Jessica McCartney

35 Under 35: Jessica McCartney, APR

NEW in 2024: As NSPRA introduces the Emerging Leaders Award, the association is sunsetting the 35 Under 35 recognition while still reflecting the best aspects of the honor in a new, more expansive and inclusive award. These changes were inspired by member insights gathered by the NSPRA Awards Task Force.

Every other year, NSPRA's 35 Under 35 program recognizes school public relations professionals who are making a difference for their school districts or education-related employers. The sixth class of NSPRA's 35 Under 35 program is sponsored by Rhodes Branding.

Jessica McCartney, APR
Director of Communications
Enumclaw (Wash.) School District

How many years have you worked in school PR?
5 years.

What have you found to be the most rewarding part about working in school PR?

Serving and supporting others is the most rewarding part of my role in school PR. I love being able to see the impact of this work and all the ways it supports positive outcomes for students, families, educators and public education. Being in a role charged with providing strategic communication that amplifies diverse voices, cultivates engagement and a sense of belonging, and instills trust in our district and belief in students is an incredible responsibility, but seeing how this strengthens our learning community and makes a difference for students is why this work is so essential and rewarding.

What have you found to be the most challenging part about working in school PR? How do you approach those challenges?

Each day in school PR can bring unexpected, new, challenging and arduous tasks that have the potential to change the course of your day/week/month. The emerging unknowns and the frequency at which they tend to occur can be incredibly challenging. Because of this, I am exceedingly grateful for this incredible professional community and the relationships with my colleagues, who continue to provide the wisdom and support needed to overcome any challenge. If I reach out for help, I know I can count on several emails or calls back, offering genuine support. I am also committed to ongoing professional development and will continue to capitalize on opportunities to learn from others and build on my knowledge and skills.

What has been your most fulfilling professional experience thus far?

Learning and growing with those around me continues to be the most fulfilling experience. Supporting and advocating for the professional growth of my team and being able to watch them succeed or receiving feedback that my contribution to a publication, training or speaker presentation helped someone else in their work or empowered them to try something new are experiences that continue to bring me joy and inspiration.

Are there any emerging trends in school public relations that excite you?

Most recently, I have been very intrigued by the increased accessibility and potential applications of artificial intelligence. It is exciting to explore innovations, like ChatGPT, that might challenge our conventional practices and enhance our work. I get excited about the emerging communication tools and platforms that increase language access and use AI to encourage interaction and conversations amongst different sub-groups in our community. As we continue to focus on increasing community engagement in more meaningful ways, I am excited to see new tools and strategies that remove barriers to communication and participation for all of our families.

Awards Award Winners 35 Under 35 Honorees Jessica McCartney

35 Under 35: Jessica McCartney, APR