Committees NSPRA committees engage in research and also work to support the mission of the Association. Members interested in serving on committees or task forces can contact the chairs, staff liaisons, or Board liaisons. Information about each committee and task force, including contacts, can be found below.

Environmental Scanning Committee

Chair: Louis Henry, APR louise@prismadvantage.net 713-305-1447
Board Liaison: Kelly Avants, kellyavants@cusd.com 559-327-9092
Staff Liaison: Rich Bagin, APR, ed@nspra.org 301-519-0496

Charge:

• Research emerging trends (societal/environmental/economical/health/educational, etc.) that have implications for or a direct impact on school systems. Explore and articulate how the trends may impact schools and write a three articles for the "Trend Tracker" feature of e-Network.
• Identify significant breaking issues about which NSPRA members will benefit from timely notification. Collect tools (talking points, parent letters, case studies, etc.) developed by NSPRA members in response to breaking issues to turnkey out to the full membership. If time permits, develop tools and tip sheets for dissemination to members.
• Continue to use the e-Knowledge Portal "community of practice" forum for committee member communications.
• Present a "Trends to Watch" session panel at the 2011 Seminar in San Antonio, Texas, along with a follow-up special report article for the NSPRA Counselor in August 2011.

Deadline:
Work is ongoing through the 2011 Seminar. Committee members will provide monthly reports to the committee chair via e-mail or other methods defined by the committee chair. If a committee member should be become aware of an urgent issue, he/she will immediately notify the committee chair. Committee chair will provide reports for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held in November 2010, March 2011 and July 2011.

Committee Members;
Larry Ascough (TX) larry@ascough.com 972-303-9162
Gary Marx, APR (VA) gmarxcpo@aol.com 703-938-8725
Kim Yielding (ON) kim-yielding@dsbn.edu.on.ca 905-641-2929 ext 4160
Jedd Flowers (WV) jtflower@access.k12.wv.us 304-528-5338
Keith Pierce, APR (NY) (keithpierce793@hotmail.com; kpierce@newvisions.org 610-405-6373
Janelle Albertson, APR (CO) janelle.albertson@adams12.org 720-972-4149
Allison Kaufman (MI) allisonkaufman@kentisd.org 616-365-2227

Executive Board Search Committee
(Standing Committee)

Chair: Athena Vadnais, APR (Northwest) athena_vadnais@gbsd.gresham.k12.or.us 503-618-2834
Board Liaison: Ron Koehler, APR ronkoehler@kentisd.org 616-365-2292
Staff Liaison: Karen Kleinz, APR, kkleinz@nspra.org 301-519-1227

Charge:

• To recruit and recommend a slate of one or more candidates for each NSPRA Executive Board office that will become vacant the following year. (President-elect, South Central VP, North Central VP and VP of Diversity Engagement)
• Present slate to the membership at the July 10, 2011 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas

Deadline: Slate of candidates submitted to NSPRA office no later than May 1, 2011.

Committee Members:
Nez Calhoun, APR (Southeast) ncalhoun@jefcoed.com 205-379-2196
David Luther (South Central) david.luther@jcps.k12.mo.us 573-659-3018
Amanda Brooker (North Central) abrooker@greenbay.k12.wi.us 920-448-2025
Ann Stephens-Cherry (Diversity) astephens@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us 757-727-2011
Trent Allen (Southwest) trent.allen@sanjuan.edu 916-979-8281
Jim Van Develde (Northeast) jvandevelde@lakelandschools.org 914-245-1700 ext. 262
Jennifer Birtle (Mideast) jenny.birtle@madriverschools.org 937-259-6609

Audit Committee
(Standing Committee)

Board Liaisons: Mary Ellen Marnholtz mmarnhol@wausau.k12.wi.us 715-261-0555
Nicole Kirby kirbyn@parkhill.k12.mo.us 816-359-6030
Staff Liaison: Tommy Jones tjones@nspra.org  310-519-1222 

Charge:
To review outside auditor's report and make a report to the Executive Board and the membership.

Deadline: 
Report made at November 2010 Executive Board Meeting and to the membership at the July 10, 2011 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

Committee Members:
Lew Armistead, APR lacomm@aol.com 301-373-5024
Gary Marx, APR gmarxcpo@aol.com 703-938-8725
Linda Erdos lerdos@arlington.k12.va.us 703-228-6002

Teller Committee
(Standing Committee)

Board Liaison: Nancy Vaughan, APR, nvaughan@waterbury.k12.ct.us 203-573-6633
Staff Liaison: Tommy Jones  tjones@nspra.org  301-519-1222   

Charge: To count votes, certify the election and contact all candidates about the election results.

Deadline: September 30, 2010

Committee Members:
Harry Roberts, APR hpr06@ptd.net 570-259-0901
Kitty Porterfield kitty@porterfieldandcarnes.com 703-548-1450
Ken Muir, APR kkmuir@aol.com 301-460-9583   

 Accreditation Committee
(Standing Committee)

Chair: Robyn Castleberry, APR (South Central) rcastleberry@mntechnology.com 405-364-5763 ext. 7268
UAB Rep: TBD 
Board Liaison: Maureen Wheeler, APR, maureen_wheeler@beavton.k12.or.us 503-591-4360
Staff Liaison: Karen Kleinz, APR, kkleinz@nspra.org 301-519-1227            

Charge:   

• Develop an accreditation liaison/chair for as many chapters as possible and appropriate.
• Identify and encourage potential APR candidates.
• Prepare and implement an annual marketing/public relations plan to market the Accreditation Examination to members (per UAB policies and procedures).
• Write two articles for NSPRA publications - one on the value of accreditation and a second on what superintendents need to know about the value of the APR process and accreditation.
• Serve as a resource to NSPRA chapters and provide advice and assistance in offering accreditation preparation opportunities for members.
• Assist in coordinating and presenting the APR Prep pre-seminar workshop.

Pertaining to Readiness Review Panels: 

• Monitor candidates' progress through the process and report to NSPRA on each step.
• Serve as the local/regional coordination arm for NSPRA in scheduling Readiness Review panels for member candidates for accreditation.
• Assist chapters in building capacity to host local/state Readiness Review panels for candidates.
• Develop relationships/assist chapters to develop relationships with PRSA chapters in states/locales that lack capacity for convening a full panel of NSPRA APRs in order to facilitate the involvement of at least one NSPRA APR on a member candidate's panel.
• Provide mentoring and support for Readiness Review candidates as outlined in the testing program.
• Maintain contact throughout the year with chapters running APR study groups to identify members who plan to become APR candidates and request Readiness Review panels at the Seminar.
• Work with NSPRA to coordinate and schedule a set number (to be determined) of Readiness Review panels at the 2011 NSPRA Seminar in San Antonio, Texas.
• Identify and recruit members with APRs to serve as Readiness Review panelists in their state/region and at the Seminar.
• Serve on Readiness Review panels at the Seminar and at the local/regional level when possible.
• Be able to explain the steps involved in becoming accredited to interested candidates.
• Thoroughly understand the Readiness Review Panel process and become familiar with the coaching guide.
• Follow NSPRA's guidelines for the Readiness Review panel process.

Regional Committee Reps:

Deadline: Committee chair will provide reports for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held November 2010, March 2011 and July 2011.

Communications Accountability Program (CAP) Task Force

Chair: Chris Tennill, APR, (MO) chris_tennill@clayton.k12.mo.us 314-854-6015
Board Liaisons: Frank Kwan kwan_frank@lacoe.edu 562-922-6360; Stephanie Bateman stephanie.bateman@jefferson.kyschools.us 502-485-3622
Staff Liaison: Rich Bagin, APR, ed@nspra.org 301-519-0496

Goal:
To document the positive impact of effective communications on student achievement and schools.

 Objectives: 

1. Conduct quantitative and qualitative research that supports the positive impact of effective communications on student achievement and schools.
2. Develop resources that school communications professionals and school leaders can use to advance formal, planned communications programs.
3. Conduct public information and advocacy programs in cooperation with NSPRA staff and leaders to promote the positive impact of effective communications on student achievement and schools.

Charge:

• Assess the results of the pilot financial survey completed in 2008-09. Refine the survey and conduct it in at least three states during the 2010-11 school year. Prepare a summary of the findings to be published by NSPRA throughout the year.
• Update and enhance the CAP PowerPoint presentation developed by the 2008-09 committee, adding additional items from CAP research completed over the past three years. Design should be website-friendly. Prepare a supplementary Leader's Guide for the PowerPoint for use by chapters that highlights key message points about CAP. Submit the PowerPoint and Leader's Guide to NSPRA for approval.
• Assist in locatin school districts to implement a survey for their systems contingent upon their sharing the results for use in building content for a centralized body of knowledge collected from participating individual district surveys. Districts and schools would be identified by characteristics such as size, type (i.ge. rural/urban/suburban), region of country, grade level of schools/district, etc. Findings to be released in July 2011.

Deadline: Committee will provide reports and recommendations for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held November 2010, March 2011 and July 2011.

CAP Steering Committee Members:
Dianne Litzenburger (MI) litzd@charemisd.org 231-547-9947
David Voss (FL) david@vossandassociates.net 941-366-4845
Joe Ferdani, APR (CO) joe.ferdani@adams12.org 720-972-6223
Paul Tandy, APR (MO) ptandy@pkwy.k12.mo.us 314-415-8082
Christina Perrino (MO) christina_perrino@clayton.k12.mo.us 314-854-6038
Kathleen Kennedy, APR (OK) kmkennedy@okcps.org 405-587-0224
Monica Allread (AZ) mallread@tempeschools.org 480-686-2796
J.Marie Riche (WA) j.marie@idealcommunications.us 425-238-7044

Membership/Professional Development Task Force

Chair: Terri McHugh, APR terrimchugh@sd54.org 847-357-5028
Board Liaisons: Nicole Kirby kirbyn@parkhill.k12.mo.us 816-359-6030; Patti Koslo patti.koslo@nordoniaschools.org 330-468-1134
Staff Liaison: Karen Kleinz, APR, kkleinz@nspra.org 301-519-1227

Charge:

• Appoint a coordinator or sub-committee to work with Regional VPs on collecting best practices from chapters to update and expand the NSPRA Chapter Leadership Guidebook on an ongoing basis. New material to be submitted with the Committee's report prior to each Executive Board meeting.
• Identify and submit 10 topics and possible "expert" participants for NSPRA's Take Ten feature on the NSPRA website.
• Collect and submit 10 member responses to questions scheduled for NSPRA's Counselor Online feature on the NSPRA website.
• Update the current How to Start a District PR Program resource on the NSPRA website.
• Develop a template for building a communication plan for superintendents of small districts that have no professional communicator on staff.
• Develop a best practices compilation on the topic of budget communications as an e-document.

Deadline: Committee will provide reports for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held November 2010, March 2011 and July 2011.

Committee Members:
Abby Knagg-Cloud acloud@dcschools.com 214-944-4541
Danelle Gittus, APR danelle.gittus@oakland.k12.mi.us 248-209-2181
Sloan Roach sloan_roach@gwinnett.k12.ga.us 678-301-6021
Ken Blackstone, APR blackskj@pwcs.edu 703-791-8015
Diane Leiker dleiker@lps.k12.co.us 303-347-3387

Superintendent Services Task Force

Chair: Bob Noyed, APR (MN), robert.noyed@wayzata.k12.mn.us 763-745-5068  
Board Liaison: Sandy Husk, Ph.D., husk_sandy@salkeiz.k12.or.us 
Staff Liaison: Rich Bagin, APR, ed@nspra.org 301-519-0496

Charge:

• Work closely with the NSPRA Executive Director in implementing a needs assessment of superintendents to determine cost-effective strategies/services NSPRA can provide to meet their communications needs. The assessment should:

- Identify superintendents' needs and interests;
- Determine how NSPRA can best serve superintendents through tech delivery services;
- Ascertain price points for superintendents joining a new superintendents' service provided by NSPRA.

• Prepare six articles, one for each issue of Communication Matters for Leading Superintendents
  
• Identify and collect contact information for target superintendent markets including: 
  - Superintendents new to their districts;
  - State, local and university superintendent study group/council members;
  - Superintendents who are not currently receiving Communication Matters for Leading Superintendents to expand circulation.

Deadline: Committee chair will provide reports for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held November 2010, March 2011 and July 2011.

Committee Members: TBD