News

Watch a special video message below from new NSPRA Executive Director Barbara Hunter, APR, who reflects on this season of Thanksgiving after a challenging year for public schools and the school public relations community.

NSPRA is pleased to announce the four NSPRA Front-Runners for 2020-21:  Phil Campbell;  Jessica Hull; Brian Nicol;  and Kelly Wachel, APR. These association members were identified by the NSPRA Executive Board as emerging leaders who are doing outstanding work for their schools, their chapters and for NSPRA.

More than 70% of U.S. students today are learning in a hybrid or fully remote setting, according to two national surveys of parents and of district and school leaders conducted in fall 2020. While some of those students may never return to physical classrooms, public education itself will eventually return to school buildings in most communities.

For a successful rollout of in-person learning, school public relations professionals should plan now for communications that will maintain families’ and employees’ trust in the safety of their schools.

NSPRA is pleased to announce its fifth class of 35 Under 35. This group of emerging leaders is proving that strategic communication is timeless, extending easily to our next generation of school public relations professionals.  This award is sponsored by #SocialSchool4EDU. 

The Executive Board of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) is thrilled to announce the hiring of Barbara Hunter, APR, as NSPRA’s next executive director. Hunter (pictured), a long-time NSPRA member and strategic communications leader, will take over the reins of the association from Executive Director Rich Bagin, APR, who is retiring Feb. 28, 2021, after a distinguished 32-year NSPRA career.   

The NSPRA Executive Board will welcome five new officers following the close of annual elections on Sept. 4, 2020. New officers formally take office each year on October 1.

Congratulations to the five new NSPRA officers in 2020-21:

Through the Learning & Liberty Legacy Leaders recognition, NSPRA members and chapters can recognize association members for their positive impact on colleagues’ careers and tireless work behind the scenes on behalf of education and improved communication.

Two exceptional leaders were selected as Learning & Liberty Legacy Leaders in 2020: 

NSPRA is pleased to announce the 2020 Superintendents to Watch. These 24 district leaders were selected for their use of communication technology in innovative and effective ways. They engage and inform their school communities with new communication technology tools combined with tried-and-true techniques.

Five current members of the NSPRA Executive Board will reach the end of their terms of office in September 2020.  The association and its members have all benefited from the leadership and countless hours of service volunteered by:  Kelly Avants, APR,  president for 2019-2020; Heidi Otero, vice president for diversity engagement for 2017-2020; Cathy Kedjidjian, APR, vice president at large for communication tec

The NSPRA Executive Board held its regular summer meeting virtually this year on Friday, Aug. 28. During that meeting, the Executive Board affirmed three new officers elect of the board. All new officers for 2020-21 will take office on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Congratulations to the following new officers-elect:

North Central Region Vice President