Northwest ISD Education Foundation

Claudia Lemus Campos, APR Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD

BUDGET

Rebecca Villarreal, APR, Fellow PRSA, TSPRA President, New Braunfels ISD

APR ACCREDITATION

Danielle Clark, APR, Harris County Department of Education

TASA/TASB FALL CONFERENCE RESOURCE CENTER

Jenny Collier, Southwest ISD

COMMUNICATION MATTERS DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Zach Perkins, New Braunfels ISD

ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAM & DELIVERY

Dr. Nikita Russell, Everman ISD

ONBOARDING NEW TSPRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Rebecca Villarreal, APR, Fellow PRSA, TSPRA President, New Braunfels ISD

Jennifer Bailey, CPC, Belton ISD, At-Large Vice President, Place 1

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PLAN AND STATEMENT

Veronica Sopher, TSPRA Immediate Past President, Fort Bend ISD

Stephanie De Los Santos, At-Large Vice President Position 2, Harris County Department of Education

2023-2024 Executive Committee PRESIDENT

Megan Overman, APR, CPC Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Arianna Vazquez-Hernandez, APR, CPC ESC Region 1

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Rebecca Villarreal, APR, Fellow PRSA

New Braunfels ISD

Gulf Coast Area

Helen Escobar, Roma ISD

Houston/Beaumont Area

Kristyn Cathey, APR, Goose Creek ISD

East Texas VP

Jennifer Hines, CPC, Tyler ISD

North Central Area

Rachel Frost, ESC Region 10

West Central VP

Wendy Sledd, Copperas Cove ISD

Central VP

Christina Courson, Lockhart ISD

Northwest VP

Erin Gregg, APR, Lubbock ISD

Far West VP

Daniel Escobar, Soccoro ISD

San Antonio VP

Kim Cathey, Judson ISD

At-Large VP Position 1

Marco Alvarado, Lake Travis ISD

At-Large VP Position 2

Stephanie De Los Santos, Harris County

Department of Education

At-Large VP Position 3

Sherese Nix, Garland ISD

Conference Planning Committee

Rebecca Villarreal, APR, Fellow PRSA, TSPRA President, New Braunfels ISD

Mercedes Mayer, Aledo ISD

Megan Overman, APR, CPC, TSPRA

President-Elect, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

Veronica Sopher, TSPRA Immediate Past President, Fort Bend ISD

Jennifer Bailey, CPC, At-Large VP 1, Belton ISD

Stephanie De Los Santos, At-Large VP 2, Harris County Department of Education

Sherese Nix, At-Large VP 3, Garland ISD

Zoheb Hassanalli, Plano ISD

Valonia Walker, APR, Hempstead ISD

Claudia Rodriguez, Laredo ISD

Tamra Spence, CPC, Pflugerville ISD

Ralph Bissey, New Braunfels ISD

Cheryal Loosmore, Lake Travis ISD

Andy Perez, Socorro ISD

Frank Sauseda, Lamesa ISD

Lexi Greathouse, Judson ISD

Veronica Johannsen, Gonzales ISD

Emily Conklin, APR, CPC, Sheldon ISD

Danielle Clark, APR, Harris County

Department of Education

Zach Perkins, New Braunfels ISD

Moses Leos, Hays CISD

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2023 TSPRA CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE

SUNDAY, FEB. 19, 2023

Conference Wi-Fi/Internet sponsored by Finalsite

Conference T-Shirt sponsored by School Revenue Partners

TSPRA Bandanas sponsored by RBFCU

6 p.m.

TSPRA Executive Committee Dinner sponsored by ParentSquare

MONDAY, FEB. 20, 2023

8:30 to 9 a.m.

TSPRA Executive Committee

Meeting Breakfast sponsored by CatapultK12

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

9 to 11:30 a.m.

Executive Committee Board

Meeting

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vendor setup

Exhibit Area

Texas Ballroom Foyer, 2nd Floor

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Conference Registration

TSPRA Registration Area, 2nd Floor

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

TSPRA Executive Committee Lunch

PRECONFERENCE SESSIONS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 | 1-4 P.M.

Leading Through Communication in Times of Crisis with Rick Kaufman, APR

Texas Ballroom G, 2nd Floor

School safety is a top-of-mind concern for parents, staff and educational leaders. With few exceptions, our schools and communities are faced with the dilemma of how to protect the integrity of the environment where learning takes place amidst a world of violence. The concerns for school safety are not new. The challenges are real. In this engaging session, participants will explore a range of communication strategies and tools, and apply them to real-life scenarios in tabletop group interactions.

Boot

Scoot and Boogie into School PR (New Professionals Program) with TSPRA member Emily Conklin, APR, CPC (Sheldon ISD), Natalie Martinez (Somerset ISD) and Hanna Chalmers (Angleton ISD)

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

Heel-toe, do-si-do, come on, baby, let’s go to TSPRA! Whether you’re just starting in your career or are a public relations professional new to school PR, WELCOME, this is the session for you! TSPRA is a great resource to connect, learn and grow professionally as well as find fellowship along the way. In this session, we will Boot Scoot and Boogie as we provide tips, resources and strategies to twostepping your way into your first year in school PR. Plus, get connected with a mentor to help you Trailblaze Together into 2023.

The Art and Science of Planning School Bond Elections Today (It’s Not as Easy as it Once Was) with Cody Cunningham

Sundance 1, 3rd Floor

This pre-conference session will focus on the process of engaging the community and staff in an effective approach to planning any election (bond, TRE, VATRE, recapture election). The session will cover the process from long-range facility planning committee to district communications to community advocacy. In particular, the session will focus on effective bond election strategies including social media strategy, voter analysis, communication messages, branding, election law, engaging key community members, new election tools, district and campus communication strategies and more. We will cover both the art and the science of planning elections, during a time when school districts are facing some of the greatest PR challenges in our history. This session will also review recent elections across the state and identify potential challenges and opportunities in upcoming election cycles.

Put Data to Work for You in Three Easy Steps with CALSPRA Executive Director and author Trinette Marquis, APR

Sundance 2, 3rd Floor

Research and Evaluation are the least understood steps in the PR Four-Step Process. Many people are intimidated by the prospect of conducting original research, understanding what data to pay attention to, and figuring out how to display data in a way that makes it powerful and accessible. This session is designed to change that. We’ll explore how to collect the data, how to analyze the data, and how to report the data in a way that keeps your organization focused on the most impactful communication efforts. Using best practices, examples from the field, and interactive discussions, you’ll leave this session more confident about your ability to put data to work.

Re-Engaging the Misengaged: Adding Capacity and Building Best Practices Into Your District’s Listening Architecture with TCU Certified Public Communicators (CPC), Ashley E. English, Ph.D and Jacqueline Lambiase, Ph.D.

Sundance 3, Floor

Is your district listening as much as it should? And is your listening done in equitable ways, leading to action and change that will build trust with your stakeholders? This session helps you audit the ways that your organization listens, finding the gaps and building in accountability so that when parents and residents speak, their words and ideas aren’t overlooked. Drs. English and Lambiase will help you identify new roles for communicators, especially for a “listener-in-chief,” where the buck stops on listening. They will share quick research and theories, and then give you practical ideas for building and maintaining a listening culture through engagement practices and two-way dialogue.

Rules of Social Media Engagement – Episode 2023 with Andrea Gribble of Social4SchoolsEDU

Sundance 4, 3rd Floor

My, how things have changed in regards to school social media! While navigating the negativity in a highly-politicized climate can drain your energy, there is still so much to celebrate. Grab a pep talk from School PR’s biggest cheerleader, Andrea Gribble. She’ll break down the proven strategies for social media success and engagement. You’ll learn:

• How to rethink the content shared on social media

• How to build an army of storytellers

• Easy ways to save time

• How to plan your content

• How to boost community engagement

• The latest social trends to help you thrive

It Takes APRo: Advancing Your Career with Accreditation (APR) with TSPRA member Danielle Clark, APR

Sundance 6, 3rd Floor

Want to move from communications technician to advisor and strategist? Three letters are the key to success: APR. Come learn about the process of becoming accredited and how it will forever change the way you approach your work. See why accreditation is an important step along your career ladder while gaining insight into the process. Dialogue with veteran school PR professionals about the value of accreditation and create a plan for how you can do it, too!

K-12 Video Strategies that Get Results! with Jake Sturgis, APR, and Andrew Coons of Captivate Media

Sundance 5, 3rd Floor

Competition for your audience’s attention has never been greater. With social feeds full of videos, how do you create compelling content that connects with and engages your audience? Jake Sturgis, APR and Andrew Coons from Captivate Media, work with schools across the country and will share practical ways for you to level-up your video production skills. From storytelling strategies to Instagram Reels, you’ll learn new ways to approach video production that will increase views and engagement with your content.

FIRST GENERAL SESSION

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Adolph Brown, aka “The World’s Greatest Edu-tainer” (the name given to him by friend Doug E. Fresh - “The World’s Greatest Entertainer,”) is an internationally renowned credentialed master teacher, character education leader, servant leadership consultant, educational & clinical psychologist, author, researcher, entrepreneur, and an influential thinker/practitioner in the fields of education, human behavior, and neuroscience. He was once the youngest tenured full professor in our nation even after his extremely humble beginnings and being the first in his family of five to graduate from high school.

Head Start gave Dr. Brown his aptitude for learning and he continues to grow and learn to this very day. Dr. Brown is a graduate of the College of William & Mary with degrees in Psychology, Anthropology, and a minor in Education. He completed his graduate studies in clinical psychology at the College of William and Mary extension of the Virginia Consortium for Professional Psychology (Child & Family and Education tracks). He completed his residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School.

He writes and teaches from a unique perspective of an experienced, passionate, award-winning educator & research scientist, an innovative & effective business leader, and an engaging consultant. Dr. Brown has devoted his life’s mission to positive human development. Adolph loves to receive invitations to present any number of his vast array of master classes. He is not your typical “motivational speaker” or self-proclaimed “guru.” He educates, informs, challenges, and delights with some amusement and a little “show and tell.” Adolph customizes each masterclass or workshop for the audience with lots of audience participation, profound challenges, multiple takeaways, and BIG FUN!

Catch Dr. Brown and Ali Wentworth on their new television show “The Parent Test” on ABC primetime.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 | 8:30-10:30 A.M. | TEXAS BALLROOMS A-F

15 Masters of Arts Program Certificates in Organizational Communication and Social Media Strategy www.tarleton.edu/communications @TarletonCOMSdept Communication Studies With Let’s Talk — the only all-in-one, enterprise-wide customer service and intelligence platform built for education — you can: • Automate and simplify communications • Proactively make better decisions using real-time data • Identify problems before they become crises • Build community trust and support k12insight.com Better experiences. Better engagement. Better education.

SECOND GENERAL SESSION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 | 8:30-10 A.M. | TEXAS BALLROOMS A-F

Four Day Weekend

THIRD GENERAL SESSION

TSPRA School Safety Forum

Sponsored by Harris County Department of Education

Following the breakfast and General Membership meeting, TSPRA member and former PIO and Communications Director, Dr. Celina Bley of the Texas School Safety Center will lead a 90-minute School Safety Forum, featuring information and updates on the latest state requirements, a panel discussion of safety directors and school communicators and their roles in school safety best practices.

Presenter:

Celina Bley, Ph.D.

Dr. Celina Bley is the Associate Director of Training and Education with the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University. She started at the Center in February 2019 and brings with her 18 years of district administrator experience in the Central Texas area. She began in the field as a Communications Director and worked her way up to Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations which included school safety for a 6A District. She received her Doctor of Philosophy in Education in the field of Adult, Professional and Community Education from Texas State University. She is the mother of two teenage girls and when not learning about the latest social media craze from them, she likes to lift weights and be outside.

Panel Members:

Laura Jobe, Chief Information Officer, Mesquite ISD

This is Laura’s 26th year with Mesquite ISD and in the field of school public relations. In her role as Chief Communications Officer, she oversees all the district’s communication functions, including crisis communications, media relations, social media, bilingual communications and outreach, marketing and branding, websites, video production, graphic design, special events, and student and staff recognition. She also supervises operations for Mesquite ISD’s radio station, KEOM 88.5, and the district’s print shop. Prior to joining Mesquite ISD, she worked in journalism, corporate communications and communications consulting.

Britney Fortner, Director, Safety and Security, YES Prep Public Schools

Britney is the Director of Safety and Security for Yes Prep Public Schools in Houston, TX and has firsthand experience responding to an active attacker on a school campus. Prior to this position, she worked at the Texas School Safety Center as the Grant Specialist over the School Behavioral Threat Assessment program, overseeing the training and implementation of threat assessment teams at districts across Texas. Before joining the TXSSC, she worked at the Austin Police Department in the Austin Regional Intelligence Center as the Threat Liaison Officer program coordinator.

Robby Ball, Director of Safety, Security and Threat Management, Mansfield ISD

Robby Ball is the Director for Safety, Security and Threat Management for Mansfield ISD. He is in his 17th year in education and has been a teacher/coach, school administrator, district coordinator, and now district director. He has been in charge of safety programs and systems for the past 8 years.

Dr. Julia Andrews- Harris Department of Education

Julia Y. Andrews is the director of the Center for Safe and Secure Schools. Andrews has served since early 2018 as the school culture and climate specialist for CSSS. She has been responsible for conducting numerous school safety audits, leading and facilitating restorative practices training, and developing threat assessments for schools and districts. She is a certified trainer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS). She provides training in Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Development, Standard Response Protocol (SRP), and Standard Reunification Method (SRM).

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 | 9:30-11 A.M. | TEXAS BALLROOMS A-F

MEDIA AWARD RECIPIENT

John Oliva, a reporter at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, has been selected for this year’s TSPRA Media Award. This award is given annually to a print or broadcast journalist whose work has made a positive impact in informing the public of education issues and in communicating the good news about public education.

Oliva covers education, breaking news, solutions journalism, and features. A Del Mar College graduate, he was the editor-in-chief of the college’s Foghorn News for nearly two years.

During his work covering education for the Caller-Times, Oliva frequently visited schools throughout the Coastal Bend, telling the stories of dedicated public school students and staff.

According to the nomination by Leanne Libby, APR, Chief Communications Officer for Corpus Christi ISD, no matter the story, John approaches his work as a true professional while also embracing opportunities to share the good, especially when it came to fine arts, which is sometimes overlooked when it comes to coverage.

“We are grateful for the strong media relations we enjoy in our district,” said Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez, Corpus Christi ISD. “Reporters like John are essential to sharing the many wonderful stories happening every day in public schools, as well as helping us share time-sensitive information with our families and the community.”

Texas School Public Relations Association President Rebecca Villarreal, APR, Fellow PRSA, surprised him in January with the news that he has been named the statewide organization’s media award winner for 2023.

“John is a product of public schools and has taken every opportunity to share the good news happening in education in his role as a reporter,” said Villarreal. “His work has made a positive impact in informing the public about education, and we are thrilled to honor him with this statewide award.”

(pictured: Corpus Christi ISD Communications: Leanne Libby, APR, Chief Communications Officer, Lyndall Gathright, Associate Director of Communications, Tavo Caballero, Senior Graphic Designer, Alexandria Cantu, Communications Specialist, Eloisa Dowiat, Corpus Christi Education Foundation Board Liaison)

18 2023 TSPRA

John Oliva

KEY COMMUNICATOR AWARD RECIPIENT

TSPRA has named James Colbert Jr., as the recipient of the association’s 2022 Key Communicator Award. The Key Communicator Award is the highest form of recognition that the association bestows upon an individual who has contributed significantly to the field of public school communications. Mr. Colbert is the Superintendent of the Harris County Department of Education.

Colbert is an educational leader with a passion for students and a strong background in collaboration, communication and child advocacy. He leads by example and shows how communications can pave a pathway to success for everyone.

A visionary and systems-oriented thinker, Mr. Colbert is skilled at implementing comprehensive plans that reflect the current and long-term needs of an organization and the community it serves. He is a champion for providing the best education for all children, and is also dedicated to building positive relationships with stakeholders and embracing civic and business community partnerships.

Colbert has 30 years of diverse educational experience spanning multiple states. During his tenure in the education field, he has been a special education teacher, coach, high school assistant principal and principal, operations director, area superintendent, assistant superintendent, superintendent and county superintendent.

Mr. Colbert is a Virginia native who attended the University of Texas at Austin on an athletic scholarship, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. He also holds a Master of Education in Administration from Texas State University. Colbert has been married to his wife, Angie, for almost 30 years and they have a son who recently graduated from LSU.

James Colbert Jr.

2023 TSPRA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Congratulations to our 2023 TSPRA Scholarship Winners. These four have been awarded three-day conference registration, a pre-conference session, and a Star Awards Banquet ticket, three-night hotel stay and reimbursement for travel expenses.

WE APPRECIATE OUR PROFESSIONAL AWARDS SPONSORS

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Kneschke CONNECT AND GROW With Your Professional Community • NSPRA Connect online forum • Mentor Match • APR Learning Cohort • National leadership and service opportunities EXPAND AND ELEVATE Expand Your Knowledge, Elevate Your Work • Digital newsletters and alerts • Free PR Power Hour webinars on tactics • Free Leaders Learn webinars on strategies • On-demand learning SHARE AND LEARN Best Practices • NSPRA Gold Mine • Resources on crisis, budget and more • Strategic communications plans • Salary and career surveys Join today to... The National School Public Relations Association is the leader in developing professionals to communicate strategically, build trust and foster positive relationships in support of their school communities. To join, visit nspra.org

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TUESDAY CONCURRENT SESSIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 | 11 A.M. TO NOON

PR

Squad 2.0

Texas Ballroom G, 2nd Floor

COVID-19 may have set our goals back but PR Squad is back and better than ever. Join us for a revamp of our Squad Goals presentation in 2020 and learn how we utilize our PR Squads in a post-COVID-19 landscape. We will teach you not only how to engage with your campus PR liaisons, but also get buy in to expand your program for the future.

Chelsea Ceballos | Director of Communications | Klein ISD

Jasmine Nguyen | Communications Manager | Klein ISD

Terencia Lee | Multimedia Content Specialist | Klein ISD

Jessica Williams | Multimedia Content Specialist | Klein ISD

Marlon Torres | Multimedia Content Specialist | Klein ISD

The MAGIC of Getting Them in the Door: Recruitment Marketing

Texas Ballroom H, 2nd Floor

It takes more than a MAGIC wand (although you’ll get one) to make the hiring process easier. We have creative tricks to fill your open positions quickly, with less hassle and fewer headaches. Learn more about target marketing, saving time through automation, winning the first impression, and the importance of sharing your district’s culture. Welcome to The Magic Show for recruiting!

Jennifer Hines, CPC | Chief Communications Officer | Tyler ISD

Skyler Hefley | Social Media Strategy Specialist | Tyler ISD

Angela Duitch, APR | Multimedia Content Facilitator | Tyler ISD

Using Strategic Marketing to Recruit Gen Z Teachers

Texas Ballroom I, 2nd Floor

Much of the teacher recruitment going forward will come from the Generation Z workforce, which is approaching the largest in the country. Districts need to be prepared for their presence and be prepared to recruit from this talent pool. Understanding Generation Z will make it easier to build a strategic plan to recruit new teachers. School Districts need to take a new approach in planning and executing recruitment going forward. Just showing up to job fairs is not enough. Come learn how Jason’s district used dynamic marketing techniques to reach this unique generation and double our teacher applications.

Jason Wheeler, CPC | Director of Communications | Garland ISD

CORPORATE SHOWCASE - SCHOOLMESSENGER

Parents Just Don’t Understand: 5 Tips to Make Better Connections

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

School districts need to connect with parents on many channels and in many different languages. Luckily there are plenty of ways to improve school-to-home communications, no matter what language a parent speaks. School communications expert, author, and former educator and Educational Twitterer of the year, Steven Anderson, will share 5 tips to improve your school-to-home communications today.

Steven W. Anderson | SchoolMessenger

Bring Students to YOU! Lead Pages, Magnets, and Community Marketing

Sundance 1, 3rd Floor

What if you could use one page of your website that pulls people to YOU, captures your best features, and works 24/7 for enrollment? A lead page is powerful, easy to create, and use. No matter what website platform you have, all districts will benefit from a lead page. We’ll show you how to use them in community groups, digital marketing, and social media ads. A lead page will work tirelessly for YOU!

Lisa Losasso Jackson | Founder | 11 Productions/Public School Marketing Services

Veronica V. Sopher | Chief Communications Officer | Fort Bend ISD

Magic Marketing with Minimal Media

Sundance 2, 3rd Floor

Promoting your school district’s great achievements is essential in creating a feeling of pride, success, and accomplishment within your district, community, and beyond. Enhance your communication for celebrating these achievements through video! You do not need high-cost filming equipment or complicated programs. This session will teach you how to produce and publish creative videos with few devices and easy-to-use free or low-cost programs. It’s magic marketing with minimal media!

Kim Pagach | Retired Director of Communications

There’s a Reason Why Airlines Tell Us to Put Our Masks on First!

Sundance 3, 3rd Floor

Previous to COVID, the rhythm of our work was bursts of crisis followed by seasons of “a normal pace.” Now it seems we have extended seasons of crises with a few bursts of calm. Our Code of Ethics reminds us of who and how we are to be in our work as we serve our school districts. However, when our wellness self is not in a state of balance, making decisions that are in the best interest of others can sometimes be a challenge and be in conflict with our ethics. This session will introduce you to the workings of our brain and provide an opportunity for you to explore the spaces that might need renewal.

Mary Libby | Director of Counseling | Northside ISD

Monica Faulkenbery, APR, Assistant Director of Communications, Northside ISD

Booming Enrollment, Big Bonds, and a Billion Dollars, Oh, My!

Sundance 4, 3rd Floor

Districts facing bond elections are having a more difficult time generating support due to many reasons, including inflation, community distrust, the pandemic, activist groups, legislation, and more. Forney ISD successfully passed a $623 million bond in November 2019 by 73%, and a $1.29 BILLION bond in May 2022 by 66%. We’ll share with you how we overcame obstacles to successfully pass both bonds for our extremely fast-growth district, and how it can be replicated on small and large scales to garner support in your community.

Kristin Zastoupil | Executive Director of Marketing & Communications | Forney ISD

Three Ways to Improve the Parent Experience in Your District

Sundance 5, 3rd Floor

A 2018 Gallup study found only 20% of families feel engaged in their student’s education, and nearly three academic years of pandemic-related changes have made parent engagement even more difficult. Join Ashley Scott from Victoria Independent School District (TSPRA’s 2021-2022 Rookie of the Year) to learn how they have improved the way parents experience their district and walk away with three concepts to apply in your school community.

Ashley

Scott | Executive Director Communications & Public Relations | Victoria Independent School District

School PR Work Lounge sponsored by Remind

Sundance 6, 3rd Floor

Battle of the Regions sponsored by ParentSquare

Fort Worth Ballroom 5-8, 2nd Floor | 7:30 to 10 p.m.

You may have heard about our annual “Battle of the SPRAs” karaoke at NSPRA, and we’re so excited to bring you the Texas version this year at TSPRA - “Battle of the Regions.” Please join us for a night of singing, dancing, and drinks with friends and colleagues. At the end of the night, we will crown the Region winner.

TUESDAY, FEB 21 | LUNCH AND LEARN | NOON TO 1 P.M.

Lessons Learned from the Uvalde CISD Tragedy sponsored by ParentSquare

Texas Ballrooms A-F, 2nd Floor

May 24, 2022, will be a day engrained in many of our memories forever, especially those in Uvalde CISD and the surrounding San Antonio districts. Unlike other school shootings, this one came into our living rooms through body cam video and security footage. Anne Marie Espinoza, CPC, Executive Director of Communications for Uvalde CISD, and Monica Faulkenbery, APR, Assistant Director of Communications for Northside ISD, will discuss the timeline of events and lessons learned during those first few days and weeks.

Ann Marie Espinoza | Uvalde Consolidated School District

Monica Faulkenbery | APR | Northside ISD

TUESDAY, FEB. 21 | 1:30 TO 2:30 P.M.

SPECIAL CONTENT SESSIONS sponsored by Harris County Department of Education

During the planning process for #TSPRA23, the Conference Planning Committee received feedback from members that they would like to have more opportunities to learn and discuss trending topics in our industry. This portion of the conference schedule is dedicated to covering some of the emerging topics that are directly impacting School PR as a whole.

Cowboy, Take Me Away to Finalsite!

Texas Ballroom G, 2nd Floor

You rely on your website, mobile app, and mass communications software for nearly all your work as a school communicator. Understandably, a transition to a new system can seem daunting! Let us take the stress out of your transition to Finalsite’s suite of communication products in this interactive session featuring Finalsite team members. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of the perks of being a Finalsite client, the timeline for making the switch, and more.

The Finalsite Team

Response & Recovery: Managing a Racial or Bias Crisis

Texas Ballroom H, 2nd Floor

A rash of racial and bias incidents in schools are causing fragmentation and division not unlike what is occurring across the country, especially on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. School districts don’t know where to start, what to do or are taking too long to address these incidents. Managing a racial or bias crisis may be one of the toughest leadership challenges, but recovering from one can be equally daunting. Learn how to create a Racial Harms Protocol and Response Plan to help school communicators and district leaders turn a racial or bias crisis into a catalyst for positive change.

Rick J. Kaufman, APR | Executive Director of Community Relations and Emergency Management for Bloomington (MN) Public Schools

The Texas Two-Step: Tips To Improve Your Newsletters

Texas Ballroom I, 2nd Floor

Join the creative teams at Smore and Canva for an interactive Texas Two-Step session full of content creation ideas, design best practices and tactics to track success while making an impact with your key stakeholders. This session by two leaders in our industry is designed to help you develop the skills to kick your school newsletters up a notch by making them more engaging, impactful and effective.

Scottt Nunes - District Engagement Advocate Canva

Social Media Solutions: Surviving when “The Floor Is Lava”

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

[School PR Pro] Being a social media manager is a walk in the park!

[Narrator] That walk leads to a volcano and surrounds you in molten lava. If you’re frustrated with all things Meta and still wondering what is going on with Twitter, you’re not alone! We are all often bracing for the latest eruption on these social media platforms, but many of us have discovered how to make it work for our schools.

Join this special session hosted by Melissa McConnell, Manager, Professional Development & Member Engagement

from NSPRA, and Andrea Gribble, Founder of #SocialSchool4EDU. You’ll hear a quick update on best practices for these platforms followed by an open discussion where the room will share questions, wins, and other experiences as we navigate this ever-changing communication tool.

Melissa McConnell | Manager | Professional Development & Member Engagement NSPRA

Andrea Gribble | Founder of #SocialSchool4EDU

Changing Your Lens: Shifting Your Video Perspective

Sundance 5, 3rd Floor

Newsgathering stories, staff highlights, and student accomplishment content pieces are second nature to district digital media teams. What is your approach when the leadership team comes to you with a “bigger picture idea” like a District Brand Video or Teacher Recruitment Campaign? In this special content session, we will talk about how to approach this content and dissect an uber successful video piece created for Crowley ISD.

Justin Dearing | Communications Strategist | CESO Communications

Megan Middleton | Multimedia Manager | Crowley ISD

School PR Work Lounge sponsored by Remind

Sundance 6, 3rd Floor

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 | 2:45 TO 3:45 P.M.

Forging Your Path: Your District’s & Your Own

Texas Ballroom G, 2nd Floor

Your organization’s strategic plan is the roadmap to its success. As a school PR professional, you play a critical role in keeping your district on the path to achieve its mission and vision. Learn how you can use the progress of a strategic plan to build your district’s brand. The presentation also will help you focus on strategically forging your own path, with ideas on how to bring the right people along with you on your journey.

Cathy

Kedjidjian,

APR | NSPRA President

Providing Super Support for your Superintendent

Texas Ballroom H, 2nd Floor

What does a Superintendent need to know? What support can communications provide? In this session, we’ll take a deep dive into the complex world of supporting your superintendent and making your communications team indispensable. Take away practical tips and tricks for keeping your superintendent informed, organized, and confident in their communication.

Justin Elbert | Executive Director of Communications | Klein ISD

Dayna Hernandez | Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Public Relations | Klein ISD

Nicole Shepard | Communications Project Manager | Klein ISD

Dare to iLead: Community and Student Engagement Programs in Coppell ISD

Texas Ballroom I, 2nd Floor

Learn how to develop a community engagement program to prepare parents, students and community members to become informed leaders and advocates for your district. Receive a framework for an ongoing community engagement and advocacy program and how to create a similar program for students. From interactive presentations, building tours, community service and more, a leadership and advocacy program can ignite your community and students to become engaged advocates for your school district and public education.

Angela Brown, CPC | Chief Communications Officer | Coppell ISD

Amanda Simpson, CPC | Director of Communications | Coppell ISD

Naveen Boppana | Coordinator of Digital Content and Community Engagement | Coppell ISD

CORPORATE SHOWCASE sponsored by Harris County Department of Education

Capturing the Soul of Your District: Techniques for More Engaging Visual Content

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

Powerful visual content engages the audience and informs their perception of your district. Storytelling through photography is a powerful tool to craft and carry the message to your stakeholders. Although the mechanics of

making a photograph is universally simple, capturing moments with a lasting impact is a bit more nuanced. Planning, perspective and purpose are all strategies that contribute to successful imagery. Whether new to the creative process or a seasoned professional, you will take away a set of proven techniques to produce meaningful visuals for any platform that will stand the test of time.

Dave

Einsel

Director of Communications

and

Photojournalist

Harris County Department of Education

Breaking Down the Silos: How Cross Department Communication Can Increase Engagement and Positivity District Wide

Sundance 1, 3rd Floor

Departments across a school district often work separately from each other in their own silos. This session will help you bring departments across your district together, equipping your principals with tools for increased parent engagement and productive parent conversations that keep the negativity off social media, and equipping your HR team with tools for engaging staff recruitment through cohesive partnerships inside and outside of your district.

Dusty Langley | Communications Coordinator for Marketing and Engagement | Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

Kristin Barnes | Communications Specialist | Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

Kris Hill | Communications Coordinator for Multimedia and Creative Arts | Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

Matthew LeBlanc | Director of Communications | Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

Find Your Forte and Tell Everyone About It!

Sundance 2, 3rd Floor

Walk through Aledo ISD’s first true marketing campaign - for a spring 2022 job fair - that yielded an 18% hire rate! Aledo ISD had only about 775 employees but had a job fair with 360-plus attendees, 64 of which were hired. We’ll talk about the concept behind the campaign, the marketing tools we focused on, and the follow up campaign to make sure those employees stayed committed to our district. Walk away with ideas and tools to launch your own marketing campaign!

Mercedes Mayer | Director of Communications | Aledo ISD

Education Foundation + Communications + Academics = Great PR - Creating programs that bring academic success and positive PR to your District

Sundance 3, 3rd Floor

Innovative academic programs can be very costly for a school district. But with a good communication strategy and the support of the education foundation, your vision can become a reality. Learn how Alvin ISD has created four innovative academic programs that have brought not only academic success for the students, but positive PR for the District.

Ana Pasarella | Director of Family and Community Engagement | Alvin ISD

Rachel Moore | Assistant Director of Communications | Alvin ISD

Sheila Olson | Executive Director | Alvin ISD Education Foundation

Let’s Keep it Reel!

Sundance 4, 3rd Floor

It’s time to be real, with Instagram Reels! Instagram and Facebook reels are leading the way for social media video streaming content. Learn how to utilize Insights to measure engagement and growth, create, capture and build Instagram Reels to market your school district! This will be a hands-on session, make sure to bring your moblie device.

Briana Estrada | Multimedia Specialist | Judson ISD

Digital Media Show and Tell

Sundance 5, 3rd Floor

In a continuation of the discussions had during the Special Content Session, this session is an opportunity to share some of the workflow, equipment, and final content that has been successful in your district. Be sure to bring your content to share for this School PR Digital Media Show and Tell!

Justin Dearing | Communications Strategist | CESO Communications

School PR Work Lounge sponsored by Remind

Sundance 6, 3rd Floor

COWTOWN CORRAL NETWORKING EVENTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 | 4:15 TO 5:15 P.M.

A Luau in Your Honor | CatapultK12

Fort Worth Ballroom 4

Aloha TSPRA! Hula on over to our no-pitch zone where a vacation is waiting for you. Sip in the good energy and relax to the island vibes. The tiki gods request your presence at this event, so we look forward to seeing you. Mahalo.

Escape the Conference Chaos with ParentSquare: Caricatures and More!

Texas Ballroom I, 2nd Floor

Please join ParentSquare in Ballroom I to refuel and relax! We’ll be hosting a casual reception with lots of fun stations and activities, including drinks, snacks, and caricatures. Don’t miss your chance to get your caricature drawn right before your eyes.

Give us 5, we’ll give you $10 | SchoolMessenger

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

You don’t need to be a math major to know that’s a great deal! Stop by for a 5-minute demo of SchoolMessenger Chat, the all-new advanced two-way classroom messaging tool. We’ll give a $10 gift card to anyone who watches a full 5-minute demo, plus we’ll enter you for a chance to win a big-screen TV!

WANTED: YOU! TSPRA Members | Harris County Department of Education

Sundance 1, 3rd Floor

Yee haw! It’s cowboy/cowgirl party time! Giddy on up to Sundance 1 (3rd floor) to decompress and join HCDE for some games and fun. Come ready to laugh, take pics and grab some fine and dandy treats to munch on throughout your TSPRA retreat. Y’all be sure to stop on by and say HOWDY to our staff and no doubt you’ll run off with some real good SWAG on our behalf!

School PR Happy Hour with CESO | CESO Communications

Sundance 2, 3rd Floor

It’s time for School PR Happy Hour! Join the team from CESO Communications and your favorite podcast for a School PR Happy Hour meet and greet during the TSPRA Conference. Register to win a drawing for one-hour free consultation with the strategists at CESO Communications and/or give us your best topic and guest speaker ideas for our next podcast season.

Learn About Chatbots | Always On

Sundance 3, 3rd Floor

Come learn the basics of how AI and automated chatbots work! We’ll show specific examples of chatbots being used in a school district setting, view analytics, and discuss the role of chatbots in furthering stakeholder engagement, communications, and customer service goals. Interested attendees can have a custom chatbot built for their district along with a free trial!

Quality Video Production - No Experience Needed! | Peachjar

Sundance 4, 3rd Floor

Video is the most effective way to connect with your audience and grow your reach and social media presence. We will cover writing, producing, editing, and distributing quality videos without any fancy tools or extensive experience. Additional topics include equipment and software options, tips for recording and editing, how to add music and voice overs, and more!

WEDNESDAY MORNING CONCURRENT SESSIONS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 | 10:30 TO 11:30 A.M.

Start with Heart: Leading Difficult Conversations as School Communicators

Texas Ballroom G, 2nd Floor

Learn how school communicators and building leaders have partnered to use student voice as a catalyst for building a safer, more inclusive learning environment. From talking about discrimination to discussing classroom inequities, students have pushed adults to identify critical factors driving our gaps. We’ll share how amplifying student stories through video has humanized data and touched hearts to change minds on difficult topics.

Stan

Alleyne

Lead Strategist

| Captivate Media + Consulting

Jake Sturgis, APR | CEO + Founder | Captivate Media + Consulting

The Secret Sauce for Success

Texas Ballroom H, 2nd Floor

The relationship between the superintendent and communications can make or break a district initiative. Chemistry, alignment, perspective and a push/pull dynamic all play into the role and impact of communications. Hear from TSPRA’s 2022 Key Communicator, who is a veteran Superintendent, and his Chief Communications Officer about the intricacies of these two critical positions working together and their perspective on what works. Get insight into what a superintendent wants from communications.

Danielle Clark, APR | Chief Communications Officer | Harris County Department of Education

James Colbert, Jr. | Superintendent | Harris County Department of Education

24/7 Crisis: Managing Daily Crisis Professionally & Personally

Texas Ballroom I, 2nd Floor

In our role as communications experts for our district, we deal in crisis sometimes on a daily basis. We hope to go home at the end of the day and not be faced with personal crisis as well. How do we handle balancing both at the same time? In the midst of a pandemic with a child battling leukemia while moving to a new town and managing a new district team in a fast-growth district with two massive bonds passed in less than two and a half years, Kristin Zastoupil will share her story and what she’s learned along the way when it comes to balancing personal and professional struggles.

Kristin Zastoupil | Executive Director of Marketing & Communications | Forney ISD

CORPORATE SHOWCASE sponsored by CatapultK12

Overview of CatapultK12’s Integrated Communication Solutions

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

Last year we were jumping like kangaroos to present our product suite to you all and this year we are riding the wave of excitement to show you everything new! Our core product suite includes content management software for websites, district branded apps, connect mass communication, emergency management solutions, and anonymous tipping options that keep your district unified in communication, prevention, and response. New products include PA integrations, panic button options, and visitor management software. Join us for an overview of our product integration and see for yourself why CatapultK12 is the best and easiest solution.

CatapultK12 team

Open Records in 2023

Sundance 1, 3rd Floor

Transparency is vital for our public schools and open records laws help ensure public trust. The Texas PIA states that we must treat all requests equally so school communicators must be familiar with district policy, the TPIA, and FERPA. In this session, we will discuss current open records trends, school-specific issues, and ways to properly respond.

Ian Halperin | Executive Director of Community Relations & Marketing | Wylie ISD Jeff Crownover | Chief of Administrative Services | Prosper ISD

Making Communication Moves with the Hispanic Community

Sundance 2, 3rd Floor

Discover multiple ways to reach and partner with your Hispanic community. Find out how to use TV shows, weekly radio segments, social media, and community events to establish and maintain meaningful two-way communications with the Hispanic Community. Learn how to get Hispanic business owners to give support at the district and campus levels. Uncover best practices that generated remarkable results for Tyler ISD in just a short amount of time.

Maribel Gutierrez | Public Relations Specialist | Tyler ISD

Remixing your District’s Vision: Bringing Life to a Mundane Statement Through Visual Art

Sundance 3, 3rd Floor

Nearly every district is taking information and remixing it for target audiences to showcase on media platforms. But, does it reflect your district’s vision, and are you creatively expressing it? In this session, you’ll hear how one district is taking the word “Destination” and making it its own. Learn behind-the-scenes thinking on how they accomplished the goal and the resources that illustrate it. Be ready to collaborate and develop your own ideas!

Cecelia Jones, CPC | Director for Communications | Little Elm ISD

Brandon Buckner | Web Manager and Graphic Designer | Little Elm ISD

Adapting and Engaging your Community with SWISD

Sundance 4, 3rd Floor

Hear from the team from Southwest ISD on their Home Builder and Employee Rewards programs that have recently been initiated. With 10,000-12,000 rooftops coming to the district, SWISD put together a system to market to new residents (and current residents). The Employee Rewards Program is another exciting partnership with local businesses that offer discounts and incentives to staff members!

Samantha Ruiz, Ph.D. | District and Community Relations Coordinator | Southwest ISD

Brandon Medina | District and Community Relations Specialist | Southwest ISD

Recognition: How to Make it Sincere and Specific, not Saccharine Sweet

Sundance 5, 3rd Floor

Recognition is one of the hallmarks of a thriving workplace culture. But sometimes recognition comes off as an afterthought. Make recognition meaningful by making it targeted and easy to manage!

We often use Google forms for nominations, content and photos. Examples:

1. Look At Them Now: Alumni

2. Greenville Legacy: Multigenerational families

3. Hero of Hope: Employees who make an impact

4. Extra Mile: Employees caught doing something amazing

5. Impactful Partner: Business partners

Helen Williams | Assistant Superintendent of Communications | Greenville ISD

Amy Wade | Director of Community Relations | Greenville ISD

Kyle Heimbigner | Visual Media Coordinator | Greenville ISD

School PR Work Lounge sponsored by Remind

Sundance 6, 3rd Floor

WEDNESDAY, FEB 22 | 1:15-2:15 P.M.

Building a Team of Social Media Content Creators

Texas Ballroom G, 2nd Floor

Would you like help telling your school’s story? Do you wish you could clone yourself and be in two places at once? This session will empower you to create and sustain a team of adults and/or students. From recruitment to retainment, learn how to select, train and inspire others to take ownership of telling your school’s story. Walk away with great tips for motivating your people to create content for someone other than themselves!

Courtnie Nix | Communications Coordinator | Crandall ISD

Start Strong! Tips to Plan An Unforgettable Staff Convocation

Texas Ballroom H, 2nd Floor

Need to plan a Staff Convocation for your school district? PSJA ISD will share strategies and best practices focused on event coordination, video/audio, and social media to help you plan an unforgettable event to kick off the school year!

Claudia Lemus Campos | Communications Coordinator | Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD

Crystal Villarreal de la Paz, Marco Vasquez, Daniel Ramos, Karelis Mesquitic, James Jenson, Matt Cortez, Lorelei Lopez, PSJA ISD Communications Department

Be Positive: Pivoting Back to Positive Public Education

Texas Ballroom I, 2nd Floor

Storytelling

School communications professionals have been in crisis mode since February 2020. Now is the time to look beyond the crises and critics, and pivot back to telling the positive stories showcasing the amazing things happening in your schools each day. Learn how a proactive strategy combined with an editorial calendar and intentional use of social media can get your communications team back on the good news storytelling track and increase positive engagement within your community.

Amanda Simpson, CPC | Director of Communications | Coppell ISD

Angela Brown, CPC | Chief Communications Officer | Coppell ISD

Naveen Boppana | Coordinator of Digital Content and Community Engagement | Coppell ISD

CORPORATE SHOWCASE sponsored by ParentSquare

Unique Ways to Engage and Involve All Families: Insights from District Leaders Across Texas

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

During this session, district leaders from Waxahachie ISD, Hutto ISD, and New Braunfels ISD will share their strategies for ensuring that families are not only receiving information, but also engaging with it. We’ll hear their stories and experiences about how to build more vibrant, involved communities. Attendees will leave with ideas for building engagement, and learn how a unified communications platform can help to do so.

Chad Stevens | Chief Strategy Officer | ParentSquare

Rebecca Villarreal, APR | TSPRA President & Director of Communications at New Braunfels ISD

Jenny Bridges | Director | Public Relations at Waxahachie ISD

Eliska Padilla | Communications Manager at Hutto ISD

Lions and Tigers and Bears! OH, MY BRAND!

Sundance 1, 3rd Floor

Why YES, these are your Monkeys, and YES, this is your Circus! Learn how Humble ISD Public Communications, aka The Ringmasters, tamed all 46 campuses to ensure a consistent and effective identity for Humble ISD. Presenters will share resources on branding style guides, mascot creation and use, brand websites, and the communications necessary to juggle all the performers under our Humble ISD Big Top!

Lori Maugans, CPC | Web/Mobile Communications Coordinator | Humble ISD

Rusty Odom | Assistant Director for Broadcast Engineering and Production | Humble ISD

Kelci Hebert | Web/Mobile Communications Coordinator | Humble ISD

From the CTE Video Classroom to District Communication

Sundance 2, 3rd Floor

Learn how to collaborate with your district’s video production teachers and students to facilitate real-world experiences and constant district-level content.

Vanessa Koch | Production Curriculum Coordinator | Cypress Fairbanks ISD

Show Me the RESOURCES!!!

Sundance 3, 3rd Floor

Does your district spend thousands of dollars hosting an event? Who benefits from those district dollars? Find out how Longview ISD utilizes their district resources to host large scale events and how to incorporate community partners when your district resources don’t stretch.

Kacy Swaim | Communication Specialist | Longview ISD

Elizabeth Ross | Multimedia Director | Longview ISD

More Than One Way to Pass a Bond

Sundance 4, 3rd Floor

There is no perfect blueprint for passing a bond in today’s economy and political climate. Find out how two districts with different demographics and varying rates of growth passed bonds with multiple propositions that included both academic and athletic facilities. Similar plans with different strategies made for two very successful elections.

Tommy Brown Chief Communications Officer Alvarado ISD Rick Herrin Director of Communications Argyle ISD

Real Talk: Leveraging Family Engagement to Improve District Reputation

Sundance 5, 3rd Floor

In this interactive workshop, we’ll show you how to improve your district’s public image by:

1. Discovering the causes of community dissatisfaction

2. Identifying and removing barriers to effective communication

3. Empowering teachers and administrators to create positive relationships with families

4. Utilizing feedback from families to better allocate district services

5. Highlighting successes!

Candice Cooper, MBA Chief Communications Officer Manor ISD

Ivan

Solomon Account Executive TalkingPoints

School PR Work Lounge sponsored by Remind

Sundance 6, 3rd Floor smore.com/get-a-demo

33 Transform your K-12 education experiences Engage students, teachers, and families in your schools and districts like never before. Discover the experience improvements that deliver the outcomes that matter most. Learn more at qualtrics.com/education There’s a smarter way to do back-to-school supply lists FREE for schools & families! Easy for schools and districts Upload your district’s supply lists in seconds— no more printouts! Convenient for families One-click retail buttons allow for quick and easy online shopping Learn more at TeacherLists.com/districts Visit us at the TSPRA Annual Conference and mention this ad to get an extra raffle entry!

ROUNDTABLES & JOB ALIKE SESSIONS

TABLE 1

What Districts Miss in Attracting Talent

Attracting and retaining talent is a challenge for many districts. You will learn misconceptions about recruiting teachers and best practices on how to stand out.

Abby Honnas | Business Development Manager Apptegy

TABLE 2

Time To Step Up - TSPRA Leadership

If you are interested in learning the areas where you can step up and serve TSPRA members from across the state, join TSPRA President Rebecca Villarreal, APR, Fellow PRSA, for this informational roundtable.

TABLE 3 Smartphone Photography

When the only camera you have with you is the one in your pocket, proceed with confidence. Explore techniques to best leverage the incredible technology of smartphones. We will talk about best practices for capturing more engaging images and apps for preparing them for any end use.

Dave Einsel | HCDE

TABLE 4

Time-Saving Apps Swap

We’re all trying to work smarter, not harder and the right apps on our phones can save a lot of time! At this roundtable, I’ll be sharing some apps that make my job easier when I’m on the go. Participants will be encouraged to share too! Let’s swap app ideas! I’ll take notes in a Google doc and share it with participants to keep and refer back to. Just bring your phone, share why your apps are awesome, and we’ll learn from each other.

Sarah-Jane Menefee | Director of Communications & One-Woman Show Rapoport Academy Public School

TABLE 5

Social Media Best Practices for Telling a More Authentic Story

Social media is a powerful tool in your storytelling box, but you can’t build it alone. Learn practical ways to tell a more authentic story by empowering others, sharing responsibility, and extending control without losing control.

Jill Johnson, Ed.D., President | Class Intercom

TABLE 6 On a Budget? In Need of Resources? HCDE Can Help You!

Most communications and marketing departments do not know the benefits of working with Harris County Department of Education. Find out the various ways HCDE can help your school district, as well as your department, save money through their new contract with Amazon and newly implemented rebate program.

Stephanie De Los Santos | Director of Marketing & Client Engagement

Harris County Department of Education

TABLE 7

Empowering Multilingual Communications

Learn how to empower teachers and staff to communicate directly with non-English speaking parents as needed, on a budget, and with minimal hassle.

Sandra Alboum | CEO | Alboum Translation Services

TABLE 8 Graphic Design Job Alike

Are you responsible for creating graphic design content for your team? Do you know the shortcut in Illustrator to use the curvature tool? If this sounds like you, come join the Graphic Design Job-Alike Roundtable and share your workflow process, tips and tricks, or ask questions of those that are in the design trenches every day!

Brandon Buckner | Web Manager and Graphic Designer Little Elm ISD.

TABLE 9 Sharing the Good News

If you don’t tell your district’s story, someone else will. Find the right people and ask the right questions to compose an engaging feature story.

Typhani Bartholomew | Multimedia Coordinator

Lancaster ISD

TABLE 10

How to Train and Manage 100+ Webmasters

Do you have webmasters managing their own campus website? Learn how CFISD’s Web Team trains and manages their 100+ webmasters for 93 campus websites.

Jennifer Ongoco | Assistant Director Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

Denisse Sioss | Digital Content Specialist Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

TABLE 11

One-Person PR Shops Job Alike

Are you a one-person department? Responsible for every aspect of communications? Join Jennifer Mitchell from Shallowater ISD and share tips and tricks for those that rolling solo in their school districts just like you!

Jennifer Mitchell | Director of Communications Shallowater ISD

TABLE 12

TSPRA Committee Information

Do you want to be on the committee that helps decide the scholarship for next year’s conference? Do you want to step up and start to help shape TSPRA now and in the future? Committees are a great launching point. Join President-Elect Megan Overman, APR, CPC, and learn about areas you can serve in 2023.

Megan Overman APR, CPC | TSPRA President-Elect Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD

TABLE 13

Transparent Parent CommunicationEliminating the “He-Said, She-Said” Conversations

Join Andrew Fernandez and SchoolStatus to learn how the district turned student families into school community and reduced “he-said, she-said” conversations.

Erin Winnicki | Regional Sales Executive SchoolStatus

Andrew Fernandez | Chief of Communications San Marcos CISD

TABLE 14

Back-to-School Communication: What Families Really Want to Know

In this session, you’ll learn best practices and strategies for communicating the information families really want to know, and as a result, ease back-to-school stress for everyone in your district.

Charlene LaFerriere | Director of School Engagement TeacherLists

Kim Gavrilles | EdTech Partner Success Manager TeacherLists

Lauren Fredrikson | School Relations Associate TeacherLists

TABLE 15A

Video Magic: Turn One Video into Five with Minimal Effort!

The playbook for how schools use video continues to evolve. No longer can you create a single one-size-fitsall video that is effective on your website, social media channels, and community presentations. Learn how to become a magician with your video skills and turn one video into five that will resonate with your millennial parents AND community members who are baby boomers - WITHOUT adding five times the work to your plate!

Jake Sturgis, APR | Founder and CEO

Captivate Media + Consulting

Andrew Coons | Director of Partnerships

Captivate Media + Consulting

TABLE 15B

Data rich and insight poor? Collect, analyze, and visualize data with the powerful Qualtrics engine

Join us as we discuss how Qualtrics can help collect, analyze, and visualize key stakeholder feedback and data. Take demographic, performance, attendance, discipline, and other data sources and marry them with experience data to make well-rounded, data-informed decisions that make a difference.

TABLE 16

Moving Beyond Limits - From Beginning to End

Participants will learn how to develop an effective marketing plan that markets the district in an effective way. Participants will walk away with a plan on how to develop a marketing plan that encompasses a marketing campaign, activities, social media marketing, content marketing, and branding. Participants will also learn the 4Ps of marketing that we have found effective to use in public schools.

Nikita Russell Ed.D. | Chief of Communications & Marketing

Everman Independent School District

Grace Otieno | CCMR & Marketing Specialist

Derrick Thompson | Communications Specialist

Kevin Graham | Website & Digital Content Specialist

TABLE 17

Ask the NSPRA Experts

Are you grappling with a tough issue in your district or agency on which you could use some guidance? Three NSPRA national leaders will be on hand to chat with you, provide advice and share wisdom and helpful resources.

Barbara Hunter, APR | Executive Director

TABLE 18

Are You Ready to TikTok?

Short-form video is taking over all our favorite apps. Is it time to start diving into the world of TikTok? This roundtable will be a great opportunity to share conversations on if it’s time to trend!

Chris Curtis | Rockwall ISD

TABLE 19

Education Foundation Job Alike

Are you involved in your district’s Education Foundation? Want to share stories with others who are facing the same challenges? Join Sheila Olson, Executive Director of the Alvin ISD Education Foundation, in this job-alike discussion table!

Sheila Olson | Executive Director Alvin ISD Education Foundation

TABLE 20

Thinking about earning your Accreditation in Public Relations (APR)?

Talk with a few APRs about the process and the benefits of earning your accreditation.

Danielle Clark, APR

TABLE 21

How to Survive Being Canceled

School districts are not immune to cancel culture and being overwhelmed with outrage from near and far. Hear/share tips for how to survive being “canceled.”

Amanda Simpson, CPC | Director of Communications

Angela Brown, CPC | Chief Communications Officer

Naveen Boppana | Coordinator of Digital Content and Community Engagement

Coppell ISD

TABLE 22

Good Photography + Game Changing Storytelling

Great photography is a game changer in School PR. The right photo can completely change how your community engages with your district. During this roundtable, you will learn some tips and tricks to elevate your photography and tell an even better visual story!

Michael Pena | HEB ISD

TABLE 23

Learn how TCU’s Certified Public Communicator program has benefitted TSPRA members by helping districts to create communication plans and individuals to earn a certification.

Hailee Fojtasek, MBA, CPC | Coordinator of Community Relations

Northwest Independent School District

TABLE 24

Graphic Design 101

No School PR campaign is complete without an excellent graphic design. Learn Adobe Illustrator tips and tricks to produce high-quality and engaging graphic designs.

Rodrigo Martinez | Branding and Design Coordinator

Lancaster ISD

TABLE 25

Are You Choosing the Right Company for CMS/Websites? Asking the Right Questions

Can Make All the Difference

Are you unsure if the company you picked for web development is the right fit? You don’t have to guess. By asking the right questions and taking your time, you can make sure that you’re choosing a partner that’s committed to providing quality services, building a lasting relationship, and crafting an effective website.

CatapultK12

TABLE 26 Keeping it Reels

Discuss how the Reel trend can work for your school district and learn how short videos capturing learning and events can increase engagement on social media.

Michael Gutt | Brand Experience Specialist Coppell ISD

TABLE 27

What’s Working to Engage Families Today: Communication Tips for Leaders

We’ll discuss what districts in TX and across the US are doing to improve engagement, and share how a unified communication platform can help improve connections between school and home. We’ll also share more about ParentSquare’s newest offering, Smart Sites.

TABLE 28

Absence Does Not Make the Grades Grow Fonder: Fighting Absenteeism with SMS

Texts

The negative effects of school absences are welldocumented: delayed reading in grade school, underperforming in middle school, and not graduating from high school. Learn how you can combat absenteeism in your district with three simple letters, SMS. Send text messages that can literally change the future of your students.

Steven W. Anderson | SchoolMessenger

TABLE 29

The Case for Customer Service in Schools

The systematic delivery of superior customer service has become a requirement for school districts nationwide to increase trust and build strong district brands.Through our work with hundreds of school districts across the country, we’ve learned how important it is to implement

an intentional customer service strategy. Join us to learn how to start the process in your district — and why you can’t afford not to.

Sarah Maston, K12 Insight

TABLE

It’s Not What You Say, But How You Say It

What organizations come to mind when you think of great customer service? If your district didn’t come to mind, you need to attend this roundtable.

Sonja Brown | Lead Communications Coordinator Lancaster ISD

TABLE 31

Giving Your District Teachers of the Year an Edge to Advance to State

Your district may have some of the most outstanding teachers around, but they never seem to advance to the regional or state level of the Teacher of the Year awards program. Learn from a 30-year veteran ESC coordinator of this program some vital tips and strategies for leveraging the application process so that your candidates get the attention they deserve from the judges. Who knows, you may have a regional or state winner next year!

strategy with your citizens advisory committee, and using algorithms to your advantage.

Natasha Ray | Bridge City ISD

Kim Hocott | Claycomb Associates, Architects

TABLE 34 School Customer Service Matters

The customer service offered by your team significantly impacts the school experience of students and families. Learn to dramatically improve how key stakeholders feel about your district’s brand by implementing these tips and recommendations. Come hear from national consultants who train and equip school leaders to improve their daily customer service habits.

Casey Nash | Vice President of Online Learning | AASCS

TABLE 35 [Insert Emoji Here]: Should we use that emoji?

Lori

Burton, CPC | Chief Communications Officer ESC Region

TABLE 32

Your People. An Important Audience in District Communications. Employees. Faculty and staff. Team. People. All words to describe an important audience of any communications plan. Yet, employees are often overlooked when districts plan their editorial calendars. Employee engagement and communication play an active role in retention and recruitment, as well as culture and morale. Join members of the Clear Creek ISD communications team as they share how they listened, learned, and responded to employee feedback that now drives their internal communications plan.

Elaina Polsen | Chief Communications Officer

Clear Creek Independent School District

Lindsey Hunt | Communications Specialist

Clear Creek Independent School District

TABLE 33

Targeted Social Media Strategies for Your Bond Campaign

Using focused social media tactics, learn how Bridge City ISD flipped their bond results from their $46.1 million 2019 bond election results from 69% (against) / 31% (for) to passing two propositions totaling $72.4 million in 2022 with 65% support. Walk away with resources and ideas for quick facts, social media calendar, sharing your

Have you ever wondered if emojis were helping or hurting your messages on social media? Is three hearts too many to celebrate on your ISD’s Facebook page? Find out what stakeholders think about organizational emoji use in the digital realm. In our research, we tested how appropriate users found emojis in a variety of contexts, including positive and negative messages, and emoji sequences. Learn about practical findings and best practices for your digital team.

Sarah Maben, Ph.D. and Christopher Gearhart, Ph.D. Associate Professors | Tarleton State University

TABLE 36

The Leavenworth Student PR Internship Experience: Lessons Learned from Involving Youth In District Communications

For over 10 years, the Leavenworth (Kan.) Unified School District has facilitated a School PR paid-internship opportunity during June and July. Each summer, between 3-5 eligible juniors/seniors/recent graduates work under the supervision of the district’s Communications Department to receive hands-on learning opportunities and gain professional working experience.

Jake Potter, APR (USD 453 Director of Public Relations & NSPRA South Central Region VP), will share what’s worked well, and what has not, and things to consider before launching a similar internship/mentoring experience in your local district.

Jake Potter, APR | USD 453 Director of Public Relations NSPRA South Central Region VP

TABLE 37

Social Media Manager Job Alike

Are you in charge of your district’s social media presence? This Job-Alike table is a great opportunity for SMMs to share tips, pointers and learn from each other.

Skyler Hefley | Social Media Strategy Specialist | Tyler ISD

CANCELLED

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON CONCURRENT SESSIONS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 | 4:00-5:00 P.M.

Healing After A Tragedy

Texas Ballroom G, 2nd Floor

Shots ring out in a high school classroom. A student is critically injured. A teacher tries to intervene and is wounded. Hearing the shots, students and teachers run for cover, lock doors and prepare for the worst.

Police descend upon the campus. Media launch helicopters and send reporters. The gunman is on the run.

This shooting happened in October of 2021 at Timberview High School in Mansfield ISD.

Our team had prepared for a crisis of this magnitude. But the hypothetical was now reality. And our team faced the monumental task of guiding our community through it.

Kimberley Cantu, Ed.D. | Superintendent of Schools | Mansfield Independent School District

Sean Scott, Ed.D. | Deputy Superintendent of Schools | Mansfield Independent School District

Donald Williams | Associate Superintendent, Communications & Marketing | Mansfield Independent School District

Jeff Brogden | Associate Superintendent, Facilities & Bond Programs | Mansfield Independent School District

Don’t Major in the Minors

Texas Ballroom I, 2nd Floor

“Visualize. Focus. Execute.” - Dan Gazaway

Every School PR Department starts the school year with a strategic plan. So, what do you do when outside forces try to derail the plan? This session explores ways to keep the spotlight on student and district success by flipping the narrative. Through real-life examples, learn how to keep the main thing the main thing while staying focused on your strategic plan and avoiding burnout.

Kimberly Simpson | Chief of Communications | Lancaster ISD

Sonja Brown | Communications Coordinator | Lancaster ISD

Typhani Bartholomew | Multimedia Coordinator | Lancaster ISD

CORPORATE SHOWCASE sponsored by Finalsite

The School Websites & Mass Comms Honky Tonk!

Texas Ballroom J, 2nd Floor

Slide those boots on, saddle up and ride over to this interactive panel of Finalsite clients to discuss best practices in websites and integrated mass comms! Panelists will discuss successes, best practices, and tips on the Finalsite software and deployment process. Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions live during the session.

Moderator: Joshua Sauer, APR - Director of District Communications Strategy, Finalsite

Panelists: Ralph Bissey, Webmaster, New Braunfels ISD; Justin Elbert, Executive Director of Communications, Klein ISD; Claudia McWhorter, Chief Communications Officer, Eanes ISD; Rebecca Villarreal, APR, Executive Director of Communications, New Braunfels ISD; Justin Warnasch, Director of Digital Communications, Tomball ISD; Cooper Welch, Director of Communications, Community ISD

Using Google to Keep Your District Website Up-to-Date

Sundance 1, 3rd Floor

Website editors can be clunky & hard to train multiple people to use. In this session, we’ll discuss ways to use Google Drive and Google tools to keep your website up-to-date & how others can help! Great for communications departments with limited personnel/one-person departments. We’ll get hands-on as time allows!

Sarah-Jane Menefee | Director of Communications & One-Woman Show | Rapoport Academy Public School

Protecting the Future: An Exploration of Seguin ISD’s Safety Task Force

Sundance 2 , 3rd Floor

In response to the Uvalde tragedy, Seguin ISD assembled a Safety Task Force to review its own safety and security measures. The 30-member community task force was charged with identifying improvement ideas across four safety areas. This session will examine Seguin’s response strategy, the four safety areas, and how ThoughtExchange was used to include all community voices in the conversation to find common-ground and a way forward in ensuring the protection of the community’s children.

Matthew Gutierrez, Ph.D. | Protecting the Future: An Exploration of Seguin ISD’s Safety Task Force | Seguin ISD Kevin Skelcher, Account Executive | ThoughtExchange

Measurement Makeover: Taking Stock of Your Evaluation Practices

Sundance 3, 3rd Floor

Straight from the Certified Public Communicator (CPC) runway, we’ll create and model measurements that are in fashion and on-trend. In this interactive session, we’ll crowdsource ways to measure your communication successes. You’ll walk away rethinking that old evaluation wardrobe and wearing new measurement accessories.

Sarah Maben, Ph.D. | Associate Professor | Tarleton State University, Fort Worth Campus

Confronting the Challenges of a Bond Election

Sundance 4, 3rd Floor

Texas Public Schools are growing at a fast rate. In this session, we will encounter challenges that a bond election brings. We will address the approaches and schemes that will fit your stakeholders and community to allow them to grasp and comprehend the important of the bond election your board has called.

Susan Ard, CPC | Cleveland Independent School District

FUNdraising: Idea Sharing for Education Foundations

Sundance 5, 3rd Floor

This session will focus on making connections with other education foundation professionals and sharing ideas for grants, fundraising, PR and events.

Taylor Poston | Public Information Officer | Krum ISD

School PR Work Lounge sponsored by Remind

Sundance 6, 3rd Floor

THANKS TO IMMERSIVE AV & BRYAN RAMSEY FOR AUDIO AND VIDEO SUPPORT

VENDORS AND SPONSORS

Alboum

Alboum provides translation and interpretation services to districts in Texas and nationwide and is an approved vendor on Buyboard, Choice Partners, TIPS, and Allied States.

Sandra Alboum

sandra@alboum.com

571-765-3060

Always On

AI with school expertise: AlwaysOn is an automated chatbot built for schools to help their stakeholders get answers, find information, and feel supported 24/7. It works “out of the box” with no setup or maintenance required.

Teddy Daiber

teddy@alwayson.ai

American Association of School Customer Service

Our online customer service training is designed specifically for school and district office staff. It includes 30 lessons, an exam and a professional certificate.

Casey Nash

casey@schoolcustomerservice.org

919-592-2369

Apptegy

Make it easy to reach parents, students, staff, and your community: with Thrillshare, you can communicate better and influence how people feel about your schools.

Abby Honnas

abby.honnas@apptegy

832-520-6555

Captivate Media+Consulting

Captivate Media is your K-12 expert in crafting highimpact video, graphic design, and animation. Grow enrollment and build community support with clarity, purpose, and intent.

Jake Sturgis

jake@captivatemedia.us

CatapultK12

CatapultK12 provides Integrated Communication Solutions for K12 schools and educational institutions for affordable prices.

CESO Communications

CESO Communications brings you the brightest minds in school PR to communicate with clarity, connect with your community, and build for the future. We know the challenges of this work because we’ve done it for decades.

theceso.com

Bob Noyed

Bob.Noyed@theceso.com

Class Intercom

Class Intercom is the only social media management platform created specifically for educational use. It is the smartest and simplest way for school administrators, communicators, and educators to manage all of their social media profiles, from a single school to an entire district. Class Intercom allows schools to foster a secure and collaborative environment with social media content creation, scheduling, publishing, moderation, monitoring, and archiving. Make your school’s social media remarkable.

Dr. Jill Johnson jill@classintercom.com

402-413-7114

Claycomb

“Designing Schools with Kids in Mind,” Claycomb Associates, Architects exclusively serves Texas K-12 districts, offering long-range planning, bond election assistance, creative services, and construction administration.

Claycomb.net

Kim Hocott kim.hocott@claycomb.net

832-672-4000

Edlio

Edlio is a technology company that unifies, simplifies, and streamlines school communication for students, families, and the community. marketing@edlio.com

1-877-646-0500

Et Tu Boutique

Et Tu Boutique is a women’s clothing store specializing in curvy and plus-size women, starting with sizes XL. We believe every woman deserves to feel beautiful. Et Tu - “And You” deserve to find stylish, comfortable and beautiful clothes.

Melissa Day

ettu@the-other-day.com

512-905-3875

catapultk12.com

Finalsite

Easy-to-use website and communications tools. Districts choose Finalsite for our award-winning, ADA-compliant designs, robust communications software, integrated mobile app, easy-to-use website content management tools and secure hosting.

finalsite.com

Gallagher

Gallagher Construction Services provides complete construction services for independent school districts, municipalities, higher education districts, and government agencies.

Steve Risser srisser@gallaghertx.com

972-663-0564

Go Public

Go Public promotes the benefits of PreK-12 public education and the wonderful things happening in its member districts.

Lisa Losasso Jackson Lisa@WeGoPublic.com

512-217-7408

Harris County Department of Education

Harris County Department of Education is a public entity dedicated to meeting the needs of uniquely challenged learners in the stateʼs largest county through innovative programming and support services.

Stephanie De Los Santos sdelossantos@hcde-texas.org

713-696-0754

Huckabee

Huckabee Communications team facilitates district bond campaigns and develops branding and communications strategies that holistically tell a client’s story, increase engagement and elevate their image.

Lesley Weaver

Lesley.Weaver@huckabee-inc.com 817-377-2969

Kendra Scott

Jewelry for every look & occasion, from simple & classic to bright and bold. Jewelry that makes you feel like your most confident self. Shop pendants, earrings & more!

K12 Insight

K12 Insight offers the only all-in-one, enterprise-wide customer experience and intelligence platform built for education.

Sarah Maston smaston@k12insight.com

703-542-9605

Knockout Specialties

Welcome to Knock-Out Specialties, where promoting your business is our business. We are a premier source for your branding solutions and promotional product needs!

Brett Bond orders@knockoutspecialties.com

214-440-1200

LexisNexis

Learn about how LexisNexis® Media Intelligence Solutions can inform your communications and business strategies with our media monitoring, social analytics and news curation tools.

Clayton Miller

Clayton.Miller@lexisnexis.com

937-557-8229

Niche

Niche is where families choose their school. By supporting over 27 million families, Niche is changing how schools connect with parents and build their classes.

Mark Eshelman mark.eshelman@niche.com

412.303.8697

National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)

With more than 2,500 members, NSPRA is the leader in developing professionals to communicate strategically, build trust and foster positive relationships in support of their school communities. Members receive two monthly newsletters, free monthly webinars, access to the members-only discussion forum NSPRA Connect, discounts to the National Seminar and on other programs and services, ability to earn their APR through NSPRA and participate in the APR cohort, and much more! Become a member today at nspra.org.

Barbara Hunter, APR bhunter@nspra.org

301-519-1220

O’Connell Robertson

O’Connell Robertson is a full-service architecture, engineering and interior design firm whose missiondriven approach creates education and healthcare environments that enrich the lives of the people they were designed to serve.

oconnellrobertson.com

ParentSquare

ParentSquare provides unified school-home communications from district office to the classroom. Reporting, integrations, language translation, and app/ email/text/voice/web access support equitable communication.

Peachjar

Peachjar unites schools, parents, and communities in their joint mission to help children thrive. This digital communication platform streamlines school-to-home communication by distributing invaluable school updates and community resources directly to parent inboxes. Trusted by over 12 million parents and 17,500 schools nationwide, Peachjar works with over 35,000 organizations to provide opportunities to help students find their passions, build social skills, and achieve lifelong success.

Tabassum Bhaghani

tabassumb@peachjar.com

858-997-2117

Possip

Possip helps schools and districts routinely access feedback from their stakeholders - families, staff, and students. Working with 1000+ schools and organizations across 34 states, Possip uses Pulse Checks translatable in 100+ languages to capture trends, praise, and feedback for schools and districts.

Hannah Hall

Hannah@possip.com

513-5503178

Qualtrics

Qualtrics is used by 3/4 of the fortune 100 companies, nearly every university, and K-12 to improve experiences and relationships with parents, students, and the community.

RBFCU

With high-value products and services, RBFCU is a trusted financial partner for thousands of members in Texas and around the world.

Region 4

Proud to be the “Official Printer of TSPRA,” we offer online printing services 24 hours a day! Our friendly team is ready to assist you. Stop by our booth and learn what we can do.

esc4.net/printcenter

Bryan Tucker

btucker@esc4.net

713-744-8129

Remind

Remind is a communication platform that reaches students and families where they are. We believe that relationships drive success in education, and we’re building a platform that supports learning wherever it happens. Today, the Remind platform is home to one of the largest free services in education, a school communication business that supports millions of students, and an online tutoring solution that provides help outside the classroom. Founded in 2011, Remind is backed by GSV Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Owl Ventures, and Social Capital.

For more information, visit Remind.com

Public School Marketing Services

Public School Marketing Services provides professional development for school district communications professionals. Through the online School District Marketing Academy, students gain valuable marketing skills. Small to mid-size districts benefit from the ready-to-use resources and tools

SchoolDistrictMarketingAcademy.com

Lisa Losasso Jackson

LisaL@11Productions.com

512-217-7408

SchoolMessenger

SchoolMessenger combines parent communications, two-way classroom messaging, attendance management, digital forms and workflows, branded mobile apps, and school websites. Designed to work together from the start, our school communications systems save districts time and money and provide more immediate, complete, and equitable school community engagement. See for yourself why SchoolMessenger is trusted by far more districts than any other school communications provider.

AJ Morgan Director of Marketing ajmorgan@intrado.com

School Revenue Partners

Stop by our table to learn about how we can generate revenue using your website and e-newsletter and bring more money to your department.

schoolrevenuepartners.com

Thomas Evans

tevans@schoolrevenuepartners.com

214-620-2091

School Status

Simple solutions for districts that need accessible student data and district-wide communication tools to increase parent and student engagement. The platform aggregates information and pairs with call, text and email capability for data-informed communications. schoolstatus.com

Smore

Smore makes it easy to design beautiful and effective online newsletters. Users of our amazing product create a culture of consistent communication, with interactive newsletters people actually open and read.

SocialSchool4edu

#SocialSchool4EDU provides social media management, offers a Social Media Bootcamp, and runs a vibrant online community that provides professional development for school social media champions.

socialschool4edu.com

Andrea Gribble andrea@socialschool4edu.com

715-205-0429

Talking Points

TalkingPoints is a multilingual, two-way family engagement platform that establishes effective and meaningful communication with all families in more than 100 languages

TASB

Weʼre here for the benefit of Texas public education. Members have instant access to expert information, training, and advocacy support. So, when you need help, Think TASB First!

Sylvia Wood

tasb@tasb.org

800-580-8279

Certified Public Communicator Program at TCU

The Certified Public Communicator Program at TCU serves communicators from school districts and public-sector agencies, providing postbaccalaureate professional development on writing communication plans using best practices.

certifiedpubliccommunicator.org

Jacqueline Lambiase, Ph.D.

j.lambiase@tcu.edu

817-257-6552

TeacherLists

TeacherLists is the free, easy-to-use online school supply list solution that helps schools and district manage and share supply lists with families in seconds. Parents love the convenience of viewing lists on their smartphones and shopping through online retailers. All supply lists are ADA-compliant and TeacherLists is 100% free. Visit TeacherLists at www.teacherlists.com.

Charlene LaFerriere

claferriere@teacherlist.com

800-644-3561 x 209

ThoughtExchange

ThoughtExchange is for leaders who make big decisions. Get instant, unbiased insights from tens, hundreds, or thousands of people—without spending weeks or months making sense of the data. Engage your organization or community to voice their thoughts and deliver the best solutions to your most pressing challenges. Unify people and make better decisions, faster.

Vype Media

Content Provider and Marketing Partner for ISDs and Schools, specializing in athletics.

WRA Architects

We’ve designed more than 1,200 projects for 70 districts including K-12 schools, stadiums, auditoriums, CATE & STE(A)M facilities and more. Services include facility assessment, master planning, bond planning, architectural and interior design, and construction administration. Wraarchitects.com

Mike Holmberg

mholmberg@wraarchitects.com

254-396-4776

OMNI FORT WORTH MAPS

2023 Announcing Advanced Two-Way Messaging from SchoolMessenger Stop by the SchoolMessenger booth at TSPRA and see it for yourself! 230130BM-SchoolMessenger - TSPRA 2023 Ad (7.125x10).indd 1 1/30/23 11:48 AM

TSPRA