From an inordinate amount of candy to opportunities to connect with friends new and old, Texas school PR and communications professionals lived the literal and figurative School PR Sweet Life at TSPRA (Texas School PR Association)’s annual conference in Sugar Land. As one of the largest school public relations associations in the country (1,200+ members!) TSPRA attracts industry professionals and thought leaders for its much-anticipated annual conference. Their purpose? #ICYMI: here’s a quick recap from our time in Texas.
Lifelong Learners & Leaders
There was no shortage of professional development opportunities for attendees during the four-day assembly. From sunup to sundown, Texas school PR professionals engaged in an action-packed schedule featuring speakers, keynotes, breakout sessions, and roundtable discussions.
Renowned educator and speaker, Dr. Joe Sanfelippo’s keynote helped members realign their approach to leadership with one of connection and intention–setting a tone that resonated across the event.
Breakout sessions covered a wide range of topics ranging from building tactical skills to collaborating across teams and buildings. Veteran school PR leader Graysen Reid of Forney ISD covered pertinent graphic design tips and tricks, highlighting the importance of visual storytelling across major communications channels with specific insights on using imagery carefully and intentionally.
Oh my word. @tsprareal I don’t even know what to say. You were amazing from the jump. The energy of a collective group tasked with sharing school stories and the power of that group leaning into each other was incredible. Thank you! What a day. #LeadFromWhereYouAre #tspra24 pic.twitter.com/J5hjPkf7C8
— Joe Sanfelippo (@Joe_Sanfelippo) February 28, 2024
Class Intercom ambassador Jasmine Nguyen presents “Maximizing School Comms: The Ultimate Collaboration Strategy” at the 2024 TSPRA conference.
District communications professional Jasmine Nguyen of Klein ISD presented to a standing-room-only crowd on strategic collaboration with an inside look at systems and processes she has deployed to empower students and staff to source content, updates, and storytelling moments in a personal and meaningful way, but also at scale. With a constant influx of stories and content, Jasmine remains closely in touch with the full scope of district happenings, curating stories and communications across channels in a way that reaches and engages the community.
A Spirit of Camaraderie and Pride
School PR is indeed the sweet life, but could it be so sweet without at least a little spice?! In fact, sometimes the comms are especially hot! Whether it’s jumping on a timely story or incident response, school PR and communications professionals know the drill when it comes to #hotcomms! Indeed, school PR and communications professionals are incredibly resilient, handling high stakes challenges and opportunities with grace and composure. TSPRA is an opportunity for many to spend time with and recognize their peers for incredibly important work.
Join me in congratulating TSPRA’s incoming President-Elect! Your dedication and vision inspire us all. Let's embark on this journey of growth and transformation together. #AliefProud #TSPRA24 pic.twitter.com/Ayg7qOoAq4
— Adelina Cruz (@LinaMedia_) February 28, 2024
On night two, attendees dressed to the nines for the annual Star Awards Banquet. Members received several awards for their work and projects in school communications and TSPRA leadership installed President Arianna Vazquez-Hernandez, APR.
Work-life balance sessions helped participants let go of stressors and enjoy activities like yoga, dance lessons, exercise, and even karaoke. Class Intercom joined ParentSquare on the heels of their newly minted strategic partnership to host the much-anticipated karaoke tournament, a tradition started by ParentSquare’s Teddy Gabbart at NSPRA’s annual national seminar.
“If there’s one thing I know about Texas school PR professionals, it’s that they’re committed,” said Class Intercom President Dr. Jill Johnson, who had the pleasure of serving as a judge in the karaoke competition. “I’ll tell you what–the competition was stiff! The team from CALSPRA ran away with the win, but it was not an easy decision. In all seriousness, it’s such an honor to be able to spend time together, whether we’re collaborating on best practices, learning from each other, or belting a stage performance.”
A Look Ahead
A special thanks to our friends at TSPRA for hosting another great conference! We could not be more proud to support your schools and are already looking forward to seeing you next year in San Antonio.
