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

Co-Chairs:
Joe Ferdani (CO) joe [dot] ferdani [at] adams12 [dot] org  720-972-6223
Sylvia Link (ON) sylvia [dot] link [at] peelsb [dot] com 905-890-1010 x2814

Board Liaisons:
Jim Van Develde (NY) jimvan [at] lakelandschools [dot] org 914-245-1700 x262

Staff Liaison: 
Carol Mowen, APR cmowen [at] nspra [dot] org 301-519-1223

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. Present a "Trends to Watch" session panel at the 2009 Seminar in San Francisco along with a follow-up special report publication to be released in August 2009.
• 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.
• Use the new e-Knowledge Portal "community of practice" forum for committee member communications.

Deadline:

Work is ongoing through the 2009 Seminar. Committee members will provide monthly reports to committee co-chairs through e-mail or other methods defined by the committee co-chairs. If a committee member should be become aware of an urgent issue, he/she will immediately notify the committee co-chairs. Committee co-chairs will provide reports for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held November 14-15, 2008, March 27-28, 2009 and June 25-26, 2009.

Executive Board Search Committee
(Standing Committee)

Chair:
Jennifer Reeve, APR (CO) jreeve [at] casb [dot] org 303-832-1000

Board Liaison:
Sandy Cokeley, APR (NY) cokeleys [at] pearlriver [dot] org 845-620-3932

Staff Liaison:
Karen Kleinz, APR kkleinz [at] nspra [dot] 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, Southeast VP, and Northwest VP).
• Present slate to the membership at the June 28, 2009 Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Deadline: 

Slate of candidates submitted to NSPRA office no later than May 1, 2009.

Audit Committee
(Standing Committee)

Board Liaison:
J.Marie Riche (WA) j [dot] marie [at] idealcommunications [dot] us 425-238-7044

Staff Liaison:
Tommy Jones, tjones [at] nspra [dot] org  310-519-1222

Charge:

• To review outside auditor's report and make a report to the Executive Board.

Deadline: 

Report made at November 14-15, 2008 Executive Board Meeting and to the membership at the June 18, 2009 Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Teller Committee
(Standing Committee)

Board Liaison:
Debra Marlow, debra_marlow [at] ccpsnet [dot] net 804-748-1433

Staff Liaison:
Tommy Jones, tjones [at] nspra [dot] org  301-519-1222

Charge:

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

Deadline: 

September 30, 2008

Accreditation Committee
(Standing Committee)

Chair:
Karen McDermott, APR, (KS) kmcdermott [at] usd266 [dot] com  316-722-0614, ext. 2021

UAB Rep:
Ed Moore, APR mooreeh [at] gmail [dot] com 856-881-5870

Board Liaison:
Jim Cummings, APR, jcummings [at] peoriaud [dot] k12 [dot] az [dot] us 623-486-6040

Staff Liaison:
Carol Mowen, APR cmowen [at] nspra [dot] org 301-519-1223

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 2009 NSPRA Seminar in San Francisco.
• 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.

Deadline: Committee chair will provide reports for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held November 14-15, 2008, March 27-28, 2009 and June 25-26, 2009.

Communications Accountability Program (CAP)
Task Force

Chairs:
Ron Koehler, APR (MI) ronkoehler [at] kentisd [dot] org 616-365-2292
Dianne Litzenburger (MI) litzd [at] charemisd [dot] org 231-547-9947

Board Liaisons:
(Incoming President-elect)

Staff Liaison:
Rich Bagin, APR   ed [at] nspra [dot] 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.

2008-09 Charge:

Objective 1

• Develop a plan for conducting a correlational study between school finance elections and formal planned communications programs. Plan should include research on both annual budget votes and special bond elections; longitudinal data, and sufficient geographical representation. Results need be statistically valid and reliable. Initialize study.
• Ensure plan is ready for implementation by August 2009. Begin implementation if plan is complete earlier.

Objective 2

• Identify contents for a CAP Toolkit from which school communications professionals and school leaders can pull resources to advance formal, planned communications programs. Compile all existing materials from prior CAP committee accomplishments. Identify existing NSPRA materials suitable for inclusion in the CAP Toolkit. Prioritize needs for additional materials and create a minimum of one new resource from the following:
• Develop a draft outline for a workshop on the importance of communication as a management function for small-district superintendents.
• Write two op-ed articles on the value of communication that members can adapt for use in local newspapers.
• Develop content for the "Starting a PR Program" section of the NSPRA web site.
• Provide a PowerPoint presentation on the value of communication (based on CAP strategies) for local school districts.
• Develop a draft of a monograph on becoming a strategic communicator. Show examples that demonstrate how critical thinking skills make the PR role more successful.

Objective 3

• Conduct analysis of CAP outreach efforts to date, including published articles, presentations, consultative support, etc. Develop comprehensive list of outreach contacts. Maximize CAP research by identifying gaps/opportunities for extending NSPRA's outreach through use of existing materials; release materials.
• Advocate and support formal communications training at administrative leadership degree programs.

Deadline: 

Committee chairs will provide reports and recommendations for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held November 14-15, 2008, March 27-28, 2009 and June 25-26, 2009.

Membership/Professional Development Task Force

Chairs:
Chris Tennill (MO) chris_tennill [at] clayton [dot] k12 [dot] mo [dot] us 314-854-6015
Co-chair Karen Smith, APR (PA) ksmith [at] cbsd [dot] org 267-893-2004

Board Liaisons:
Susan Hardy Brooks, APR hardybrooks [at] pldi [dot] net 405-392-2325 &
Nancy Kracke kracken [at] district112 [dot] org 952-556-6121 (Interim)

Staff Liaison:
Karen Kleinz, APR kkleinz [at] nspra [dot] org 301-519-1227

Charge:

• Conduct follow-up research to determine:
• Top three reasons for non-renewals of memberships.
• Top three reasons why new members join. In addition, develop - in concert with NSPRA staff - survey questions to determine professional development needs/expectations of new members.
• Conduct follow-up inquiries when results warrant qualitative input.

NSPRA will provide quarterly contact lists of new and expired members. Committee may develop a script for phone surveys or a format for electronic surveys. All research activities must be approved by NSPRA prior to implementation.

• Develop a Membership Recruitment/Retention Plan based on the data collected through surveys and other research/input from committees and NSPRA staff. The plan should include:
  • Strategies chapters and the committee can use to increase NSPRA membership, including targeting chapter members who are not NSPRA members.
  • Strategies to assist chapters in recruiting new members, including NSPRA members who are not chapter members.
  • Strategies to assist chapters in encouraging members to actively participate in professional development activities at the state and national level.
  • Considerations of ways to engage members of different generations (twenty-somethings through boomer veterans) and cost-effective strategies/services for meeting the needs of different member groups.
  • A compilation of ideas and best practices for recruitment and retention for inclusion in the NSPRA Chapter Leadership Guidebook.
  • Articulation of resources, professional development programs, ePortal content, to meet member needs/expectations.

• 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.

Deadline:

Committee chairs will provide reports for NSPRA Executive Board Meetings to be held November 14-15, 2008, March 27-28, 2009 and June 25-26, 2009.

Superintendent Services Task Force

Chairs: 
Bob Noyed, APR (MN) robert [dot] noyed [at] wayzata [dot] k12 [dot] mn [dot] us 763-745-5068
Jim Rickabaugh (WI) Jim [dot] Rickabaugh [at] wfbschools [dot] com 414-963-3901

Board Liaisons: 
Sandy Husk, Ph.D. husk_sandy [at] salkeiz [dot] k12 [dot] or [dot] us

Staff Liaison:
Rich Bagin, APR ed [at] nspra [dot] org 301-519-0496

Charge:

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

• Develop a survey to identify superintendents' needs and interests;
• Determine how NSPRA can best serve superintendents via the e-Knowledge Portal and web site;
• Determine interest in a "Superintendent's Only" section of the web site;
• Determine whether needs differ depending on district size;
• Identify whether the superintendent has a communications professional on staff or whether another staff member has communication responsibilities.

• Develop a strategic plan to meet the needs determined through the comprehensive assessment. Conduct audit of and compile all available NSPRA resources that can be used to serve superintendents seeking to enhance/expand/protect their communications program. Articulate strategies for and begin to develop missing resources. 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 14-15, 2008, March 27-28, 2009 and June 25-26, 2009.

NSPRA Awards Recognition Committee

Chair:
Joe Krumm, APR (Northwest) krumm [at] nclack [dot] k12 [dot] or [dot] us 503-353-6017

Board Liaison:
Debbie Elmore, delmore [at] scsba [dot] org 803-988-0224

Staff Liaison:
Karen Kleinz, APR   kkleinz [at] nspra [dot] org 301-519-1227

Charge:

• Actively seek out and identify deserving candidates who meet the criteria for consideration for the NSPRA Presidents Award. Prepare nomination materials, or solicit eligible NSPRA members to submit nomination forms for identified candidates.
• Actively seek out and identify deserving candidates who meet the criteria for consideration for the Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award. Prepare nomination materials, or solicit eligible NSPRA members to submit nomination forms for identified candidates.
• Actively seek out and identify deserving candidates who meet the criteria for consideration for the Eugene T. Carothers Human Relations Award. Prepare recommendations based on the award criteria for consideration by the NSPRA Executive Board Carothers Award screening committee chaired by the Vice President for Diversity Engagement.
• Actively seek out and identify deserving candidates who meet the criteria for consideration for the NSPRA Learning & Liberty Award. Prepare recommendations based on the award criteria for consideration by the NSPRA Executive Board Learning & Liberty Award screening committee.

Deadlines:

February 14, 2009 - Nomination forms are due in to NSPRA for the:

• NSPRA Presidents Award
• Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award

April 1, 2009 - Nomination forms are due in to NSPRA for the:

• Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award

Ongoing Nominations Sought:

• Eugene T. Carothers Human Relations
• Learning & Liberty

Committee chairs will provide update reports on their efforts for NSPRA Executive Board November 14-15, 2008, March 27-28, 2009 and June 25-26, 2009.