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Professional Development Events

NJSPRA sponsors a number of in-person events throughout the year with the goal of providing professional development and networking opportunities for our members

For professional development in 2023-2024, we held three full day workshops at the FEA Conference Center in Monroe Township, NJ. We also held a virtual power hour on Ethics in Communication. In addition to our professional development offerings, NJSPRA also held member meet-ups, the Communication Awards celebration at the NJSBA Workshop in Atlantic City, and our Annual Meeting and School Communicators Day celebration in May. Attendance to all of these events is included in your NJSPRA Membership. In prior years, we have also held special events as needs and occasions arise, including focused seminars on timely topics for NJ schools as well as regional events with neighboring state SPRA chapters.

Dates for workshops during the 2024-2025 school year have been posted below. Announcements and registration information about each event is posted on our website here, emailed to members and other subscribers, and posted on our social media channels.

To be added to our subscriber list, complete the chapter's brief subscription form


    • March 13, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
    • NJPSA FEA Conference Center
    Register

    NJSPRA Spring 2025 Workshop

    Driving the Communication Train: Getting Everyone on Board with Your Outreach

    Thursday, March 13, 2025
    9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

    Breakfast/Check-In Open at 8:30 a.m. RSVP/Registration
    Absolutely Required by March 7th,  Including for Active Members

    Hear strategies for crafting a communication vision that aligns with and amplifies the district’s overarching goals. These sessions will dive deep into proactive communication techniques, mastering crisis communication, and building lasting trust with key stakeholders. Learn how the superintendent can partner with the communications team to effectively engage diverse audiences—parents, students, and community members.



    Speakers:



    School Communication: The Cornerstone for Stability and the Catalyst for Success

    Shauna C. DeMarco, Superintendent of Schools - Ramapo Indian Hills

    Shauna C. DeMarco, Superintendent of Schools - Ramapo Indian Hills



    Essential Voices: Amplifying Impact Through Cabinet-Level Communicators


    Heather Daniel, Director of Communications and Policy - Edison Township Public Schools, 2024 NJSPRA Communicator of the Year




    Rate, Revamp, Rise: Boost Your Communications with NSPRA’s Rubrics

    Sandy Cokeley, APR; NJSPRA Executive Director

    Sandy Cokeley, APR

    Don’t go it alone. Learn how the National School Public Relations Association’s Rubrics of Practice can help you take an honest and objective look at your communications program and provide direction for improvement and growth.

    _____________


    Ticket to Ride –

    Engaging Stakeholders from the Start

    Interact with our panel of community experts, including representatives of the Board of Education, Home and School Association, and local communities as they share how to involve key stakeholders early in the communication process and ensure they feel heard and valued.

    Our Panel: 

    • Joe Fleres - Assistant Superintendent - Bloomfield School District
    • Jay Dugan - Chairman, Shop Hamilton
    • Shannon Peng - President, Edison Township Board of Education
    • Lisa Schultz - Chairperson, Hamilton Township School District PTA

    ______________

    Announcement of the 2025 Communicator of the Year!

    Help us celebrate this year's winner!


    Logistics

    NJPSA FEA Conference Center
    12 Centre Drive  Monroe Township, NJ 08831

    Included with Active NJSPRA 2024-2025 Membership
    (Dues must be paid in full or purchase order received in order to attend)

    RSVP/Registration required, including for active members
    and due by March 7th

    Members unable to attend may send a substitute from their district
    Contact executivedirector@njspra.com for alternate registration code.

    Guests Welcome - $125 per

    Includes continental breakfast (available at 8:30am) and lunch

    Champion Sponsors



    Interested in speaking or presenting at future NJSPRA events?
    Contact VP of Programming, Christine Corliss

    • May 09, 2025
    • 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
    • Forsgate Country Club

    Save the Date!

    NJSPRA Annual Meeting &
    School Communicators Day Celebration

    Focusing on You, Your Colleagues,
    and Your Professional Organization

    TENTATIVE AGENDA:
    - A Look Back: The NJSPRA Year in Review -
    - National School Communicators Day Celebration -
    Including Prizes and Giveaways
    - The Here and Now: Lunch with Regional Colleagues -
    - Looking Ahead: Member Input for 2025-26 -
    Programming, Membership and Communication

    Forsgate Country Club
    375 Forsgate Drive
    Monroe Township, NJ

    Included in Your 2024-25 Membership
    Guests: $125 per


Past Events 

2024-25

  • 16 Jan 2025 From Recruitment to School Spirit: The Power Is in the Post (Social Media For Hire; Hr+ PR: A Perfect Combination, Social Savvy Hiring: Connecting with Top Candidates in the Digital World)
  • 10 Oct 2024  NJSPRA School Communication Awards Celebration
  • 23 Sept 2024 Keeping Law and Order with AI & Strategic Planning
2023-24
  • 10 May 2024 Annual Meeting and School Communicators Day Celebration
  • 12 March 2024  Branding and Strong Communications to Help Attract and Retain Students and Staff (How School PR Can Help with Employee Recruitment; Maximizing Your Network with Community Partnerships; Implementing Brand Identity to Unite District, Schools and Community; Who Speaks for Your Brand)
  • 30 Jan 2024  Virtual Workshop: Ethics in School Communications (NJSPRA Members Only)
  • 11 Jan 2024  Prepare, Prepare, Prepare - What You Should Do Before Your District Is in the Headlines (Preparing for a Crisis - Have a Plan; Journalists Turned School Communication Pro's; Reporters Are on My Campus - Now What? Tutorial on Media Training)
  • 23 Oct 2023  NJSPRA School Communication Awards Celebration at NJSBA Annual Workshop
  • 2 Oct 2023  Crewing the Ship Through Choppy Waters: Good Communication Starts at the Helm (Dynamic Duo: Superintendent and School Communicator; Keeping Calm and Let the School Communicator Help; Board Members, Social Media and Freedom of Speech; Tech and Design Tips for School Communicators: Canva, Newsletter, Social Media)

2022-23

  • 12 May 2023  Annual Meeting and School Communicators Day Celebration/Luncheon, Communicator of the Year awarded
  • 25 Apr 2023  Showcase & Roundtable with Video, Website and Social Communication Award Winners, Importance of Internal Communications, The Good, the Bad & The Ugly (Three NJSPRA members sharing good, bad and ugly situations they experienced) 
  • 07 Feb 2023 Social Media Analytics and Content Strategy; 2022 Communicator of the Year Presentation; NJSBA Legislative Update; Creating an Internal Communications Team
  • 30 Nov 2022 Communicating in Crisis; Leadership in Turbulent Times; 100 member celebration
  • 18 Oct 2022 2022 Communication Awards Dinner

2021-22

  • 25 May 2022  Annual Meeting and Communicator of the Year Award
  • 13 May 2022  First National School Communicators Day Celebration Virtual Huddle
  • May 2022  Regional Member Meet-Ups
  • 27 April 2022  Virtual Workshop: Showcase: NJSPRA Award Winners Share Their Communication Tech Success
  • 2 April 2022  Virtual Workshop: Key Messages: Essential Anchors to Power Your Communications
  • 16 Mar 2022  Virtual Workshop: Helping Your Leadership Team Become Great Communicators
  • 2 Mar 2022  Virtual Member Meet-Up
  • 12 Jan 2022  Virtual Workshop: Communicating and Conducting an Equity Audit 
  • 6 Oct 2021  2021 Communication Awards Dinner
  • 20 Oct 2021  Virtual Workshop: DEI - Getting the Entire School Community on the Same Page
  • 18 Nov 2021  Calming the Crowd: Restoring Civility at Board Meetings

2020-21

  • 26 May 2021  Annual Meeting  (Virtual)
  • 19 May 2021  2021 Communicator of the Year Presentation to Maren Smagala
  • 21 Apr 2021  Virtual Workshop: Communicating with Different Audiences
  • 3 Mar 2021  Virtual Workshop: Communicating and Leading for Equity
  • 24 Feb 2021  Virtual Workshop: Communicating About Covid-19: What You Need to Know and Do Next
  • 24 Nov 2020  Member Meet-Up (Virtual)
  • 19 Nov 2020  Virtual Workshop: Supporting Employees with Parent/Family Communications
  • 16 Oct 2020  2020 Communication Awards Ceremony (Virtual)

2019-20

  • 25 Jun 2020  Virtual Mini-Session: The Importance of Copyright
  • 09 Jun 2020  Virtual Mini-Session: Virtual Year End Events During COVID-19
  • 04 Jun 2020  Virtual Mini-Session:  Effective Internal Communications During COVID-19
  • 04 Jun 2020  Virtual Mini-Session:  The School Communications Function During COVID-19
  • 26 May 2020  2020 Communicator of the Year Virtual Presentation to Dr. Matthew Murphy
  • 16 Jan 2020  Winter Workshop:  Managing the News Media and Communications  When the Unthinkable Happens
  • 11 Nov 2019  Fall Workshop: Communications Planning Bootcamp AND The One-Person School PR Department
  • 29 Sep 2019  2019 NJSPRA Communication Awards & Networking Event



    NJSPRA Programs and Events Committee (2024-25)

    The Programs and Events Committee plans, assesses, and evaluates professional development offerings and member learning options provided by the chapter throughout the course of the school year. Review your confirmed event registrations.

    Mailing Address

    760 Route 46 West #1001
    Parsippany, NJ 07054

    Contact Us

    executivedirector@njspra.com 
    845-406-0631

    NJSPRA is one of 34 officially chartered chapters of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) representing school communications professionals in individual states
    and multi-state regions across the United States, U.S. territories, and Canada. © 2025 New Jersey School Public Relations Association. All rights reserved.
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