California School Public Relations Association

California School Public Relations Association The California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA) is a nationally recognized leader in school communications.

California School Public Relations Association is an award-winning, nationally recognized organization of education public relations professionals, administrators, and school personnel who have full or part-time responsibility for communications. CALSPRA is working to create a climate for better public understanding, commitment and support of public education.

Every year, CalSPRA honors school communication professionals who are newer to the field but are already making a big im...
06/11/2026

Every year, CalSPRA honors school communication professionals who are newer to the field but are already making a big impact. This month, we have the honor of introducing you to each one and sharing a little more about them.

Meet Diana Bouchaaya from Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District!

Diana believes that when communication is clear and accessible, communities get stronger. So when it was time to reimagine the SMMUSD website, she jumped in. The goal was simple: make it easier for families, staff, and community members to find what they need and feel welcome when they get there. The response after launch? Positive feedback and increased engagement. That is the power of getting communication right.

Her tip for anyone new to school PR? Relationships are everything. Listen first, build trust, and stay flexible because you never know what the day is going to bring!

Off the clock, you can find Diana at the beach, out on a hike, or exploring museums around LA with her needy Rottweiler, Yogi Bear. 🐾 A first-generation college graduate raised by immigrant parents, she brings a lot of heart and purpose to this work.

Join us in congratulating Diana in the comments below. Her Rising Star Award is well deserved, and we are thrilled to have her as part of the CalSPRA community!

We're thrilled to share our next CalSPRA Member Spotlight: Zack Jordan, Coordinator of Communications at the Lake County...
06/11/2026

We're thrilled to share our next CalSPRA Member Spotlight: Zack Jordan, Coordinator of Communications at the Lake County Office of Education! 🌟

As a one-person communications team, Zack truly does it all — managing press releases, social media, countywide initiatives, and more for the county office of education, its SELPA, and a local school district. His work shows just how powerful a solo shop can be.

And he doesn’t stop there — Zack also serves as CalSPRA’s Mentor Program Chair, helping communicators across the state grow stronger. 🚀🤝

👉️ Read the full interview: https://trst.in/lVLMYs

Every year, CalSPRA honors school communication professionals who are newer to the field but are already making a big im...
06/09/2026

Every year, CalSPRA honors school communication professionals who are newer to the field but are already making a big impact. This month, we have the honor of introducing you to each one and sharing a little more about them.

Meet Renee Balderas from Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District!

Renee has a gift for finding the stories that matter and sharing them in ways that move people. This past year, she helped tell the story of Mrs. Mellin, a middle school band director committed to making music accessible for every student. The result? A video that reached over 212,000 accounts on Instagram, earned more than 31,500 likes, and was shared over 4,400 times. It even caught the attention of college professors across the country. All from a small TK-8 district with a big heart for storytelling.

Renee recently experienced firsthand the impact of storytelling through the TK video series following Joshua's journey throughout the school year. After sharing his story, Joshua's family presented her with a puzzle piece that read, "Thank you for being such an important piece of my story.”

Renee's tip for new school PR professionals? Start now and use what you have. Your cell phone is enough. Authentic stories of real moments build real connections, and before long, story ideas will start finding their way to you.

When she is not telling stories for Dry Creek, Renee and her husband explore local coffee shops, catch a movie, or head to South Lake Tahoe or Disneyland. Yes, she is a proud Disney adult! 🏰

Congratulations, Renee, on your well-deserved Rising Star award. We’re so glad you’re part of our CalSPRA community. Help us celebrate Renee in the comments below!

Welcome to the CalSPRA family! 🤝We are thrilled to give a warm welcome to our newest members. Joining CalSPRA is a major...
06/09/2026

Welcome to the CalSPRA family! 🤝

We are thrilled to give a warm welcome to our newest members. Joining CalSPRA is a major investment in your professional growth, and we are so excited to see the unique talents and perspectives you bring to our school communications community across California.

Please join us in welcoming:
✨ Nikko Bautista, Monterey COE
✨ Ellen Christensen-Denton, Novato USD
✨ Jocelyn Guardado, Sausalito Marin City SD
✨ Micalyn Harris, Eureka City Schools
✨ Amy Hernandez, Parlier USD
✨ Nicole Kangas, Student Aid Commission
✨ Genie Le Dickinson, Eureka City Schools
✨ Phillip Logan, Sausalito Marin City SD
✨ Kristi Puzz, Eureka City Schools

Thank you for choosing CalSPRA as your professional home. We can’t wait to connect with you!

We are incredibly proud to congratulate CalSPRA members Kelly Avants, APR, and Kendra Burt of Clovis Unified School Dist...
06/05/2026

We are incredibly proud to congratulate CalSPRA members Kelly Avants, APR, and Kendra Burt of Clovis Unified School District on being honored with the prestigious 2026 NSPRA Gold Medallion Award! 🏆✨

The Clovis USD team won in the Special Communication Project/Campaign category for their submission: "Come Together! Communication Platform Roll-Out."

Out of more than 100 entries nationwide, only 15 Gold Medallions were awarded to campaigns submitted to this year. The award recognizes superior programs and campaigns that are strategic, impactful, and deeply rooted in communication best practices.

📄 Want to see their award-winning work? You can check out the full campaign submission here: https://trst.in/Ur5FtP.

The team will be officially recognized during the NSPRA Awards Celebration and Dinner on Tuesday, July 21, at the National Seminar in New Orleans.

Please join us in congratulating Kelly and Kendra! 👏🎉

National School Public Relations Association

Meet CalSPRA's 2026 Rising Stars! Every year, CalSPRA honors school communication professionals who are newer to the fie...
06/05/2026

Meet CalSPRA's 2026 Rising Stars!

Every year, CalSPRA honors school communication professionals who are newer to the field but are already making a big impact. The Rising Star Award celebrates up-and-coming leaders who bring exceptional creativity, fresh energy, and a whole lot of promise to the school communications profession.

This year, we are proud to recognize 11 outstanding professionals who are redefining what it means to connect, communicate, and inspire.

Join us in celebrating our 2026 Rising Star Award winners:
⭐ Renee Balderas, Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District
⭐ Diana Bouchaaya, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
⭐ Alejandro Delgado, Fontana Unified School District
⭐ Christine Stephens, Redlands Unified School District
⭐ Felisa Hannah, Visalia Unified School District
⭐ Nashelly Chavez
⭐ Ana Farina, Vacaville Unified School District
⭐ Leah Klascius, Modesto City Schools
⭐ Payje Redmond, Santa Clara County Office of Education
⭐ Daniel Langhorne, Sage Hill School
⭐ Elyjah Wilbur, San Juan Unified School District

Throughout June and into early July, we will be spotlighting each of these incredible leaders right here on our feed. Trust us, you are going to want to follow along!

June is here, and the learning does not stop! 📅We have a great lineup of events this month, and you won't want to miss a...
06/04/2026

June is here, and the learning does not stop! 📅
We have a great lineup of events this month, and you won't want to miss any of them.
➡️ June 8 - Webinar: The Power Seat You're Already In
➡️ June 10 - School Communication and Community Engagement Certificate Program, Session 1
➡️ June 25 - Webinar: Forgotten Voices: A Guide for Increased Staff and Family Voice on Communication and Collaboration
➡️ June 26 - Office Hour: NSPRA Annual Seminar Preview and General Questions
➡️ June 26 - San Diego Imperial Regional Event

06/03/2026

Legislation changes fast, and AI changes faster. How is CalSPRA here to help you stay ahead? 📋🤖

In our final CalSPRA Connect episode of the school year, we talk with Ian Hanigan (Chief Communications Officer, Orange County Department of Education) and Annie Brown (Public Affairs and Communication Officer, Irvine Unified School District) about the California Legislative Action Workgroup (CLAW) and the AI Workgroup.

🎬 Watch the clip to hear Ian explain how CLAW gives you the tools to stay ahead of the curve, then dive into the full episode:
➡️ YouTube: https://trst.in/knxbY6
➡️ Spotify: https://trst.in/Qvk1Ij

The CalSPRA podcast will resume at the start of the 2026-27 school year. Subscribe today so you don't miss our return!

Happy Global Runners Day! Today, we're reminiscing on our fun CalSPRA 5k Run/Walk during our 2026 annual conference in S...
06/03/2026

Happy Global Runners Day! Today, we're reminiscing on our fun CalSPRA 5k Run/Walk during our 2026 annual conference in San Jose. Tell us below where your running shoes are taking you today! 👟👟

You do not need a new title to lead. You already have one of the most powerful seats in your organization. Join us June ...
06/02/2026

You do not need a new title to lead. You already have one of the most powerful seats in your organization.

Join us June 8 at 12:00 PM for our Conference Callback Webinar, The Power Seat You're Already In, presented by the incredible Jill Wagner, APR. This highly rated session from our 2026 conference is back by popular demand, and for good reason.

If you have ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or stuck in a support role while delivering top-level work, this session is for you. Walk away with the tools and confidence to fully own the strategic value you bring every single day.

Register today at CalSPRA.org

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