National Seminar Presenting at the Seminar

As you consider what to present on, start by asking yourself: 

• What challenges has my profession struggled with lately?  
• What strategies have I used this past year to effectively tackle those challenges?  
• What unique professional insights do I have to offer others in my profession? 

Think about your answers to those questions and then consider the following feedback from past attendees on their topics of interest:  

• Hands-on, how-to instruction for various communication tools, apps, software and accessibility features 
• Digital communication skills (e.g., video, social media, podcasting, photography) 
• Employee recruitment and retention strategies and campaigns 
• Guidance for managing a communications department 
• Leadership training for veterans looking to advance their careers 
• Customer service initiatives 
• Storytelling skills 
• Writing skills, in general and specifically for speeches and scripts 
• Presentation, public speaking and interview skills 
• Sessions unique to the work of communicators in a BOCES, intermediate unit, regional education agency or county office of education. 

Session Focus Areas 

Each presentation proposal must fall into one of the following session focus areas: 

• AI–Artificial intelligence in communications and public schools
• CAREER–Charting a personal career path in communications
• CHAPTERS–Operations, leadership and programming in SPRA chapters
• ENGAGEMENT–Internal/external stakeholder engagement
• EQUITY–Supporting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in communications and public schools
• ESA–Component/client communications for Educational Service Agencies, Intermediate Units, BOCES, County Offices of Education
• ETHICS/LAW–Ethics and/or legal considerations in communications and public schools
• LEADERSHIP–Leadership, strategic counseling, management, mentorship in communications and public schools
• MARKETING–Marketing/branding for school systems, student enrollment, employee recruitment
• PLANNING–Strategic communication planning and accountability
• TACTICS–Tactics, activities and tools in communications

Now that you know what school PR pros want and how NSPRA may categorize your session, settle on a popular topic for which you have a lot of experience and expertise to offer. 

The NSPRA 2025 National Seminar attracted more than 1,600 school public relations professionals and school system leaders. Most were association members. Here are some key demographics about NSPRA’s members based on the 2024 Membership Profile Survey: 

Personal demographics: 

• 77% identify as a woman, and 22% identify as a man. 
• 83% identify as white, 6% as Hispanic or Latino, 5% as Black or African American, 2% as Asian, 1% as American Indian or Alaska Native and 1% as multi-racial. 
• 59% are between 40-59, while 24% are aged 30-39.  
• 55% hold a bachelor’s degree, and 38% also hold an advanced degree. 
• 12% hold accreditation in public relations (APR).  

School system demographics: 

• 73% work for a school system serving grades K-12 or preK-12. 
• 9% work for a  BOCES, intermediate unit, regional education agency or county office of education. 

School PR experience: 

• 44% are advancing or mid-career professionals with 5-15 years of experience.  
• 33% have four or fewer years of experience. 
• 24% are veterans with more than 15 years of experience. 

Communications office size: 

• 39% have a team of 2-4 people.  
• 35% are their organization’s only school communicator. 
• 14% have a team of 5 or more people. 

The top 5 responsibilities for NSPRA members are crisis communications, social media, external communications, community relations/public engagement and website management. 

As you review these demographics, picture the target audience for your presentation: Who would benefit most from what you have to share?  

Only in-person sessions will be offered during the NSPRA 2026 National Seminar on July 19-22. However, all presenters will be asked to pre-record their presentation for submission to NSPRA. Those recordings will be made available after the Seminar for on-demand viewing. 

All presenters must be registered for the Seminar, but you do not have to be a member of NSPRA in order to submit a proposal. 

Seminar Session Options 

As part of your presentation proposal, you will be invited to share your experience delivering a professional presentation, particularly at a NSPRA National Seminar. If you have not done so, a reference who has observed and can speak to your presentation skills may be requested.  

Seminar planners consider presenters’ experience levels, and if applicable, past Seminar evaluations as part of the proposal review process.  

However, NSPRA members are all encouraged to submit proposals in order to gain professional development experience as presenters. If you have little or no professional presentation experience, consider submitting a proposal for a session type with more availability such as a Gold Mine and/or identifying a more experienced co-presenter to join you to ensure a stronger proposal. You may also want to check out this post from business and marketing executive Seth Godin's blog on "the amateur presenter."  

Please note that NSPRA membership is not required to submit a proposal.  

NSPRA is seeking presenters who offer unique insights, effective strategies and tactics, timely information on new and emerging issues, hands-on learning, useful resource materials, and relevant content and experiences that meet the high standards and expectations of Seminar participants.   

In selecting session proposals, NSPRA will give priority to sessions with the association’s members as lead or co-presenters. However, NSPRA membership is not required to submit a proposal. 

Vendor submissions are not accepted through the call for proposals process, but a school district or educational organization may submit a proposal with a vendor co-presenter if the proposed presentation does not include a sales pitch for vendor products and services. Vendors wishing to submit a session proposal are invited to consider sponsorship opportunities (once announced) where vendor pitches may be made.  (Note: A vendor is considered a for-profit organization that provides goods and services.)

Information Required in a Proposal 

The presentation proposal submission website will require a variety of information about the presenter submitting the proposal and any co-presenters (e.g., contact information, district/organization details, presentation experience, biography, headshot). 

It also will require information on the presenter's: 

• Focus area and target audience, 
• Title and description for the presentation, 
• Presentation outline and methods, and 
• Learning outcomes that attendees will take away from the proposed session.