The Ohio School Public Relations Association (OHSPRA) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious Mark of Distinction from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). This significant recognition highlights OHSPRA's exceptional efforts in membership building and specialized communication initiatives.
OHSPRA is one of only 14 NSPRA Chapters nationwide to receive this distinction in 2024, underscoring its commitment to excellence in school communications. The association was recognized in the following categories:
The recognition ceremony took place in July during the NSPRA National Seminar in Bellevue, Washington. OHSPRA members who attended the conference had the opportunity to celebrate this achievement together, marking a proud moment for the organization.
"We are thrilled to be honored with the Mark of Distinction," said Patrick Gallaway, President of OHSPRA. "This award reflects our collective dedication to advancing school public relations and fostering strong communication within our communities."
OHSPRA remains committed to providing valuable resources, professional development, and collaborative opportunities to its members, ensuring that school public relations professionals in Ohio continue to thrive.
We are excited to announce the introduction of a Retiree and Student membership levels, aimed at expanding our reach and making school PR more accessible to a broader audience.
Retiree: Designed for retired professionals passionate about supporting and shaping the future of school PR, this $50 membership offers a wealth of benefits tailored to your experience and interests.
Student: Embark on a journey towards becoming a future leader in public relations in our student membership. This membership caters specifically to college students studying PR, offering invaluable opportunities to connect, learn, and grow within Ohio's educational landscape. As a bonus, this $50 membership includes free access to the Friday speaker presentations at the OHSPRA Spring Conference.
If you're a retired professional eager to stay connected or a student aspiring to join the field, our new memberships offer unique opportunities to engage with Ohio's vibrant educational community.
Explore these options and join us in fostering the growth of school PR across the state!
OHSPRA is pleased to announce Akwi Nji as an OHSPRA Spring Conference speaker.
Nji's presentation,Bold Storytelling That Disrupts Tradition to Engage, Empower, Inspire, will be an impactful session to close out our conference.
You don't want to miss Nji's amazing presentation as you learn how to take a profoundly different approach to engage employees, reignite enthusiasm, and build trust with your families and community. In this interactive and engaging session, participants will reimagine how to integrate powerful graphics, videography, and copy that slices through the static and appeals to diverse audiences. Akwi delivers valuable insights and actionable takeaways. You'll leave inspired, informed, and empowered to implement practical steps to achieve your marketing and communications goals, improve the academic experience for students, and increase family and staff engagement.
About 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.
OHSPRA is pleased, once again, to offer two full scholarships to OHSPRA members to attend the annual Spring Conference. This year’s OHSPRA Spring Conference will be held on April 25-26, 2024, at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel.
The two scholarships will cover each recipient’s registration fee, as well as lodging at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel on April 25.
The Scott Ebright Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the former OHSPRA (formerly NSPRA-Ohio) president, president-elect, vice president and NSPRA Executive Board member. Applicants for this scholarship must be new to school public relations, having served in their role less than three years. Eligible applicants must hold a paid membership with OHSPRA andsubmit a completed application form by March 1, 2024. Those who apply for the Scott Ebright Memorial Scholarship will also automatically be included in the pool of applicants for the annual Spring Conference Scholarship.
The annual Spring Conference Scholarship, which any OHSPRA member may apply for, is designed to help school communication professionals who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend the two-day professional development event. Eligible applicants must hold a paid membership with OHSPRA and submit a completed application form by March 1, 2024.
The OHSPRA Board of Directors will select and approve the scholarship recipients after the April 10 deadline. Recipients will be notified at that time.
We are thrilled to announce that Carrie Sanchez, Director of Leadership and Learning at North Point Educational Service Center, will deliver a two-part keynote address at our 2024 OHSPRA Spring Conference.
In her keynote, "Remembering your WHY, Living Your Truth and Celebrating Your Work," Sanchez will share strategies and stories encourage growth, intentional action, and leadership development.
You won't want to miss hearing Carrie Sanchez set the tone for an engaging and empowering conference experience. Join us at the OHSPRA Spring Conference as we strive to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and connections to advance your leadership communication success!
Registration for the OHSPRA Spring Conference opens in February. Stay tuned for more details.
About Carrie Sanchez
Carrie Sanchez, MEd, EdS, is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio Northern University. Her Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration as well as her Educational Specialist degrees came from Bowling Green State University. Carrie 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, Carrie embarked upon a new role as the Director of Leadership and Learning for North Point Educational Service Center in Sandusky, Ohio. Her leadership coaching and teaching now reaches the
27-member school districts impacting the learning of over 25,000 students annually. In addition to her primary role, Carrie 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. Carrie is also the proud mother of two daughters: Mia and Ashton. You can reach Carrie directly at carriesanchez.com or sanchez@pesc.org or 419-627-3930.
Help! We have a message to put out, but how should it be communicated to families? What constitutes an all-call? Who should deliver the message? Most importantly, how can we make sure we communicate consistently so families know what to expect?
Join us Friday, Feb. 9 for an OHSPRA virtual Lunch and Learn with Shawn McKillop as he presents Enhancing Engagement: The Power of Communication Standards in Schools.
Explore this award-winning approach to how school districts engage with families and communities during an Delve into Communication Standards and their role in promoting clear, consistent communication to bridge gaps and build trust. This presentation will examine who is responsible for communications, focusing on staff awareness of how, what, and when to communicate, and identifying when a topic is expected for direct communication. It's about keeping parents well-informed and setting clear expectations. This represents a school district's commitment to effective communication. The Standards aim to provide uniform experiences across schools, streamline communication, and eliminate redundant messaging. Engaging case studies will highlight how standards can improve your school PR offerings, build trust, promote engagement, and enhance customer service.
This February Virtual Lunch and Learn is sponsored by Class Intercom and free for OHSPRA members.
Register Now!
OHSPRA is excited to launch our Patron Program, inviting educational organizations to make a meaningful difference in school communication and receive recognition and exposure among our 200+ members across Ohio. As a Patron, your organization will be instrumental in advancing the professional development of school communicators in Ohio. Your support is not just an investment in OHSPRA, it's a step towards shaping the future of school communications and gaining valuable exposure for your organization.
With the launch of the 2024 OHSPRA Achievement Awards program, we are excited to share the Board of Directors have added two new Distinguished Individual awards: The School Communicator of the Year Award and the Doug Baker Mentorship Award.
The School Communicator of the Year award recognizes the exemplary leadership of Ohio's school communications professionals for demonstrated commitment to the enhancement of communication and relationships between public schools and the students, families, and communities they serve. The award honors those who recognize that communication is a critical component of leadership. The winner will be nominated by OHSPRA for NSPRA's National School Communicator of the Year Award.
Established in 2023, The Doug Baker Mentorship Award is a distinguished honor presented annually to an outstanding member of the Ohio School Public Relations Association (OHSPRA). This award celebrates the legacy of Doug Baker, a cherished OHSPRA member who was deeply committed to mentoring his peers, fostering connections, and serving education through school public relations.
The recipient of this award exemplifies Doug's spirit by going above and beyond to guide, support, and inspire fellow OHSPRA members. Whether it's through one-on-one mentorship, leading workshops, or creating platforms for meaningful dialogue, the awardee has made a significant impact on the professional growth and community spirit of OHSPRA.There is no entry fee for Doug Baker Mentorship Award nominations.
These awards serve as a platform to honor the outstanding work you do in your district. We invite you to submit your best projects and campaigns by Monday, January 22, 2024.
We are excited to announce the launch of the 2024 OHSPRA Achievement Awards program. These awards serve as a platform to honor the outstanding work you do in your district.
Professional awards provide recognition for the outstanding communication efforts of members and non-members of OHSPRA. Distinguished individual awards recognize individuals who support, champion, and help advance the great work school communicators are doing.
We invite you to submit your best projects and campaigns by Monday, January 22, 2024. Last year, OHSPRA members submitted over 180 entries! Don't delay and submit your entries today!
Professional Awards:
E-Newsletter Marketing Materials Photography Podcast PR & Marketing Plan Quality Profile/Annual Report (Electronic or Print) Social Media Campaign Social Media Page Special Purpose Publication Student Video Video Website Writing
Distinguished Individual Awards:
School Communicator of the YearDoug Baker Mentorship Award Crystal Award Friend of Education Award Innovator Award
OHSPRA and OSBA are excited to offer an additional PD session to our Fall Communications Workshop next Wednesday, Oct. 11! Learn the ins and outs of branding your district with intent as Carl Mitchell, Brand Manager for St. Louis Public Schools, joins us for this interactive session.
Session Description:
Did I Do That? School Branding with Intent:
Join us in this engaging session where we'll uncover actionable strategies to align principals with your district's branding objectives and simplify the art of school branding. Learn how a cohesive brand can bolster your reputation and contribute to student success, all while drawing inspiration from the iconic Steve Urkel's determination and creativity.
Register for the Fall Communications Workshop or click this link: https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/events/view/ohspraosba-fall-communications-workshop-0
See the full list of presenters on our Event page.
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