Get a complete toolkit to enhance communication, leverage artificial intelligence, pass a referendum and more at the Public Relations Forum, Friday, April 4, at the New Jersey School Boards Association’s headquarters in Trenton.

This year’s theme is “Communication, Collaboration and AI for a Stronger Future.”

Whether you are a board member eager to improve the way you communicate with your superintendent and the community, a school administrator striving to achieve your objectives, a public relations professional working in a school, or a related stakeholder passionate about effective communication, the PR Forum will deliver practical guidance and best practices to succeed.

Member Fee: $119

Board Member Academy Credits: 3

Seating is limited — register now!

Registration Details Registration of school board members, administrators, and district staff that have been included on the NJSBA census may be registered online, but only by the school business administrator who must attach a scanned copy of the purchase order with the registration.

Get Timely Guidance on Critical Topics

When you arrive at the PR Forum at 9 a.m., you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees and enjoy a light breakfast. This is a great time to share insights and set the tone for a productive day ahead.

Sessions include:

Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Communication Between Board Members and Superintendents
Dr. Nicholas Diaz, Deputy Director, NJSBA; Michelle Hurley, Former Board President for Flemington-Raritan School District in Hunterdon County and Associate Vice President, Marketing and Client Development for The Angeletti Group; and Maren Smagala, Communications Officer at Hunterdon Central Regional High School

Dr. Nicholas Diaz, who was recognized by the New Jersey Public Relations Association as its Communicator of the Year in 2023, teams up with the president of NJSPRA, Maren Smagala, a fellow NJSPRA Communicator of the Year (2021), who is also a communications officer at Hunterdon Central Regional High School; and Michelle Hurley, former Board President for Flemington-Raritan School District in Hunterdon County and Associate Vice President, Marketing and Client Development for The Angeletti Group in this groundbreaking session focusing on cultivating effective communication strategies between board members and the chief school administrator.

Learn how to:

  • Avoid common missteps that lead to misunderstandings and confusion at the board table.
  • Implement best practices to keep the lines of communication open between the superintendent, a communications officer and the board president.
  • Enjoy more productive board meetings by capitalizing on best practices.
  • Communicate positive news to the community.
  • Advance a healthy board and school culture by working together.

You do not want to miss this presentation that promises to move your board and school district in the right direction.

Assembling an ‘A’ Team for Crisis Communications
Laura Bishop; Managing Principal, Laura Bishop Communications; Allyson Roberts, Vice President at Laura Bishop Communications; and Dr. Carol Birnbohm, Superintendent of Lenape Regional High School District

Each step is crucial in a crisis, including before an issue arises, with ongoing communications among team members who know their roles. Learn the value of preplanning from tested professionals in communications and school leadership. They’ll also share best practices for designating and preparing a spokesperson who can maintain the community’s confidence and trust.

A Gameplan That Convinced a Community to Approve a Referendum
Bruce Moran, Communications Specialist, Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District

A historical vote that was approved twice in 2023 will forever shape the future of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.

On March 14 and then again on November 7 of 2023 the communities of Bridgewater and Raritan overwhelmingly voted for the passage of multiple bond referendums, setting up the course to renovate aging buildings, and finally after many years of debate, with the approval of full-day kindergarten.

To successfully accomplish these critical approvals, the administrators and the board of education for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District devised a full-scale gameplan on how to obtain the confidence of the voters in the two communities in order for the $155 million referendum to be approved in March and then for another $2.46, million referendum to receive support in November.

Bruce Moran, the Communications Specialist for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, will share with the audience how this crucial task was achieved, focusing on the teamwork involved as well as the successful delivery of the messages to the community.

AI in Action: Using Artificial Intelligence to Transform School Public Relations
Dr. Peter Hughes, Superintendent, Cresskill School District

This practical training introduces school board members, administrators, and public relations personnel to the transformative power of artificial intelligence in enhancing school communications. Participants will explore how AI tools can streamline tasks such as crisis communication, content creation, and audience engagement for all demographics, making outreach more efficient and impactful. The session provides an overview of practical applications and demonstrations to help improve district messaging.  Attendees will leave with actionable ideas and tools to immediately integrate AI into their PR strategies.

You’ll Also Enjoy …

The PR Forum also comes with lunch, giving you more time to network with your peers as you hone your PR skills.

Reserve your seat at the PR Forum.