Event Information

<p>I&#39;m a nationally award-winning communicator and advocate for public schools. Just recently, I was identified as a Front-Runner by the National School Public Relations Association, or NSPRA. I am the Assistant Director of Communications for Arlington Public Schools (APS) in Virginia. At APS, I&#39;ve launched several successful initiatives for the school division from a new staff recognition program&mdash; called APS All Stars&mdash; to giving new life to the division&rsquo;s social media accounts.<br /> <br /> I also received the 35 Under 35 Award from NSPRA and a Golden Achievement Award for the APS All-Stars program. I currently serve as the President-Elect for the Chesapeake Chapter of NSPRA where I&#39;ve assisted in growing the membership and programming for the chapter by more than 50% in the past few years.</p>

<p>Ashley-Michelle Thublin, APR is serving in her tenth year of School PR.&nbsp; Prior to her current role as Dublin City Schools Director of Strategic and Crisis Communications, she served as Asheville City Schools&rsquo; Executive Director of Communications as well as the Public Information Officer for North Carolina&rsquo;s Richmond County Schools .&nbsp; She has been an active member of both Georgia and the National School Public Relations Association.&nbsp; She currently represents the Southeast Region on NSPRA&rsquo;s Accreditation Committee and received the distinction of NSPRA 35 under 35 in 2017.&nbsp; Additionally, Ashley-Michelle presented at the NCSPRA Fall 2018, Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 conferences about the district&rsquo;s comprehensive, strategic year-round communications plan, entitled #TheACSWay and about earning her Accreditation in Public Relations as well as at the NSPRA Summer 2020 and Summer 2022 Annual Conference.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>As a member of her Superintendent&rsquo;s Leadership Team, Ashley-Michelle&rsquo;s role include crisis communications, issues management, community relations, marketing, media relations, strategic planning and, of course, &ldquo;all other duties as assigned,&rdquo; but her favorite days are spent visiting schools so she can tell the the stories of Dublin City&rsquo;s students and staff members.</p> <p>Ashley-Michelle was one of four communications professionals across the country to earn a 2022 NSPRA Gold Medallion, the highest honor for School Public Relations.&nbsp; Under her leadership, her districts have also earned six Best of the Bests from both the North Carolina and Georgia School Public Relations Association.</p> <p>Ashley-Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Journalism and History from New York University.&nbsp; After an arduous year and a half long process (which included both a new superintendent search and COVID), she earned her Accreditation in Public Relations in September 2020 before becoming a momma to Judah Thomas Cook on January 15th.&nbsp; To learn more about her district (and see cute baby photos), check her Twitter @amthublin.</p>

<p>Catherine Carbone Rogers, APR is the executive director of WSPRA (Washington State).&nbsp;</p> <p>Catherine also provides consulting services through Carbone Communications.</p> <p>Catherine led communications at Highline Public Schools for over 22 years, retiring as the chief communications officer in 2024.&nbsp;</p> <p>Catherine served for several years on the NSPRA&rsquo;s Equity and Diversity Task Force and is a past president of the Washington School Public Relations Association. She is a frequent presenter at NSPRA and WSPRA conferences and has led sessions at MOSPRA, OSPRA and WSPRA (Wisconsin) as well as for the National School Boards Association and the AASA Superintendent Certification program.</p> <p>Catherine began her career as a television news reporter and anchor. She holds a bachelor&rsquo;s degree from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communications at Washington State University.</p>

<p>#Boymom&nbsp; &nbsp;|&nbsp; &nbsp;Ambivert&nbsp; &nbsp;|&nbsp; &nbsp;Caffeine Addict</p> <p>Meet Chelsea Janke, Vice President of Integrated Marketing. With more than 15 years of dedicated service, Chelsea is known for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to combine it with effective implementation skills, resulting in impactful outcomes for clients.&nbsp;</p> <p>Adept at bridging the intersection of communications and technology, Chelsea upholds the integrity of brands and ensures best practices for businesses and schools alike. Her deep understanding and skill in leveraging cutting-edge communication tools and technology make her a valued advisor and advocate in effectively conveying clients&rsquo; stories and engaging stakeholders.&nbsp;</p> <p>Chelsea&rsquo;s exceptional speed and agility have earned her the well-deserved reputation of a technology wizard who moves faster than the speed of light. With an eye on the future, Chelsea keeps her clients ahead o f the curve by continuously evolving their strategies to meet the ever-changing expectations of end-users and harnessing the latest technological advancements.</p> <p>Chelsea not only excels at leveraging her technical prowess to help create creative, lasting campaigns and brands, but is known for her thoughtful, thorough training for clients and internal staff alike. She understands the importance of empowering clients and internal staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the digital landscape. Through her comprehensive training sessions, Chelsea ensures that everyone is equipped to leverage the latest communication tools and technologies to their fullest potential.</p> <p>An accomplished speaker, she regularly presents to diverse audiences ranging from school boards and professional association members to annual conferences and administrative staff events. Chelsea captivates audiences with her practical advice that can be applied in real-world contexts.</p> <p>Chelsea Janke is a dynamic force in integrated marketing, driving client success through her technological acumen, strategic mindset, and collaborative spirit.</p> <h3>ACCOMPLISHMENTS &amp; ACCOLADES</h3> <p>MinnSPRA (Minnesota School Public Relations Association) Member<br /> NSPRA (National School Public Relations Association) Member<br /> Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce</p> <ul> <li>Lead Volunteer for James J Hill Days Event (2019 &ndash; Current)</li> <li>Lead Volunteer for Wayzata Chilly Open Event (2019 &ndash; Current)</li> <li>Board of Directors Executive Team (2021)</li> <li>Board of Directors, Chair (2020)</li> <li>Board of Directors, Vice Chair (2019)</li> <li>Board of Directors, Member (2017 &ndash; 2021)</li> <li>Wavemakers Volunteer Committee Member</li> <li>Marketing Communications Committee Member</li> <li>Member Engagement Committee Member</li> </ul>

<p>Danielle Airey, APR, is a proud graduate and chief communications officer for the Peoria Unified School District in Glendale, Ariz. She began her career at 35,000 feet working for one of the nation&rsquo;s largest passenger airlines. During her time with the airline, Airey developed philanthropic initiatives for east coast markets, managed the airline&rsquo;s employee volunteer program and lead the work of the Education Foundation. After seven years, Airey returned to where she spent her K-12 educational career- the Peoria Unified School District.</p> <p>With 42 schools, 4,000 employees and more than 35,000 students, Peoria Unified is the fourth largest pK-12 public school district in the state. In her role, Airey oversees the district&rsquo;s internal communications, media relations, community engagement, marketing, advertising, crisis response and community education programs. Under her leadership, the district was recognized with a Gold Medallion by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), earned back-to-back Copper Medallions from the Arizona School Public Relations Association (ASPRA) and was honored as one of the Top 10 Districts on Social Media by <em>Box Clever Education</em>.</p> <p>Airey has delivered a top Communications Camp training program to other public relations professionals at the NSPRA National Conference, served on NSPRA&rsquo;s Employee Engagement Committee and is past-president and past-secretary of ASPRA. She is asked to speak to school public relations associations across the country and was recognized as a NSPRA &lsquo;35 Under 35.&rsquo; &nbsp;In February of 2022 she earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and has enjoyed mentoring other prospective APR&rsquo;s as part of NSPRA&rsquo;s APR Committee.</p> <p>In 2024 she was honored to receive ASPRA&rsquo;s first ever School Communicator of the Year Award and has since been named a finalist for NSPRA&rsquo;s National School Communicator of the Year Award.</p> <p>Airey and her husband live in north Phoenix and love to support their stellar neighborhood public school where their two kids have started their educational journey.</p>

<p>Emily F. Popek, APR, has worked in school communications since 2016. As a consultant, Emily has worked with dozens of school leaders across New York state and California to provide strategic advising and to deliver communications collateral. Emily lives in upstate New York with her family.</p>

<p>Erin Dunsey is the proud communications manager for the Peoria Unified School District, a booming suburb northwest of Phoenix, Ariz. When she and her husband had their first child in 2009, they sought to plant roots in an area known for its exceptional schools. They landed in Peoria, Ariz., with a school district known for its longstanding excellence in education. In 2011, she began her career at the Peoria Unified School District and her role shifted from wife and mother to also a dedicated member of the Peoria Unified family.</p> <p>Peoria Unified is home to 42 schools, 4,000 employees and more than 35,000 students. As the communications manager, Dunsey focuses on developing and implementing strategic communications plans for its key publics, including students, employees, families, community members, business owners, retirees, and alumni.</p> <p>Her role includes marketing, crisis communications, media relations, community engagement, special event planning and more. She se rves as a liaison to the Peoria Education Foundation and provides support to more than a half dozen scholarship opportunities for students and grants for Peoria Unified teachers.</p> <p>Her accolades include earning a Copper Medallion in 2023 for Peoria Unified&rsquo;s project submission, &ldquo;Calling All Kindergarteners,&rdquo; and delivering a professional development training for school administrators at the National School Public Relations Association at the 2018 and 2022 summer conferences. She previously held the role of vice president of membership of the Arizona School Public Relations Association (ASPRA) and currently serves as President of ASPRA.</p> <p>Dunsey has been happily married since 2008 and she and her husband Randy have two beautiful children.</p> <p>Dunsey may be reached at <a href="mailto:edunsey@pusd11.net">edunsey@pusd11.net</a> or erindunsey@gmail.com.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Genevieve Brown joined the Oyster River Cooperative School District in 2022 as the district&#39;s first full-time communication professional. She leads, manages, counsels, and coordinates the SAU 5 communication strategy with a focus on community outreach and engagement.&nbsp;</p> <p>Passionate about supporting educators, she relentlessly pursues learning opportunities. Her varied experience in STEAM (K-12), higher education, marketing, and program management shaped her career as an agile and multidisciplinary communicator.&nbsp;</p> <p>Genevieve serves on the New England School Public Relations Association (NESPRA) executive board as the New Hampshire State Representative (2024-2026 term).</p> <p>Genevieve has previously served as board member of three chapters of the American Marketing Association as both vice president of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (Boston and Triangle chapters) and vice president of programming (New Mexico). She helped two award-winning chapters create and grow their first DEI team, lead efforts to create and promote a DEI pledge designed to help all 70 chapters nationwide establish and implement DEI practices within their organizations, and launched event series.</p> <p>Genevieve is a first-generation immigrant and native French speaker.</p>

<p>J.Marie is a nationally recognized communications strategist, facilitator, leadership trainer, and presenter. As the founder and principal of J.Marie &amp; Associates and a former communications director in the K-12 and non-profit communities, she brings more than 25 years of experience helping organizations, teams, and leaders grow their communication and leadership skills to nurture strong, purposeful relationships.</p> <p>As a facilitator and trainer, J.Marie has worked with leadership teams, professional associations, governing boards, community and agency constituent groups, public forums, and business management organizations. Known as a leader who can speak plainly about complicated and emotionally difficult topics, J.Marie is naturally both kind and direct&mdash;with a proven ability to get right to the heart of important matters. She balances the need to attend to the relationships in the room with the need to efficiently move the group&rsquo;s purpose or agenda forward. As someone who regularly works with people holding diverse and even competing interests, she is also accustomed to situations where strict confidentiality is a must.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>J.Marie&#39;s style as a consultant is understated; she brings a joyful heart to her work and encourages leaders and groups to own their processes and grow their skills. Well-versed in systems thinking and systems dynamics, she understands the nature of change and the stages people go through to make change possible. As an educator at heart, she loves learning and sharing meaningful ideas in engaging ways to help clients and session attendees deepen their abilities and effectiveness as leaders.</p> <p>Focus Areas:</p> <p>Crisis Response Management</p> <p>Leadership, Staff, and Board Training</p> <p>Process and Retreat Facilitation</p> <p>Community Engagement Planning</p> <p>Communications Strategy Consulting</p> <p>Keynote Speaking and Guest Lecturing</p> <p>-----</p> <p>J.Marie has served the school communications community as WSPRA President and NSPRA NW Regional VP.</p>

<p>Jake Sturgis, APR worked for two school districts in the Twin Cities for nearly 12 years prior to starting Captivate Media + Consulting in 2014. He leads a team of 12 cinematographers, editors, graphic designers and strategists who craft stories that ignite community change. They combine the art and science of video, animation and graphic design to create content that is effective and memorable.</p> <p>Jake served on the Minnesota School Public Relations Association (MinnSPRA) Board from 2015-2019, including one year as President. He also served as a board member for the Minnesota Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) from 2019-2021.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr. Jill Johnson served in education for over 30 years as a classroom teacher, professional development consultant, and high school administrator before moving into her current role as President of Class Intercom. She holds degrees in language arts education, instructional technology, educational administration, and educational leadership. Her passion and research focus on student voice, student-led social media teams, social media management, and content creation in scholastic environments. She is married to Brady, and they have four children, three dogs, and eleven chickens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Supervisor of Communications who specializes in internal and external communications, crisis communications, graphic design, video production, photography, and social media management. Former English and journalism teacher. Skilled in copywriting and editing. Strong education professional with a Master of Education - M.Ed. focused in English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rick is the Executive Director of Community Relations and Emergency Management for Bloomington (MN) Public Schools, responsible for directing communications, community relations, emergency management and volunteer programs. Rick formerly served as Executive Director of Public Engagement and Communications for Jefferson County Public Schools, Colorado&rsquo;s largest school system (1998-2006).</p> <p>Rick is a nationally respected consultant and authority on crisis management and communications, having worked in public schools and emergency management for more than 30 years.</p> <p>In 1996, Rick developed what is believed to be the first full-scale crisis drill involving an active shooter in a school. Three years later, the unthinkable happened when on April 20, 1999, two students attacked Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killing 13 and wounding 26 others. Among the first to arrive on scene, Rick provided emergency triage and rescue operations before assuming co-leadership of the Columbine Crisis Response Team. He led a team focused on communications, media relations and crisis response/recovery efforts. Rick was the on-site coordinator for former President Bill Clinton&rsquo;s visit to Littleton in the wake of the tragedy, and the annual anniversary events (Years 1-5).</p> <p>For the past 26 years, Rick has worked with hundreds of school districts, law enforcement and emergency management agencies throughout the U.S. to improve school safety, security and emergency response. He&rsquo;s provided counsel to Uvalde Public Schools (Robb Elementary School), Broward County Public Schools (Stoneman Douglas High School), Newtown Public Schools (Sandy Hook Elementary), San Bernardino City Unified School District (North Park Elementary), the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for the Timothy McVeigh execution; New York Education Commission and New York City Schools (9/11); U.S. Department of Education, LA Office of the FBI, Association of State Colleges &amp; Universities, National School Boards Association, WI Health and Hospital Association, NC and ND Division of Emergency Management agencies, and the MN Office of Emergency Preparedness, and School Safety Center. Rick also served a 35-day assignment as a FEMA Field Coordinator for public information officers as part of the national response to Hurricane&rsquo;s Katrina and Rita (2005) in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, LA.</p> <p>Rick is the author of The Complete Crisis Communication Management Manual for Schools (4th edition, 2016), and served as a panelist at the We Are Columbine: 20 Years Later symposium (2019), content expert at the Wisconsin School Safety Summit (2015) and former U.S. Senator Al Franken&rsquo;s School Safety Summit (2014). He keynoted the MN School Boards Association Summer Institute and MN Association of School Personnel Administrators (2018); Campus Safety Conferences (Dallas, TX and Long Beach, CA, 2017); NSBA&rsquo;s Planning for and Managing the School Crisis You Hope Never Comes following the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy; MN Metropolitan Hospital Compact&rsquo;s Footprint of Disasters symposium; MN School Safety Conference; Midwest Summit on Violence in the Workplace and Schools; Wisconsin Bioterrorism Summit; National Transportation Public Affairs Conference; and Airports Council International &ndash; North America.</p> <p>Rick&rsquo;s directed public school communications programs in Wisconsin, Colorado and Minnesota, and served as a special consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction under State Superintendent John Benson. He is past president of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA), and a director with WSPRA, COSPRA and MinnSPRA chapters.</p> <p>Rick received the National School Public Relations Association&rsquo;s President&rsquo;s Award in 2023 and the Public Relations Society of America&rsquo;s inaugural Public Relations Professional of the Year honor in 2000. He has earned PRSA&rsquo;s Silver Anvil Award of Excellence, NSPRA&rsquo;s Gold Medallion five times for excellence in communications programs, and Minnesota School PR Association&rsquo;s Dawn K. McDowell Award, Colorado PRSA&rsquo;s Gold Pick Award, and is a two-time recipient of Wisconsin School Public Relations Association&rsquo;s President&#39;s Award for Outstanding Achievement, and its Honorary Lifetime Membership Award (2024). He was inducted into the Wisconsin Dells Distinguished Achievement Hall of Fame for notable success from extraordinary accomplishment and a career of exceptional professional and humanitarian achievement.</p> <p>Rick holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and is accredited (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America.</p>

<div> <div>Shayla Cannady is the chief communications officer for Chiefs for Change, a national nonprofit organization focused on advocating for policies and practices that make a difference for all students and developing the next generation of bold leaders in public education. She brings a wealth of experience in spearheading comprehensive communication strategies that drive understanding, engagement, and support for educational initiatives.</div> </div> <div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <div><br /> Previously, she served as chief communications officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, one of the nation&rsquo;s largest public school districts. In this capacity, she led the development and execution of overarching communications strategies designed to foster a deeper understanding and a strong sense of community support for CMS students, faculty, and stakeholders. She acted as the primary public relations advisor to the superintendent, executive team, and senior staff, playing a crucial role as a liaison between the district and various external entities, including the press, community organizations, elected officials, and leadership groups.<br /> <br /> Before CMS, she served as the assistant director of public relations for Orange County Public Schools, which is recognized as the fourth-largest school district in Florida and the ninth largest in the nation. Her expertise in strategic communications and her commitment to educational advancement were instrumental in driving impactful public relations campaigns and community engagement efforts.<br /> <br /> Shayla&#39;s contributions and leadership in the field have earned her significant recognition, including being named one of Charlotte Business Journal&#39;s Power 100 honorees within just 15 months of relocating to the city.&nbsp;Shayla earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and pursued further academic excellence with a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication from the University of Central Florida. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate in Strategic Communications at UCF, furthering her dedication to advancing her expertise and knowledge in the field.</div> </div> </div>