The National School Public Relations Association 2016 national seminar starts this weekend in Chicago. I was an NSPRA rookie last year in Nashville and was encouraged to blog about the experience (read all about it here, here, and here). Since then my blogging effort languished in the heat of another busy school year, but with NSPRA 2016 around the corner I will pick up the virtual pen and scratch out some thoughts and observations.
As daunting as it was to jump headlong into the NSPRA seminar last year as a first-timer, I am equally anxious and excited to return in 2016. It’s from that point of reference that I’ll share four things I’m looking forward to in Chicago at NSPRA 2016.
As daunting as it was to jump headlong into the NSPRA seminar last year as a first-timer, I am equally anxious and excited to return in 2016. It’s from that point of reference that I’ll share four things I’m looking forward to in Chicago at NSPRA 2016.
1. Social media will drive the seminar within the seminar
The best thing to come out of last year’s seminar for me was #K12PRchat - hands down. Tip o’ the cap to all those who made it happen and keep it rolling. Thanks to Twitter, I’m heading into this year’s gathering armed with a powerful network of savvy, engaged communicators. And they are fired up to reconnect and preach the School PR gospel.
I’m encouraged by the efforts of NSPRA staff to leverage social media like never before at the national event this year. But, candidly, it will never be enough. As any of us in School PR know, social media is the Very Hungry Caterpillar of our professional existence (Full disclosure: I’m married to a Kindergarten teacher. Look for your Shakespeare references elsewhere.) I’ve yet to meet a colleague who feels they are doing enough in the social media sphere. I imagine it’s no different for our national office.
So with that said, I’m excited that NSPRA is taking on the challenge and stepping up to deploy a social media team to help tell stories and share insights from the seminar. They’ve got a Medallion winner, a newsman, a vice-president, an author, a graphic designer, and a math teacher (me). Of course you don’t need an official cereal box decoder ring to pitch in. I’m not saying anything you don’t already know or plan to do. In fact, with no disrespect to the plans of our newly formed team of wide-eyed optimists (plus me), I’ll bet the best social media content emanating from #NSPRA2016 is going to be spontaneous, semi-authorized, and brilliant. Each of our smartphones is its own seminar.
The best thing to come out of last year’s seminar for me was #K12PRchat - hands down. Tip o’ the cap to all those who made it happen and keep it rolling. Thanks to Twitter, I’m heading into this year’s gathering armed with a powerful network of savvy, engaged communicators. And they are fired up to reconnect and preach the School PR gospel.
I’m encouraged by the efforts of NSPRA staff to leverage social media like never before at the national event this year. But, candidly, it will never be enough. As any of us in School PR know, social media is the Very Hungry Caterpillar of our professional existence (Full disclosure: I’m married to a Kindergarten teacher. Look for your Shakespeare references elsewhere.) I’ve yet to meet a colleague who feels they are doing enough in the social media sphere. I imagine it’s no different for our national office.
So with that said, I’m excited that NSPRA is taking on the challenge and stepping up to deploy a social media team to help tell stories and share insights from the seminar. They’ve got a Medallion winner, a newsman, a vice-president, an author, a graphic designer, and a math teacher (me). Of course you don’t need an official cereal box decoder ring to pitch in. I’m not saying anything you don’t already know or plan to do. In fact, with no disrespect to the plans of our newly formed team of wide-eyed optimists (plus me), I’ll bet the best social media content emanating from #NSPRA2016 is going to be spontaneous, semi-authorized, and brilliant. Each of our smartphones is its own seminar.
2. The Year of the Singleton
I’ve been wearing out the phrase “one-person shop” in reference to communications departments like mine where your district colleagues refer to you, individually, as “the communications department” because they think it’s hilarious that they have a staff and you don’t. And I believe we are a silent majority. I have no data to back up my claim that most School PR departments are parties of one, but I’m not going to let the absence of facts get in my way today. We are underrepresented at NSPRA due to budget constraints, but we are working hard right alongside our amply-resourced brethren.
A new Twitter-acquaintance Melany Stowe used the word singleton to describe the ubiquitous one-person School PR department and I think it’s perfect, albeit vaguely British.
My one lament from Nashville was the lack of content aimed at us singletons. Walking me through how to lead your five-person communications team through an annual retreat and strategic department planning is awe-inspiring and might as well be conducted in Klingon for all the good it did me. Shame on me for not seeking out more relevant content. I’m pleased to report this will not be a problem in Chicago. NSPRA is listening and delivering many more breakouts aimed at building efficiency, exceeding expectations, and retaining sanity in a singleton shop, as well as personalized content in the form of Networking Special Audience meetings. Singletons: seek these sessions out. Vote with your feet to support this content. Do better than I did in my rookie year.
I’ve been wearing out the phrase “one-person shop” in reference to communications departments like mine where your district colleagues refer to you, individually, as “the communications department” because they think it’s hilarious that they have a staff and you don’t. And I believe we are a silent majority. I have no data to back up my claim that most School PR departments are parties of one, but I’m not going to let the absence of facts get in my way today. We are underrepresented at NSPRA due to budget constraints, but we are working hard right alongside our amply-resourced brethren.
A new Twitter-acquaintance Melany Stowe used the word singleton to describe the ubiquitous one-person School PR department and I think it’s perfect, albeit vaguely British.
My one lament from Nashville was the lack of content aimed at us singletons. Walking me through how to lead your five-person communications team through an annual retreat and strategic department planning is awe-inspiring and might as well be conducted in Klingon for all the good it did me. Shame on me for not seeking out more relevant content. I’m pleased to report this will not be a problem in Chicago. NSPRA is listening and delivering many more breakouts aimed at building efficiency, exceeding expectations, and retaining sanity in a singleton shop, as well as personalized content in the form of Networking Special Audience meetings. Singletons: seek these sessions out. Vote with your feet to support this content. Do better than I did in my rookie year.
3. Introvert empowerment
Yes, I’m an introvert working in public relations. There are many more of us than you think. My blog post last year on the topic was ironic in that it lead to well-intended and gloriously awkward face-to-face meetings in Nashville when people introduced themselves and graciously identified with what I wrote. Networking!
While the list of things I prefer more than large groups of people is long, I’m in a better place now to appreciate the opportunity that a national seminar like NSPRA provides. Many colleagues are fired up to meet new people. But I look forward to catching up and getting to know folks from last year’s encounters. Some of you will be playing School PR Pokemon Go and trying to catch all the business cards and selfies - more power to you! I’d rather evolve the Magette, Wheeler, DiBella, and Turchetta that I caught last year.
Side note: many of us may *actually* be playing Pokemon Go next week. No judgment here; I live with an 11 year old and we are all in. Stay safe out there. And God forbid if something unfortunate happens in pursuit of your Pikachu, you’re at the right seminar. We have the crisis communications covered.
Yes, I’m an introvert working in public relations. There are many more of us than you think. My blog post last year on the topic was ironic in that it lead to well-intended and gloriously awkward face-to-face meetings in Nashville when people introduced themselves and graciously identified with what I wrote. Networking!
While the list of things I prefer more than large groups of people is long, I’m in a better place now to appreciate the opportunity that a national seminar like NSPRA provides. Many colleagues are fired up to meet new people. But I look forward to catching up and getting to know folks from last year’s encounters. Some of you will be playing School PR Pokemon Go and trying to catch all the business cards and selfies - more power to you! I’d rather evolve the Magette, Wheeler, DiBella, and Turchetta that I caught last year.
Side note: many of us may *actually* be playing Pokemon Go next week. No judgment here; I live with an 11 year old and we are all in. Stay safe out there. And God forbid if something unfortunate happens in pursuit of your Pikachu, you’re at the right seminar. We have the crisis communications covered.
4. Representing Wisconsin
Chicago has long been my favorite city, thanks to the short drive from my childhood Wisconsin home and from Green Bay where I practice my adulting. Chicago has almost everything you could ask for in a summertime city; and if you prefer *championship* caliber football, Lambeau Field is only a 3-hour drive north. Go Packers!
The proximity of this year’s NSPRA seminar to my home state means a Trumpian HUGE turnout from my WSPRA colleagues. We are a passionate and growing bunch and it’s been exhilarating to hear the shop talk over the last year pointing toward NSPRA 2016 as a professional booster shot within a such a short drive.
It’s been a rough few years in public education for our state, especially in the area of school funding. Maybe not Kansas rough, or Iowa rough, or Oklahoma rough, but rough nonetheless. The foresight of our Superintendents to add School PR positions in the face of these budget cuts shows the value and the gravity of the work we do. If you meet a Wisconsinite (a.k.a. Sconnie) at NSPRA, share a word of encouragement and a tip for keeping up the good fight. If you meet me at NSPRA, let me know what you think of the blog and what I should write about next.
Chicago has long been my favorite city, thanks to the short drive from my childhood Wisconsin home and from Green Bay where I practice my adulting. Chicago has almost everything you could ask for in a summertime city; and if you prefer *championship* caliber football, Lambeau Field is only a 3-hour drive north. Go Packers!
The proximity of this year’s NSPRA seminar to my home state means a Trumpian HUGE turnout from my WSPRA colleagues. We are a passionate and growing bunch and it’s been exhilarating to hear the shop talk over the last year pointing toward NSPRA 2016 as a professional booster shot within a such a short drive.
It’s been a rough few years in public education for our state, especially in the area of school funding. Maybe not Kansas rough, or Iowa rough, or Oklahoma rough, but rough nonetheless. The foresight of our Superintendents to add School PR positions in the face of these budget cuts shows the value and the gravity of the work we do. If you meet a Wisconsinite (a.k.a. Sconnie) at NSPRA, share a word of encouragement and a tip for keeping up the good fight. If you meet me at NSPRA, let me know what you think of the blog and what I should write about next.