NSPRA 2022 National Seminar

Step into the crossroad of innovation and transformation in school public relations at the NSPRA 2022 National Seminar! Discover thought-provoking keynotes, best-practice sessions and exciting networking opportunities on July 17-20, 2022, when you attend in person at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel or online via the virtual event platform.

At the Seminar, join more than 1,000 school public relations professionals and school system leaders in making these investments in your professional development:

• Major national keynote speakers during two General Sessions open to both in-person and virtual Seminar attendees:
  • Monday, July 18—Duncan Wardle, "Ignite a Culture of Innovation and Creativity"
  • Tuesday, July 19—Greg Bell, "Water the Bamboo: Unleashing the Potential of Teams and Individuals"
• Major national keynote speaker during a Superintendents' Luncheon Session exclusively  for Seminar attendees who are superintendents, assistant superintendents or school board members:
  • Monday, July 18—Dr. Laura Murillo, "Lead in Life: People. Passion. Persistence"
• Nearly 100 breakout sessions
• Networking lunches and receptions
• Access to industry partners in the Marketplace
• National award celebrations and more 

Help your district or organization understand the value of attending the NSPRA 2022 National Seminar with our "Convince Your Boss" toolkit!

Registration Options

In-Person Seminar

Register for the in-person Seminar to access a variety of onsite receptions, mixers and networking events as well as General Sessions with keynote speakers, educational sessions (60-minute Skill Sessions, 90-minute Amplify Sessions, Gold Mine Roundtable Sessions) and the in-person Marketplace and Member Center. Anyone who registers for the in-person Seminar also has access to the virtual Seminar platform in case plans to attend in person have to change suddenly.

View the Seminar Schedule at a Glance (In Person) and the in-person attendee FAQs for more details.

Virtual Seminar

Register for the virtual Seminar to access live-streamed General Sessions with keynote speakers, educational sessions (Skills Sessions, Amplify Sessions, Gold Mine Sessions), the online Marketplace, interactive games, and online chats with other attendees and presenters during breakout sessions and in virtual lounge rooms. Registration also includes 30-day access to on-demand Sessions after the Seminar. 

View the Seminar Schedule at a Glance (Virtual) and the virtual attendee FAQs for more details.

Pre-Seminar Workshops

Register for pre-Seminar workshops on July 16-17 to maximize your learning experience! These in-depth, information-packed workshops will take place in person at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel.

• APR Prep: Get Ready for Universal Accreditation (Two days: Saturday, July 16, and Sunday, July 17, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CT)
• Strategic Planning for the Overwhelmed (One day: Saturday, July 16, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CT)
• The Communicating Principal: A Train-the-Trainer Approach to Improving Communication at All Levels (One day: Saturday, July 16, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CT)
• Video Storytelling: Low-Budget Tips to Better Engage Your Audience (One day: Sunday, July 17, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CT)
• Four Social Media Features You Can Implement Now to Boost Engagement (Half day: Sunday, July 17, from 9 a.m. - Noon CT)

Rates and Packages

A variety of registration rates and packages are available:

• Super early bird registration rates are available until March 31. 
• Early bird registration rates are available March 31 - May 31. 
• Anyone registering on or after June 1 will register at the regular rates.
• Discounted rates are available for NSPRA members, for communication professionals whose superintendents first register to attend, and for multi-person communication teams. NSPRA also grants a regional discount based on the Seminar location. 

View the NSPRA 2022 National Seminar registration rates and packages.

Flexible Registration

Amid the ongoing pandemic, the hybrid NSPRA 2022 National Seminar makes it easy for you to register now even when plans may change later!

• Anyone who registers for the in-person Seminar also has access to the virtual Seminar platform in case plans to attend in person change suddenly. View the in-person attendee FAQs for more details.
• Anyone who registers for the virtual Seminar can switch their registration to in-person attendance up until Friday, July 1. View the virtual attendee FAQs for more details.

You may select either learning format, in-person or virtual, and decide later about your travel plans to Chicago. One registration fee covers both learning formats and gives you the flexibility you need to register now with confidence. ​

Reserve Your Room and Plan Your Trip

All in-person programming for the Seminar will take place at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel. NSPRA has blocked hotel rooms at the Sheraton Grand and two nearby hotels, the DoubleTree Magnificent Mile and the Embassy Suites Magnificent Mile, both within a five-minute walk. The reservation deadline is June 15 or until the blocks fill. Learn more and reserve your room.

Chicago offers endless opportunities for fun and entertainment! Check out NSPRA  and host-chapter Illinois SPRA's tips for getting to Chicago, what to do there and where to eat.

COVID-19 Safety Protocols

The safety protocols for the in-person Seminar will align with the recommendations of the City of Chicago and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the time of the Seminar. NSPRA will clearly communicate those safety protocols, as well as any updates or changes, to registrants as details become available. View the COVID-19 Safety FAQs for more details.

Effective Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, the City of Chicago ended its indoor masking and proof of vaccination requirements for public spaces. Learn more about this update.

Presenting at the Seminar

NSPRA received a record-setting number of proposals for in-person and virtual sessions at the 2022 National Seminar! Thank you to all those who submitted proposals. Notifications on proposal status were sent via email on Wednesday, March 23.  Learn more.

Accepted presenters should visit the Speaker Service Center to register for the Seminar, upload a speaker photo and profile, upload handouts and presentation videos, review the speaker commitment and more. 

Exhibiting & Sponsoring Opportunities

For information on sponsor/exhibitor packages, head over to our Sponsorship Opportunities page.