NSPRA Academy: Solo Communicators track

School communicators working as a team of one carry the full weight of the work, including managing daily communications, responding to urgent needs, supporting leadership, and much more, often without additional staff or built-in systems.

The Solo Communicator track is designed to help you bring structure and sustainability to that reality. Through practical frameworks, repeatable systems, and real-world examples, this experience focuses on helping you prioritize effectively, streamline your work, and respond with confidence, even when everything feels urgent.

Module 1: Thursday, January 14, 2027 (1 - 3 p.m. ET, Virtual): Managing the Work When You Are the Team

When you're the communications department, every request can feel urgent and every responsibility falls to you. This session focuses on managing the work strategically by identifying priorities, making intentional decisions about where to invest your time, and creating a sustainable approach to the role. Participants will explore practical strategies for evaluating requests, balancing proactive and reactive work, setting expectations with leadership, and protecting time for the communications work that matters most. Whether you're new to a solo role or have been doing it for years, this session will help you move from constantly reacting to intentionally leading your workload.

Guest Facilitator: Ruth Richardson | Public Information Officer, Sedro-Woolley School District (Wash.)

Module 2: Thursday, February 4, 2027 (1 - 3 p.m. ET, Virtual): Building Systems that Save You Time

Solo communicators rarely have the luxury of starting from scratch…but too often, that's exactly what happens. This session focuses on building practical systems that reduce repetitive work, improve consistency, and create more time for strategic communication. Participants will explore templates, workflows, content planning, AI tools, and organizational strategies that streamline everyday tasks and make communications more efficient. The emphasis is on building systems that can be implemented immediately and adapted to fit any district.

Guest Facilitator: TBD

Module 3: Thursday, February 11, 2027 (1 - 3 p.m. ET, Virtual): Managing Urgency, Crisis, and Competing Demands

No matter how organized you are, unexpected issues, breaking news, and last-minute requests will test your priorities. This session explores how solo communicators can make thoughtful decisions under pressure while keeping essential work moving forward. Participants will examine practical approaches for triaging requests, responding to crises, balancing competing demands, and maintaining focus when the unexpected disrupts even the best plans. Rather than trying to do everything, participants will learn how to make confident decisions about what matters most in the moment.

Guest Facilitator: TBD

Module 4: Thursday, March 11, 2027 (1 - 3 p.m. ET, Virtual): Working Up, Across, and Without Support

Solo communicators accomplish their best work by building strong partnerships throughout their organization. This session explores how to influence decisions, strengthen relationships with superintendents and district leaders, collaborate effectively across departments, and create a network of communication champions who extend your reach. Participants will examine practical strategies for gaining buy-in, increasing organizational capacity, and advancing communication goals—even without a formal team. The session focuses on turning relationships into one of the solo communicator's greatest strengths.

Guest Facilitator: TBD

Full program registrants will receive calendar invites for each module after registration.

Pricing - 

Full program: $599 Members, $799 Non-Members

Single modules: $199 Members, $249 Non-Members