By Julie Thannum, APR

A perfectly timed clap of thunder added a fitting exclamation point on incoming NSPRA President Nicole Kirby’s speech to attendees in New Orleans Wednesday at the awards luncheon. It brought closure to the 2021 seminar where leaders introduced a new executive director, a new logo and a new vision for the organization’s future.

“I believe we can be an organization that is one of the leading voices in education,” said Kirby, who is Accredited in Public Relations and serves as director of communication services for the Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Mo.

“I believe we can model the kind of excellence we want to inspire in our members. And I believe we can support this profession as it tells the stories that will save public education.”

As the next NSPRA president, Kirby said her priorities will be making sure:

• Every member from every region and every background feels supported and included in NSPRA’s professional network.

• All members have the professional development they need to become the strategic storytellers needed in this moment.

• That NSPRA achieves its potential for excellence through an ambitious yet sustainable course for the future.

“Our NSPRA family is part of the family I choose, which is a powerful bond,” Kirby said. “For 22 years now, NSPRA members have lifted me up. As Bob Noyed said earlier this week, we get to walk alongside and learn from our heroes in this business.”

She credited both retired Executive Director Rich Bagin, APR, and newly hired Executive Director Barbara Hunter, APR, as being stable forces in the organization’s past and future success.

“Guided by our new strategic plan, we are building on the stable foundation that our previous executive director, Rich Bagin, left us,” said Kirby. “Now it’s time to see what NSPRA can be when we let ourselves soar.”

Kirby said Hunter has the sharp mind, relational skills, high standards and deep experience that NSPRA needs. She said she sees a shift in the public’s understanding of the forces impacting public schools, and there is a greater need now to communicate transparently about them.

“While our workload is higher than ever, so is the appetite for the important work we all do,” she told the audience of school communicators. “We need NSPRA more than ever to give us the tools we need to not only do this job, but to do it well. Which is why I’m so excited for this pivotal moment in NSPRA’s history.”

Kirby will begin her presidential duties on Oct. 1. She is a past vice president for the South Central region and a past MOSPRA president. She was named one of NSPRA's Learning and Liberty Legacy Leaders and has received the NSPRA Gold Medallion, the NSPRA Frontrunner Award, the MOSPRA Professional of the Year Award and the MOSPRA Distinguished Service Award.

I bumped into Patrick Gallaway from New Albany, Ohio, in the lobby of the Sheraton hotel. We fell into a robust conversation about our districts' demographics. Like so many things at NSPRA, we found more commonalities than differences.

Patrick has been involved with NSPRA for quite a few years so I asked him what he was getting from this year's Seminar. “Networking, but of course we know that the organization is more than that,” he said. “The experiences and the camaraderie that you have here--there is nothing that comes close to that in terms of professional development anywhere else.”

Like many of us, he sees school PR as playing a key role in helping our districts navigate the unique challenges of the coming school year. “How are we transitioning our student population back to school this fall and how are we protecting their well being?” he asked. “The students haven’t been in school in over a year. Some students may have never been in the school building before. We don’t want them to be intimated and overwhelmed, so we have to have these important conversations now,” he said.

Connect with Patrick on Twitter @PGallaway827.

Networking and friendship seems to be high on everyone's priority list at this year's Seminar. In that spirit, I hope everyone reading this will feel free to keep in touch with me on Twitter @RobinsonReports. Even if we haven't crossed paths yet, don't hesitate to reach out and say hello. I’d enjoy meeting you!

By Andrew Robinson and Julie Thannum, APR

The 2021 NSPRA National Seminar in New Orleans is now history. As reporters for the Seminar Scoop, we filled our notebooks with items about NOLA and NSPRA that we just couldn’t squeeze into our stories. Could there be profound truths in our top 10 marginalia? You be the judge:

10. Nobody karaokes like the spras.

9. Every child deserves the magic of Aunt Bea and her apple pancakes.

8. Spreading kindness is a little like treating the world to Cafe DuMonde; it’s nearly impossible to eat a beignet without sugar-coating yourself and everyone around you.

7. Too bad life isn’t a little bit more like a Sheraton elevator, which quickly and efficiently takes you right where you belong.

6. There’s apparently no wrong way to fix an oyster.

5. Happiness is best found in early morning moments of gratitude, but also in the absence of phubbing.

4. Members of SpouseSPRA deserve a Gold Medallion category.

3. Contrary to popular opinion, voodoo dolls won’t impact your next election.

2. Not being able to come together last year made us all a little bit more understanding about retrieving our own clean towels.

1. New executive director, new logo, new vision ... same authentic relationships.

Remember: Life is not meant to be spent in isolation! So gather your friends, find yourself a Second Line Band (or equivalent) and parade through town like there’s no tomorrow!

Postscript: It’s been a privilege to be reporters for the Seminar Scoop e-newsletter, which was the brainchild of Executive Director Barbara Hunter, APR. We hope the Scoop made this event (one the greatest NSPRA has ever offered!) even more memorable.

So long friends. Looking forward to seeing you on social media and In The Loop!

By Alex Mayster, APR, and Tom Jackson, APR

We’re looking forward to seeing you in Chicago next year! Our school communicators will once again receive the latest and greatest professional development when they Get In The Loop at the 2022 Seminar. In addition, Seminar attendees will have the opportunity to explore the Windy City and find out what makes Chicago a world-class city. Here are four things to look forward to:

The Food: If you haven’t had Chicago’s deep-dish pizza or a Chicago-style hot dog, have you even eaten? It doesn’t end there. During your trip, you may also want to grab an Italian Beef from Portillo’s, Garrett’s cheese and caramel popcorn or stop into one of the city’s outstanding steakhouses.

Museum Campus: Bringing your family? Consider spending some time enjoying Chicago’s museums. Some of the top spots include the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Adler Planetarium.

The Baseball: Wrigley Field is a destination for sports fans, and attending a Cubs game (and exploring Wrigleyville) is an experience you won’t want to miss. Remember, there are two baseball teams in Chicago! White Sox fans can jump on the Red Line to catch a game on the South Side.

The Waterfront(s): With all the city has to offer, it’s easy to forget the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Conference-goers can enjoy the architecture on a riverboat cruise, spend a day in the sand at the beach, or take a ride on Navy Pier’s world-famous Ferris wheel.