California School Public Relations Association

10/16/2026

We’re still in need of 5 more volunteers to serve as judges for our Awards of Excellence program! Details can be found below.

If you are interested, please complete our Google Form by October 18: https://forms.gle/57BwsM3cddvtvtTNA.

Thank you for helping us to recognize the work of California’s outstanding school communicators!

CalSPRA is looking for 50 more volunteers to serve as judges for its upcoming Awards Gala, and we’d love to have professionals in the field participate!

Judging takes approximately 3-4 hours and can be completed anytime between November 1-30. Judges will review and score award entries celebrating outstanding work in school communications, in a multitude of areas, including photography, web design, strategic communications, crisis response, video creation, and marketing campaigns.

If you’re available to serve as a judge, please sign up using our Call for Judges Google Form below by October 18. Thank you for helping us recognize and celebrate outstanding school communications! Questions? Contact [email protected].

👉 https://forms.gle/57BwsM3cddvtvtTNA

Association of California School Administrators California Association of Public Information Officials California School Boards Association SSDA PRSA California Capital Chapter Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

10/16/2026

The 2025-26 legislative session is officially in the books, and our latest CLAW Legislative Guide is ready! 📄

Written and produced by the CalSPRA Legislative Analysis Workgroup, this end-of-session recap includes a quick-reference look at the bills that passed and the ones that didn’t, along with a deeper dive into selected legislation with communications considerations for schools and districts.

A huge thank-you to the CLAW team members who contributed research, analysis, and feedback throughout the session.

Members can view the latest guide here in the Community Group on our website.

10/15/2026

Your hard work from the 2025–26 school year deserves to be celebrated! 🏆

The portal for the 2027 CalSPRA Excellence in Communication Awards closes October 31 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Whether you ran a major campaign, crafted top-tier publications, or have an amazing colleague to nominate, don't miss the chance to showcase your agency's impact.

THREE WAYS TO ENTER:
- Comprehensive Programs or Campaigns
- Tactics
- Individual Recognitions (FREE to submit! Includes Emerging Communicator, Communicator of the Year, Superintendent to Watch, and Distinguished Service awards)

Entries are $75 for members ($125 non-members), and all Individual Recognitions are FREE.

Traveling before Oct. 31? Submit by Oct. 29 so local time zone shifts don't affect your submission — no extensions will be granted!

🔗 Learn more & enter today: https://nspra.secure-platform.com/

10/13/2026

Too often, school PR professionals are viewed as the “doers” — designing flyers, posting to social media, or drafting press releases. While important, these tasks don’t capture the strategic value communications brings to education leadership.

Back by popular demand after top ratings at the 2026 Conference, "From Tactics to Strategy: Elevating Your Role as a Communications Leader" returns October 20!

Presenters Angela Griffin Ankhelyi (Folsom Cordova USD), Michelle Eklund (Placer COE), and Brittanie Arnett (Lodi USD) will help you reframe how you talk about yourself and your work so you are seen as a trusted partner, not just an executor.

Position communications as essential to organizational trust and advance your professional growth. 🔗 Register for the webinar now at calspra.org.

10/12/2026

The October episode of the CalSPRA Connect Podcast is live! 🎙️

Whether you’re looking for takeaways on newly signed CA education legislation, inspiration from our October Member Spotlight, or to learn how we're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in CalSPRA, this episode is packed with practical tools for K-12 communicators.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H5A8eJy0P64
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5RcYUtGGLFVSm4iJLcX9zb

10/10/2026

Did you know that only 40.4% of school communication leaders in California serve as regular members of their organization’s cabinet? 📊

Communications professionals manage crisis responses, mitigate reputational risk, engage busy families, and much more, yet over 36% are excluded from high-level cabinet decision-making.

CalSPRA’s White Paper makes a strong case: For school districts to proactively build trust and navigate complex issues, having a strategic communication voice at the leadership table is a must.

🔗 Discover all the key data and staffing recommendations. Read the full CalSPRA White Paper today: https://www.calspra.org/site/2026-white-paper

10/09/2026

What's your superpower? 💡

From crisis communications and digital storytelling to community engagement and everything in between, we all have skills that can help a fellow communicator succeed.

Do any of these questions sound familiar? 👇 You might be closer to a presentation proposal than you think!

Whether you're a seasoned School PR pro or just getting started, your real-world insights and lessons learned are exactly what a colleague needs to hear. Turn your experience into an opportunity to inspire others in our CalSPRA comunidad!

📅 Proposal deadline: October 31, 2026
🔗 Visit CalSPRA.org to submit your proposal!

10/08/2026

School PR can be demanding, but you don't have to navigate the tough situations alone — just ask Julissa Romero, Communications & Marketing Specialist from El Rancho Unified School District! 🤝

CalSPRA’s Colleague Connect (C3) Program gives school communicators a dedicated space to give and receive guidance, reflect as organizational leaders, and build lasting connections across California.

Ways to participate:
🔵 Mentor – Share your hard-earned wisdom with someone new to the field.
🔵 Mentee – Connect with a seasoned pro for guidance and support.
🔵 Peer – Find members who share your perspective and lean on each other.

🔗 Sign up today: https://www.calspra.org/site/colleague-connect

10/08/2026

Meet our September Volunteer Spotlight, Karen Pineda, Multimedia Communications Specialist at Redlands Unified School District! 🌟

From helping behind the scenes at the annual conference to creating social graphics for CalSPRA Day and connecting with peers in the Under 30 Affinity Group, Karen has found community, growth, and confidence through serving.

Her message to anyone on the fence about getting involved? "Do it! Your talents are meaningful, and there is a place for them here."

Learn more about volunteering on our website at calspra.org.

10/02/2026

School communicators got social this morning at the CalSPRA Inland Empire-Orange County Regional Social Media Workshop at Harbor Day School! 💜📸

Featured speaker Andrea Gribble of presented "Storytelling That Connects: Social Media Ideas for Schools," delivering community, fresh ideas, and positivity to attendees.

Thank you to event partner Apptegy for sponsoring this special event and Harbor Day School for serving as gracious hosts.