About NSPRA
Become a Member
Each candidate was asked to respond to the following questions. The answers below are presented exactly as submitted, without edits.
Submit one narrative paragraph that provides a brief overview of your career and professional background:
With nearly two decades of experience in school public relations, Christy McGee, APR, is a strategic communications leader dedicated to advancing public education through authentic storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy. From launching her career in an advertising agency, to supporting clean sport in the Olympic movement, to leading communications for two school districts, Christy brings a deep commitment to supporting students, staff, and communities. Currently the Director of Communications for Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8, Christy has led crisis response, enhanced transparency, and built meaningful partnerships, all while mentoring fellow professionals and championing school PR at the state and national levels. Her passion for public education drives every effort to empower and elevate the work of educators and communicators alike. Why did you decide to run for national office and pursue a volunteer leadership position on the NSPRA Executive Board?
Running for national board office felt like the next natural step in a journey rooted in service, connection, and a deep belief in the power of school PR. After years of working to strengthen communication in public education – at the district, state, and national levels – I felt called to give back in a greater way. Serving on the COSPRA Board, supporting others through the APR process, and presenting at national seminars have all been meaningful experiences that affirmed how important it is to lift up and support one another in this profession. This role offers an opportunity to serve members across the Southwest region and beyond, to build systems that foster connection and growth, and to help ensure that NSPRA remains a strong, strategic, and inclusive organization for every member.
How can school PR professionals best advance our role as communication leaders, demonstrate communication accountability and build understanding of communication as a core management function?
School PR professionals advance as communication leaders by being more than messengers – we must become strategic partners with our district colleagues in other departments. The most effective professionals are rooted in the RPIE process (whether you have your APR or not!), using research to guide decisions, planning with purpose, and evaluating impact. That accountability helps shift communication from a support role to a leadership function and it’s how our peers in Curriculum, Assessment, Maintenance and other functions work.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen how powerful it is when communication is part of the decision-making process from the start. By partnering with leaders across the district – from the superintendent to school principals to operations – we can align efforts, anticipate challenges, and build stronger trust with families and staff.
This work is about more than sending messages, creating brochures, or taking pictures; it’s about creating systems, telling the district’s story, and ensuring every audience feels seen and supported. As an APR and mentor, I’ve helped others lean into strategy, ask the right questions, and show their value. That’s how we elevate this work, and each other.
What do you consider to be the major communication challenges facing districts/education organizations today, and what qualifications, skills and expertise will you offer as an Executive Board member to help NSPRA support members in addressing these issues?
One of the biggest challenges school systems face today is navigating distrust – especially when the national narrative around public education is complex, fractured, and often politicized. In this environment, communicators are often the bridge between a divided public and the day-to-day truth of what is happening inside schools. Building trust at the local level requires more than broad messaging; it means identifying specific audiences, understanding what they need, and delivering clear, timely, and honest communication that earns credibility over time.
This is where I thrive. My strength lies in connecting with people – leaders, staff, families, and community partners – and making sure each group has what it needs to feel seen, heard, and informed. My work is grounded in the RPIE process of the APR, and I consistently tie strategy to audience and outcomes. I focus on relevance over volume, on real conversations over one-size-fits-all messaging.
As an Executive Board member, I would bring joyful energy, strategic thinking, and a collaborative mindset to help NSPRA support members in tackling today’s communication challenges. I believe in learning from one another – state to state, chapter to chapter – and in creating systems that help school PR professionals feel less isolated and more empowered. Whether mentoring a new professional or helping a chapter onboard new leaders, I lead with a connector’s heart, a communicator’s clarity, and an unwavering belief in the value of public education.
NSPRA’s mission is to be the leader in developing professionals to communicate strategically, build trust and foster positive relationships in support of their school communities. How will you support this mission as an NSPRA leader?
A mission is more than a statement, it’s a compass. NSPRA’s mission can guide the Board and every member as we navigate evolving challenges and opportunities. As a leader, I believe staying mission-focused keeps our work strategic, intentional, and grounded in service to students, families, and school communities.
Strategic communication isn’t just a part of our jobs, it’s a discipline that builds trust and drives public education forward. I’ve spent nearly two decades helping school leaders connect with stakeholders, calm crisis, and elevate the everyday wins that tell the real story of schools. I lead with the RPIE model because it creates structure, focus, and accountability. That same strategic lens is essential at the national level, and I’ll bring that mindset to everything I do as a Board member.
I also believe strongly in the power of relationships. We can’t build trust if we don’t first build connection – with each other, across chapters, and within our communities. My strengths as a communicator, activator, and connector position me to bring people together, share practical tools, and keep the mission alive in the day-to-day work of school PR professionals.
To truly live NSPRA’s mission, we must be intentional about aligning decisions, resources, and outreach with its core. As a leader, I’ll keep that mission front and center, ensuring it remains a touchstone for strategy, a spark for innovation, and a source of clarity in times of change.