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35 Under 35: Maria Kury

Every other year, NSPRA's 35 Under 35 program recognizes school public relations professionals who are making a difference for their school districts or education-related employers. The sixth class of NSPRA's 35 Under 35 program is sponsored by Rhodes Branding.

Maria KuryMaria Kury
Spanish Communication Specialist

Wichita (Kan.) Public Schools

How many years have you worked in school PR?
3 years
 
What have you found to be the most rewarding part about working in school PR?

What I love the most about my job is the satisfaction of watching our families use, or share the resources we have created for them. Also seeing other school districts find value in what we do and want to know how to start moving in the same direction.

 
What have you found to be the most challenging part about working in school PR? How do you approach those challenges?

One of the biggest challenges of working in school PR is being able to strengthen the bridges that bring us closer to the communities we serve and trying to deliver the best possible product or strategy for an audience that has different needs, contexts, and commitment to the education of their students. During the last few years, I have realized that the best allies for public education are the families and community organizations themselves. As we get closer to them, we become the trusted source of their information, making our work more relevant.

 
What has been your most fulfilling professional experience thus far? 

The most fulfilling experience has been being able to share the lessons we have learned with my colleagues in other districts and show them that English is not the only language of success. Presenting at NSPRA on what has worked for our families and becoming a relevant voice when it comes to communicating with families who speak a language other than English at home.

Are there any emerging trends in school public relations that excite you? 

The creation of content or strategies taking into account the cultural language of the families we serve. Rethinking the processes or tone with which we share messages and use other communication channels, such as social media, to ensure our district's voices are heard by all stakeholders.