The Seminar Scoop-Wednesday

Wednesday July 20, 2022

By Andrew Robinson

The question “What’s going well?” at Tuesday's General Session had attendees thinking about ways to step away from the busy aspects of their lives and adopt a more positive mindset.

Keynote speaker Greg Bell said happiness is a journey that requires reflection, rejuvenation and reconnecting. Even when many things may be going wrong, Greg challenged the audience to think of what’s going right. Often we focus on only part of the picture, he said.

Greg offered four steps to begin the journey. The first step is to notice and be aware of what’s going on around you. Second, express your feelings, talk about them and make it the story. Third, write and journal both personally and professionally. And finally, savor the experience, be patient and take your time.

“What I do every morning is I wake up and ask myself what’s going well,” Greg said. “I write down one or two things. Some days it’s hard. Some days I just write, 'I woke up.'”

Bookend your day by asking yourself what went well, Greg said. This simple reflection in the morning and evening will begin to transform how you think and result in positive mindset changes that will become a long lasting reality.

By Kate Crowder

I’m a pretty social person, but am easily intimidated by lunch. Everyone seems to be sitting with someone. Am I intruding? Did I linger to chat with a speaker too long and miss out on a group departure to a nearby restaurant? Will I end up eating an apple and potato chips alone in my hotel room?

This year, NSPRA eliminated the stress of figuring out where to go for lunch for those like me by offering a networking luncheon with a great selection of boxed lunches. Tables were loosely organized by special interest topics.

I gravitated to a table where I could reconnect with some LGBTQ+ friends and allies. Quickly our group merged with the nearby Outdoor Adventure Seekers table. My table mates were Hans, Samantha, Cara and Mickie.

Samantha was able to convince the entire table that a kayak adventure down the Chicago River is not as scary as it looks. Cara played the role of recruiter by waving the table interest topic sign. Additional guests joined and there was banter about an informal GAYSPRA group.

Networking achieved! Food consumed! Fun experienced! Thank you, NSPRA.

By Kate Crowder

Chesapeake Public Schools in Virginia serves about 9,000 military families that reside in the district. In a session called "Operation Military Families: Supporting Service Members and Their Students," speakers Lisa Kerry (photo at left) and Laura Lerf (photo below) shared how they helped organize a daylong conference called Operation Military Family. Laura and Lisa, both former classroom teachers, are responsible for Family and Community Engagement (FACE) in the 30,000-student district.

About 500 families came to the debut of the conference in the spring. The event promoted resources including behavioral health support, family counselors, childcare options, Boy/Girl Scouts, and supports like class/credit transfer for high school students.

Programming was different for parents and students. Parents learned about ways to record and read their children bedtime stories while deployed and navigate family emotions associated with deployment. They also heard parenting tips on digital citizenship and ways to plug into Chesapeake schools through special academies and other niche academic programming (like STEM and JROTC). Next year, they plan to add their human resources department to the session list, as some military spouses expressed interest in employment opportunities in the district.

Students from military families led game-based activities for other students on topics such as making friends in a new school and communicating with your parents during deployment.

Keynote speakers included military leaders in the area as well as school staff.

Other strategies discussed included:

• Applying for the Purple Star School designation.
• Celebrating #MOMC, the Month of the Military Child each April
• Recognition of children from military families at graduations

By Kate Crowder

Did you notice people running around the Seminar yesterday apparently looking for someone? About 60 people participated in a scavenger hunt called the GooseChase. Organized by the Missouri School Public Relations Association (MOSPRA), the hunt helped to hype next year’s NSPRA seminar in St. Louis.

“The missions called for players to find specific members of MOSPRA to either take group selfies or find answers to St. Louis related questions,” said organizer, MOSPRA member and NSPRA South Central Region Vice President Melissa McConnell (photo above).

GooseChase is an online platform that helps you run real-world scavenger hunts. Melissa has used the app in her district to help energize onboarding for new staff and engaging students in their schools.

The grand prize for the winner will receive $500 toward NSPRA Seminar 2023 registration. The lucky winner will be revealed at the Gold Medallion luncheon today.

From left, Front-Runners Anisa Sullivan Jimenez, APR; Julia Burgos; Krystyna Baumgartner, APR; and Kristin Boyd Edwards

By Andrew Robinson

Each year, NSPRA's Executive Board identifies four emerging leaders who are doing outstanding work for their schools, their chapters and NSPRA. We asked this year's winners to tell us a bit about their recent challenges and share a piece of advice for their colleagues.

Krystyna Baumgartner, APR is the public relations specialist at Bay Shore School District in Bay Shore, N.Y. She said finding out that she was an NSPRA Front-Runner was an emotional experience. “Honestly, my initial reaction to finding out about the Front-Runner award was to cry,” she said. “I was incredibly touched to be recognized in this way by an organization that has meant so much to me since I began my school PR journey seven and a half years ago.”

Over the last year, Krystyna’s greatest challenge was helping her leadership team share information about constantly changing COVID regulations and protocols. “During the last school year, the requirements went through several adjustments, sometimes with very little notice," she said. "We had to make sure our parents and staff had key information.”

Her number one tip for those working in school PR? Always be learning. Read more about Krystyna here.

Kristin Boyd Edwards is a writer and strategist for CEL Marketing. Kristin said she was speechless when she learned she was named a Front-Runner. “I had to read the email from NSPRA twice,” she said. “All school PR pros have been working tirelessly during the past two years. So I was surprised, but honored, to receive this recognition.”

Many school PR pros hold themselves to high standards, she said. Her advice: Give yourself grace. She quoted Maya Angelou: “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” Read more about Kristin here.

Julia Burgos is the chief of school and community relations for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) in Alexandria, Va. Her team received seven NSPRA awards this week, but she sees room for everyone to grow. “I am looking forward to building capacity with my team and supporting them to grow professionally and providing them with guidance and counsel to support their professional dreams and aspirations as communications professionals,” she said.

Her tip? Build your network, which might include principals, students, senior leaders or even board members. “You need to be able to pick up the phone or contact your network when you are looking to problem solve, secure resources that you do not have or to just get things done,” she said. Read more about Julia here.

Anisa Sullivan Jimenez, APR is the director of communications for Oconee County Schools in Watkinsville, Ga. Over the last year, Anisa completed phase two of conducting school-level communication audits. This phase involved meeting with parents, teachers and business partners at all 11 of her schools and using that feedback in monitoring visits. The result of this phase was robust two-way communication and completion of 100 percent of the audit recommendations.

Anisa said the best advice she has for anyone in school PR is to keep relationships first, and that includes self-care. "Spend time in schools, get to know principals, and make it clear that you are a source of support. To create strong relationships, say 'yes' more than 'no' and be flexible." Read more about Anisa here.