On Thursday, June 3, the New Jersey School Boards Association will present its annual School Public Relations Forum, virtually, from 9 a.m. to noon. The session offers two Board Member Academy credits.

View the agenda for the forum here.

The theme is Getting Your Community Ready for September, and the program will feature interactive sessions focused on engaging with the community.

Sessions include:

How to Speak So People Listen
Public speaking is an essential skill for school administrators and school board members.  The manner in which ideas and information are presented can influence the decisions boards make and the confidence the public has in its leadership team.  During this session, we will discuss how to avoid the common mistakes people make when speaking and explore how to use easy-to-implement public speaking strategies to ensure that your communication is effective in both remote and in-person forums. Presented by owner and chief academic officer of Teach4Results, Tracey Severns.

Using Social Media to Build Goodwill
Get ahead of the chatter and quell the rumor mill by being proactive, taking control of your school district’s messaging and ultimately building trust with your community. Use multiple social media platforms to build your school district’s brand, tout upcoming events, supply video performance links, broadcast live from an assembly, stream your school board meetings, and alert the community during an emergency situation. Join us for a discussion about the importance of a school district’s maintaining an active online presence and effectively using these free online marketing and public relations tools to engage and inform the public. Presented by communications professional and NJSBA consultant, Rosa Cirianni, also a former news reporter and public relations executive.

Panel Discussion: Communicating About COVID and the 2021-2022 School Year
In preparing for the next school year, how will your district communicate with families and students on issues such as COVID cleaning and safety protocols, assessments and learning, vaccinations, and remote learning? Join us for an in-depth discussion with a school public relations expert, and two highly respected superintendents – one of whom is also a school board member – and learn strategies to help your district build trust and transparency with your local community.

Panelists will include Lori Perlow, communications manager for the Camden County Educational Services Commission, and president, New Jersey School Public Relations Association; Dr. Robert Zywicki, superintendent of schools for Mount Olive, and a board member in the Sparta school district; and Dr. Carol Birnbohm, superintendent at Lenape Regional High School District in Burlington County, and 2019 New Jersey Region III Superintendent of the Year.

Registration The member rate for this program is $50 per person. The school business administrator must handle registration.

For questions on this program, email Ann Marie Smith.