Dear NESPRA Members,

The New England School Public Relations Association (NESPRA) celebrated its fourth birthday in January as the official regional chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) — cementing our foundation for decades to come to support you: our dedicated and passionate school communicators across the six New England states.

NESPRA hosted a robust menu of virtual professional development offerings in 2025-26 through “Lunch and Learns” and “Conversations that Matter,” and networking through “Chapter Chats,” state meet-ups (virtual and in-person), and the Advocacy Professional Learning Community.

The fifth-annual NESPRA Conference was held on May 8, 2026, in Marlborough, Massachusetts with a strong line-up of presenters on relevant topics. There were 115 registered attendees as of this writing (4/25/26) — the largest ever.

In 2026, NESPRA’s Executive Board continued its strategic focus of solidifying behind-the-scenes systems, structures, and frameworks to ensure the chapter can operate in a sustainable manner for years to come. Executive Board members all contributed to the creation of chapter’s first Operations Manual, a living document to support current and future board members with important information about processes relating to finance, membership, conference planning, roles and responsibilities, and more. 

In January, NESPRA hired its first part-time paid support staff member, Monique Jacobs, APR, to assist with administrative work for the all-volunteer Executive Board. Jacobs is a communications consultant with decades of experience in school communications and NSPRA.

NESPRA also grew its corporate partnerships in 2026 to support long-term financial stability and keep member fees low. Finalsite became the chapter’s first-ever “Platinum” corporate partner.

The two-year Executive Board terms officially changed over during the 2026 Annual NESPRA Conference on May 8. There was a ceremony to honor the work of the 2024-2026 board members and to welcome the 2026-2028 board members, whose terms started that day.

We thank you for your support. Please take a moment to reflect on our collective work through this 2025-26 Annual Report.

Sincerely,

Dan O’Brien

President, NESPRA (2024-2026)

Chief Communications Officer, Worcester Public Schools (MA)

NESPRA submitted its required annual cash flow report to NSPRA on October 31, 2025 for fiscal year 2025 to align with NSPRA’s fiscal year of September 1-August 31. NESPRA operates as an affiliate organization of NSPRA, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

From September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025, NESPRA’s total income was $44,710 and total expenses were $20,758. NESPRA collected $9,875  in membership dues, $14,885 in program registration fees, and $19,500 from corporate partners.

NESPRA’s annual membership fee remains $50 per year, a rate that has not changed since the chapter’s inception in 2022. The 2026 conference registration fee was $125 for chapter members and $175 for non-members, a $10 increase for non-members from the previous year and a $15 increase from the previous two years.

Additionally the NESPRA President and Treasurer, in collaboration with Executive Board members, revised Corporate Partnership rates for 2026 and introduced the chapter’s first Platinum level corporate partnership. All corporate partnership slots were taken as of April 9 and are in effect for the remainder of the calendar year. The 2026 corporate partners are as follows:

• Platinum: $8,000, Limited to One: Finalsite

• Gold: $5,000, Limited to Two: ParentSquare and Appetgy*

• Silver: $3,000, Limited to Two: TeacherLists and ACES

• Bronze: $1,000, Limited to Two: PeachJar and FileBank

*Apptegy paid an additional $500 to cost a conference session.

The income from corporate partners greatly offsets the cost of the annual conference  and other year-round chapter expenses, and keeps our membership costs affordable.

The Executive Board leadership has indicated that further discussion will be held in 2026-27 to establish corporate partnership rates for hosting virtual “Lunch and Learn” webinars outside of the 2026 packages listed.

NESPRA underwent a review and revision of its chapter bylaws from the summer of 2024 through the summer of 2025. Following a formal review by NSPRA’s (national) Executive Board, NESPRA chapter members voted 34-0 to approve the updated bylaws in an election that closed August 8, 2025, and immediately took effect. 

The most notable changes included:

• The ability to appoint candidates to vacant Executive Board roles if there are no contested candidates with sufficient notice to members

• Clarifying which entity owns a membership and the process of potentially transferring a membership when a member leaves their employer

• Clarifying roles and responsibilities of board members

Read the full chapter bylaws.

NESPRA provided an official annual membership list as required to NSPRA on October 31, 2025, which showed 134 active members. Here is the breakdown by state:

• Massachusetts: 58 (43%)

• Connecticut: 36 (27%)

• Vermont: 21 (16%)

• New Hampshire: 11 (8%)

• Rhode Island: 6 (4%)

• Maine: 2 (1.5%)

In 2025, NESPRA formalized its membership registration and renewal process and timeline. The chapter also moved forward with providing reduced rates for retirees ($25 annually) and allowing transitional memberships for members searching for new employment. The annual membership rate remains $50 per person. NESPRA continues to use the Wild Apricot platform to manage membership registration and renewal.

Membership Timeline: 

• New members are required to pay $50 regardless of the time of year they join; new members will not be pro-rated if they join late in the year.

• September 1-August 31: An annual membership is active during this time.

• September 1-October 15: Lapsed members will be notified that they are required to renew their and/or pay for their membership or risk losing their member-only privileges, which will be removed on or about October 15.

• October 31: NESPRA is required to submit its annual membership roster to NSPRA.

NESPRA is pleased to name Russell Elek as its 2026 School Communicator of the Year. Russ is the Communications and Public Relations Specialist for the Burlington School District in Vermont. 

Russ received the highest score in NESPRA’s School Communicator of the Year rubric from anonymous judges located around the country through the NSPRA network. The criteria included demonstrated leadership, professionalism and community involvement, and two letters of recommendation. 

One judge commented, “This nomination is as heartfelt as it is impressive. Highlighting each time he went above and beyond to make sure that the community and district come together for students paints a picture of a selfless, dedicated professional and person.”

Russ was noted for leading the communications around a successful $165 million bond effort to rebuild Burlington High School following its abrupt closure due to PCB levels, which led to a temporary school being built inside a former Macy’s store, garnering national attention. Russ was credited with reframing the initiative as an opportunity for renewal and accessibility through human-interest content. Russ is known more generally for his commitment to transparency and not shying away from sensitive subjects in a community that prides itself on racial justice and welcoming people of all backgrounds. Internally, he launched a staff peer-to-peer program to elevate the district’s employees. Outside of work, he frequently coaches youth sports and has become a staple in the community.

The following Professional Learning Communities of board and general members met during 2025-26:

• Professional Development

• Advocacy of the Profession

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

In 2025-26, Vice President Julia Mitchell led the Professional Development Professional Learning Community (PD PLC) with members to develop topics and organize presenters for virtual “Lunch and Learn” learning webinars and “Chapter Chat” discussions among members around specific topics. Many of these planning discussions led to the development of sessions that were scheduled for the 2026 NESPRA Annual Conference.

Lunch and Learns were held approximately once every other month at 12:00 PM for one hour. Topics included “Crafting Content that Serves Families” from Finalsite; “Out with the Old, In with the New: Modern Solutions for PR Pros” from ParentSquare; and “Building Crisis Communication Plans That Inform” from Paul Raymond of PDR Strategies.

Chapter Chats, which are unstructured discussions among members around certain topics, were held approximately once every other month at 12:00 PM for one hour. Member-led discussions were held around the following topics: ParentSquare (not sponsored); social media guidelines in the wake of the death of Charlie Kirk; social media and cell phones in schools (in response to new state guidance in Vermont); digital accessibility guidelines; applying for NSPRA awards; and general updates from the Executive Board along with open discussion.

2026 Annual Conference Planning: The PD PLC members organized their discussions into topics for sessions at the 2026 NESPRA Annual Conference, which culminated with artificial intelligence guidance, reputation recovery, cell phone policies and other aspects of the job related to rapidly evolving technology.

In 2026, NESPRA’s Advocacy Professional Learning Community worked to raise awareness of the vital role school communicators play across New England. We help districts understand the value of this work while supporting professionals in advocating for their role, compensation, and recognition as strategic partners and trusted advisors to the superintendent. Together, we are helping shape the future of our profession. The PLC was co-led by Patti Renaud (CT Representative) and Jennifer Cowart (RI Representative).

The committee's successes for the 2025-2026 school year are:

1. Established a NESPRA mentorship program. The mentorship program was launched with five seasoned school communicators matched with five members newer to the profession. We will soon survey participants for feedback that next year’s committee can use to adjust and grow the program. 

1. Set up a job description bank. The job description bank is located in the NESPRA membership shared resources folder for all members to access. This can assist when advocating for school comms positions. 

2. Created a master schedule of New England public school/leadership conferences. This master list is also located in the NESPRA drive and is accessible to anyone with the link. It should help NESPRA leaders to plan for NESPRA representation at important events.

3. Helped districts advocate for staffing and resources. This past spring, we reached out to members to share a report to help advocate for internal comms value/support along with last year’s Value of School Comms resources.

NESPRA Executive Board members Esmeralda Silva (MA Representative) and Elaine Sein (Secretary) led a monthly virtual professional development session titled, “Connect and Collaborate: Conversations That Matter,” around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging topics that connected to school communications. These in-depth discussions and presentations led to a robust list of NESPRA DEIB Continuing Education Resources being shared with NESPRA members through our Members’ Only Google Drive. This list contains numerous titles, descriptions, and links of books, movies, and podcasts to support our collective work.

It is vital to recognize that DEIB is not a "special project" or an "add-on" to our roles; it is the heartbeat of effective school public relations. As the primary architects of our districts' narratives, we hold the power to either bridge gaps or inadvertently widen them. By interrogating our internal biases and championing authentic representation, we ensure that our messaging resonates with every family we serve—from our most rural towns to our densest urban centers. When a student or parent sees themselves reflected accurately and with dignity in our communications, it builds a foundation of trust and belonging that is essential for student success. Ultimately, our commitment to DEIB ensures that we are not just "sending information," but are actively fostering a community where every voice is heard, valued, and seen.

The fifth-annual NESPRA Conference, on May 8, 2026, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Marlborough, Massachusetts, had a strong line-up of presenters on topics that included artificial intelligence and deepfakes, the power of a plan, school communications ethics, digital accessibility (ADA), media relations, social media, and more. One hundred fifteen (115) people were registered to attend as of April 25, which is the highest number ever for a NESPRA conference. (There were 98 registrations in 2025, 89 in 2024, 101 in 2023, and about 60 in 2022.)

• 2026 Conference Theme: What’s In Your Toolkit?

• Description: The 2026 Annual NESPRA Conference is designed to get school communications professionals prepared and equipped for the continuous changes that impact our schools: From actions by the government locally, regionally, and federally to rapidly evolving technology to reputational crises, now is the time to ask yourself: What's in your toolkit to navigate and thrive in today's climate for school communicators? The 2026 NESPRA Conference will feature numerous presenters who are experts in the field, along with skill-building table-top workshops and opportunities to network and learn about resources to support our work.

• Date and Location: Friday, May 8, 2026, from 8:30 AM-3:45 PM, at the Courtyard by Marriott Boston Marlborough in Marlborough, Massachusetts. An evening mixer was held at the hotel for overnight guests on Thursday, May 7.

• Cost: $125 for chapter members; $175 for non-members. (The cost for non-members increased by $10 from the previous year.)

Conference Presenters and Topics Included: 

• Trust Over Trends: A Smarter Approach to School Social Media (morning keynote presentation) and How to Use Instagram for Schools in 2026 by Andrea Gribble, founder of #SocialSchool4EDU

• The Power of a Plan: Boosting Your PR Efforts to Drive Real Outcomes (afternoon featured presentation) and The Ethical Compass: Navigating the Moral Maze of School PR by Lesley Bruinton, APR, CEO of School Spirit PR and former NSPRA President

• When AI Becomes a Headline: Preparing School Communicators for the Questions Ahead by Casey Daigle, Digital Learning Manager for the Collaborative of Educational Services in Northampton, MA

• Deepfakes, Disinformation, and School Reputation: What School PR Leaders Need to Know by T.J. Winick, Principal of Essex Strategies of Boston

• Friend or Foe? When to Lean In or Push Back with the Media by Chris McKinnon and Sujata Wycoff of Boston Public Schools

• Digital Accessibility Awareness and Fundamentals by representatives from the Massachusetts Office on Disability

• Where Leadership Meets Communication: The Power of the Superintendent-Communications Partnership by Matt Miller and Max Eisl, former school and district leaders, of Finalsite

• Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in School Communications: Table-top discussion with Esmeralda Silva of Marlborough Public Schools (MA) and NESPRA board member, and Lily Rivera of Cambridge Public Schools (MA).

• Communicating About the Changing Digital Media Landscape: Panel discussion moderated by Dan O’Brien of Worcester Public Schools (MA) and NESPRA president with NESPRA members: Esmeralda Silva, Joy Jordan, Heather Gilchrest, Maria Quiray Lawrence and Russ Elek.

Attendees were provided an exit survey to help the NESPRA Executive Board plan for the 2027 conference

Thank you for your continued participation and support of NESPRA. Your continued involvement helps facilitate learning and networking of school communications professionals across New England.

• Follow NESPRA at our chapter website: www.ne-spra.org and social media: LinkedIn, Facebook (members only)

• Become a NESPRA member

• Follow NSPRA (national association)

• Annual NSPRA Seminar (national association)

• 2025 NESPRA Annual Report