Speakers

Rebecca Bultsma

Rebecca is a Generative AI expert based in Alberta, Canada who specializes in applying generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to modern communication and public relations strategies in K12 education. She is passionate about making GenAI understandable, accessible and practical so that #SchoolPR pros can leverage it effectively and ethically in their everyday work.

Carrie Sanchez

Carrie Sanchez, MEd, EdS, is a native of Toledo. She earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio Northern University. Her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration and her Educational specialist degrees came from Bowling Green State University. Sanchez has also earned a Women in Leadership certificate from Cornell University. After 13 years in the classroom, Sanchez transitioned to the principal’s office in 2009 as Principal of Port Clinton Middle School, where she served from 2009-2022. In 2022, she embarked upon a new role as the Director of Leadership and Learning for North Point Educational Service Center in Sandusky. Her leadership coaching and teaching now reach the ECS’s 27-member school districts, impacting the learning of more than 25,000 students annually. In addition to her primary role, Sanchez currently serves as past president of the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) and is the Director of Music for her church in Port Clinton. Sanchez is the proud mother of two daughters Mia and Ashton. You can reach her directly at carriesanchez.com, at csanchez@npesc or at 419-627-3930.

Andy Krenz

Andy Krenz is a leader with a passion for community-driven solutions. As the Regional Sales Director at ThoughtExchange, he is dedicated to empowering organizations to engage with their communities in meaningful and impactful ways. Andy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to public engagement having worked with countless public and nonprofit organizations, and school districts. He lives in Penticton, BC, Canada, with his wife Andrea, and their two children.

Sara Clark

Sara Clark serves as Chief Legal Counsel at OSBA where she provides technical assistance and consultation services to Ohio’s school boards and their districts as they navigate an increasingly complex legal environment. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish from The Ohio State University and her Juris Doctor degree from Capital University Law School.  Sara is a licensed attorney and a member of the State Bar of Ohio and the Federal Bar for the Southern District of Ohio. Sara is a frequent presenter and lecturer in the area of school law and has authored numerous articles in various state and federal publications. 

Kolt Buchenroth
Kolt Buchenroth is a storyteller at heart. Buchenroth has always had a knack for communication after picking up his first video camera in middle school. He cut his teeth in the business on a small-market radio station, WKTN-FM, where he covered news, hosted the afternoon show, and handled the station’s engineering. While at The Ohio State University, Kolt joined the broadcast team at Ohio Ag Net & Ohio’s Country Journal where he managed video products, special projects, and covered news.

In 2022, Kolt joined the administrative team at Kenton City Schools. Currently, Kolt oversees the day-to-day communications of the district, and coaches educators on how to more effectively communicate with parents and the community. He also supports the technology team and coordinates the district’s safety efforts.

Outside of his duties at Kenton City Schools, he serves as the Marketing & Communication Director of the Hardin County Fair where he handles media relations, branding, promotions, digital marketing and advertising.

Dr. Katie Peters

Dr. Katie Peters is an educator, author, adjunct instructor at the University of Findlay, and Director of Communications at Washington Local Schools in Toledo, Ohio. With 22 years of experience in teaching and a Doctorate in Empathy Education, KP designs and presents workshops nationally, focusing on the implementation of empathy as the most important framework for all we do. 

The author of Lessons from a Late-Bloomer (2017),Dr. Peters’ work has been highlighted in The Associated Press,Parent Magazine, Newsweek, as well as featured on the Today Show. KP gave a Tedx Talk in 2018 and has been the Keynote Speaker for charities, educational conferences and many business organizations. 

She was named the 2023 Ohio District 2 Teacher of the Year, the 2012 NW Ohio Teacher of the Year and inexplicably had her TikTo go viral in 2022. 

In all spaces, KP shares her message of staying positive, laughing out loud and, most importantly, showing profound empathy in all that you do.

Nick Carrabine

Nick Carrabine is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Riverside Local School District. Located in Northeast Ohio, Riverside enrolls approximately 4,300 students across seven different school buildings. Nick is responsible for the management of the District’s website, publications, social media pages, crisis communications, press releases, media relations, script writing, sponsorships, photography and videography among many other duties.  

Nick’s career in School PR was not his original ambition. Nick attended Bowling Green State University, where he studied Print Journalism. After graduating in 2007, Nick worked for a tri-county Newspaper (The News-Herald) for four years where he covered crime and breaking news. With the way journalism was quickly shifting away from print during that time period, Nick decided to look into the public relations field. He started working as a Communications Coordinator for United Way of Lake County in 2011 before being promoted to Director of Communications in 2012. He spent four years at United Way before shifting to school PR at Riverside in 2015.

Brad Underwood

Brad Underwood is the Director of Communications for Little Miami Local Schools. He began working at Little Miami in June of 2023. Before joining the Little Miami administrative team, he was a television news reporter for more than 16 years, mainly in Cincinnati. He also reported in Lima, Ohio, and Kansas City, Missouri. He is a Ball State University graduate and lives in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Westwood with his wife and two children.

Allison Morris

Allison Morris, Director of Public Relations and Communications at Sandy Valley Local School District, graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Public Relations and minors in journalism and literature. After college, she gained experience as a PR/Marketing Specialist for an international company where she focused on advertising, sales strategies, and branding. Allison then pursued her passion for teaching, earning a Master's degree in Education and taught high school English Language Arts, public speaking, and broadcast journalism for over 15 years. She also is an adjunct professor at Kent State University in Mass Communication and Public Speaking. In 2018, Allison transitioned from a classroom teacher to the Director of Public Relations and Communications. Allison enthusiastically utilizes her PR skills and teaching background to promote Sandy Valley Local Schools!

Dr. Katie Peters

Dr. Katie Peters is an educator, author, adjunct instructor at the University of Findlay, and Director of Communications at Washington Local Schools in Toledo, Ohio. With 22 years of experience in teaching and a Doctorate in Empathy Education, KP designs and presents workshops nationally, focusing on the implementation of empathy as the most important framework for all we do. 

The author of Lessons from a Late-Bloomer (2017),Dr. Peters’ work has been highlighted in The Associated Press,Parent Magazine, Newsweek, as well as featured on the Today Show. KP gave a Tedx Talk in 2018 and has been the Keynote Speaker for charities, educational conferences and many business organizations. 

She was named the 2023 Ohio District 2 Teacher of the Year, the 2012 NW Ohio Teacher of the Year and inexplicably had her TikTo go viral in 2022. 

In all spaces, KP shares her message of staying positive, laughing out loud and, most importantly, showing profound empathy in all that you do.

Akwi Nji

Akwi Nji is an artist and communication strategist whose experience includes working as Communications Director in the second-largest school district in Iowa. She most recently served as Director of School and Community Relations and Communications at Waterloo Community School District. Her professional background is in education, arts administration, journalism, public relations and marketing. She specializes in integrating video, audio, graphic design, and written content to develop creative campaigns which engage, inform, and inspire trust. As a communications director for PK-12 education, she was the first in her region to launch a district podcast, Superintendent’s blog, and a monthly TEDTalk-style series for educators. As founder of Powerful Over Pretty, a niche marketing solutions agency specializing in powerful storytelling to boost brands, she designs and implements innovative yearlong marketing campaigns – primarily for K12 districts – through live, digital, and traditional communications that represent and engage diverse populations. Akwi works at the intersection of innovation and communication strategy. In one district, social media followers increased by 800% in six months. Because she is also a professional artist, she brings to the school public relations profession an innovative and effective multidisciplinary approach to utilizing the power of communications to ignite empathy and trust in audiences.