The New Jersey School Boards Association’s Annual Public Relations Forum will be held on Friday, April 24, at the Conference Center, Mercer County Community College. The School PR Forum will feature a full day of timely sessions presented by public relations professionals and education and industry leaders, providing practical guides and best practices for success. This year’s program will feature a PR Productivity Lab that will teach you how to maximize your impact with minimal time. In today’s fast-paced, rapidly changing world, it is important to ensure your public relations strategy works to its full potential in any circumstance.
The morning will feature two presentations from New Jersey school communication professionals. First, Heather Daniel, Director of Communications and Policy, Edison Township Public Schools, will present “Productivity Lab: Designing Systems That Save Time and Strengthen Trust.”
The communications team from Pittsgrove Regional School District, Philip Campbell, World Language Teacher & Educational Technologist, Mary Cundey, MTSS Interventionist, and Matt Ciociola, Supervisor of Innovation & Student Achievement, will present “AI: How Does it Make the Job Easier?”
A working lunch will include a short presentation from event sponsor Apptegy. Co-presenters, Steve Kent and Alex Guzzo, will discuss “Signaling Change: AI and School Communication.” SchoolCEO’s newest research uncovers how AI is reshaping the roles of school leaders. Join us to explore how artificial intelligence can free you from administrative overwhelm—automating routine tasks, crafting personalized communications, and giving you back precious time for the work that truly matters: supporting students and staff. But transformation requires wisdom. We’ll navigate the real challenges together: safeguarding data privacy, ensuring security, and building a culture where every team member feels confident with new tools. You’ll leave equipped to champion AI adoption that empowers your people, cut through the hype, and bring even the skeptics on board. This isn’t about chasing technology—it’s about reclaiming your time and amplifying your impact.
The afternoon will feature four Learning Labs where attendees are invited to break into interactive and engaging group sessions exploring the following topics:
- Social Media Do’s and Don’ts
- Communications Planning/Website
- Branding & Tools
- Newsletters, Outreach & Community
Social Media Do’s and Don’ts will be taught by New Jersey School Public Relations Association (NJSPRA) President, Hunterdon Central Regional High School District Communications Officer Maren Smagala and NJSBA Senior Field Services Representative Michelle Kennedy.
Christine Corliss, NJSPRA President-Elect/VP of Programming and Public Information Officer & Special Projects, Ridgewood Public Schools, will lead a Communications Planning/Website session.
Attendees will explore Branding & Tools with Jennifer Baldassari, Communications, Lawrence Township Public Schools, and Skye Dillion of SKYE Design.
Paul Brubaker, Director of Communications, Newark Public Schools, and Danielle Schwartz, Communications Officer, Ramsey School District, will instruct attendees on Newsletters, Outreach & Community.
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, 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 for success.
NJSBA Executive Director Dr. Timothy Purnell looks forward to the opportunity that the forum can provide for districts. “In a world where every stakeholder has a megaphone, the districts that communicate with clarity, consistency and purpose are the ones that build the trust their communities need and their students deserve,” he said. “The NJSBA School PR Forum is where this work begins and why it belongs on every school communicator’s calendar.”
Space is limited. Reserve your seat at the Public Relations Forum here. Register today to secure your spot!
Registration Details
This conference offers three Board Member Academy credits and has a member rate of $149. Registration of school board members, administrators, and district staff who 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.
For questions regarding this program, please contact Chanta L. Jackson, NJSBA Chief Public Affairs Officer.
