National Seminar Presenting at the Seminar

As you consider what to present on, start by asking yourself: 

• What challenges has my profession struggled with lately?  
• What strategies have I used this past year to effectively tackle those challenges?  
• What unique professional insights do I have to offer others in my profession? 

Think about your answers to those questions and then consider the following feedback from past attendees on their topics of interest:  

• Hands-on, how-to instruction for various communication tools, apps, software and accessibility features 
• Digital communication skills (e.g., video, social media, podcasting, photography) 
• Employee recruitment and retention strategies and campaigns 
• Guidance for managing a communications department 
• Leadership training for veterans looking to advance their careers 
• Customer service initiatives 
• Storytelling skills 
• Writing skills, in general and specifically for speeches and scripts 
• Presentation, public speaking and interview skills 
• Sessions unique to the work of communicators in a BOCES, intermediate unit, regional education agency or county office of education. 

Session Focus Areas 

Each presentation proposal must fall into one of the following session focus areas: 

• AI–Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in school PR/communications (research, strategies, use cases, policies, best practices, etc.)
• CAREER–Skills, knowledge and resources for charting a personal career path
• CHAPTERS–strategies, tactics and training for state/regional SPRA chapter leaders
• ENGAGEMENT–Internal and/or external stakeholder engagement (research, strategies, programs, campaigns, activities, etc.) 
• EQUITY–PR/communications to support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (research, strategies, programs, campaigns, activities, etc.)
• ESA–PR/communication for Educational Service Agencies, Intermediate Units, BOCES, County Offices of Education 
• ETHICS–PR/communication ethics and law 
• LEADERSHIP–PR/communication leadership (strategic counseling, reputation management, relationship building, organizational dynamics, mentoring/guidance, professional development, etc.) 
• MARKETING–Marketing/branding for school systems (research, strategies, programs, campaigns, activities, etc.) 
• PLANNING–PR/communication strategic planning (research and evaluation strategies, coordination/management of effective programs, collaborative efforts, accountability/results, etc.) 
• TACTICS–PR/communication tactics (best practice strategies, programs, campaigns, tips, advice for implementation, media relations, etc.) 

Now that you know what school PR pros want and how NSPRA may categorize your session, settle on a popular topic for which you have a lot of experience and expertise to offer. 

The NSPRA 2024 National Seminar attracted more than 1,700 school public relations professionals and school system leaders. Most were association members. Here are some key demographics about NSPRA’s members based on the 2022 Membership Profile Survey: 

Personal demographics: 

• 78% identify as a woman, and 20% identify as a man. 
• 84% identify as white, 5% as Black or African American, 5% as Hispanic or Latino, 2% as Asian and 1% as multi-racial. 
• Nearly 60% are between 40-59, while 26% are aged 30-39.  
• 53% hold a bachelor’s degree, and 39% also hold a master’s degree. 
• 9% hold accreditation in public relations (APR).  

School system demographics: 

• 73% work for a school system serving grades K-12 or preK-12. 
• 10% work for a  BOCES, intermediate unit, regional education agency or county office of education. 

School PR experience: 

• 45% are advancing or mid-career professionals with 5-15 years of experience.  
• 32% have four or fewer years of experience. 
• 23% are veterans with more than 15 years of experience. 

Communications office size: 

• 41% have a team of 2-4 people.  
• 37% are their organization’s only school communicator. 
• 22% have a team of 5 or more people. 

The top 5 responsibilities for NSPRA members are crisis communications, external communications, social media, community relations/public engagement and media relations. 

As you review these demographics, picture the target audience for your presentation: Who would benefit most from what you have to share?  

Only in-person sessions will be offered during the NSPRA 2025 National Seminar on July 20-23. However, all presenters will be asked to pre-record their presentation for submission to NSPRA. Those recordings will be made available after the Seminar for on-demand viewing. 

The Amplify Session format is the most competitive due to limited availability of session slots. Keep this in mind when thinking about the preferred format for your presentation. 

All presenters must be registered for the Seminar, but you do not have to be a member of NSPRA in order to submit a proposal. 

Seminar Session Options 

As part of your presentation proposal, you will be invited to share: 

• The number of times you have delivered a professional presentation or training/workshop. 
• Your experience presenting at a NSPRA National Seminar, or if you have not done so, a reference who has observed and can speak to your presentation skills.  

Seminar planners consider presenters’ experience levels, and if applicable, past Seminar evaluations as part of the proposal review process.  

However, NSPRA members are all encouraged to submit proposals in order to gain professional development experience as presenters. If you have little or no professional presentation experience, consider submitting a proposal for a session type with more availability such as a Gold Mine and/or identifying a more experienced co-presenter to join you to ensure a stronger proposal. You may also want to check out this post from business and marketing executive Seth Godin's blog on "the amateur presenter."  

Please note that NSPRA membership is not required to submit a proposal.  

NSPRA is seeking presenters who offer unique insights, effective strategies and tactics, timely information on new and emerging issues, hands-on learning, useful resource materials, and relevant content and experiences that meet the high standards and expectations of Seminar participants.   

In selecting session proposals, NSPRA will give priority to sessions with the association’s members as lead or co-presenters. However, NSPRA membership is not required to submit a proposal. 

Vendor submissions are not accepted through the call for proposals process, but a school district or educational organization may submit a proposal with a vendor co-presenter if the proposed presentation does not include a sales pitch for vendor products and services. Vendors wishing to submit a session proposal are invited to consider sponsorship opportunities (once announced) where vendor pitches may be made.  

Information Required in a Proposal 

The presentation proposal submission website will require a variety of information about the presenter submitting the proposal and any co-presenters (e.g., contact information, district/organization details, presentation experience). 

It also will require information on the presenter's: 

• Focus area and target audience, 
• Title and description for the presentation, 
• Presentation outline and methods, and 
• Learning outcomes that attendees will take away from the proposed session.