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Professional Development Events

NJSPRA sponsors a number of in-person events throughout the year with the goal of providing professional development on school communication topics and networking opportunities for our members

For professional development in 2025-2026, we held three full day workshops at the FEA Conference Center in Monroe Township, NJ. In addition to our professional development offerings, NJSPRA also held virtual member meet-ups, the Communication Awards celebration, and our Annual Meeting and Networking event in May. Attendance to all of these events is included in your NJSPRA Membership. In prior years, we have also held special events as needs and occasions arise, including focused seminars on timely topics for NJ schools as well as regional events with neighboring state school PR association chapters.

Dates and information for upcoming workshops are posted below. Announcements and registration information about each event is posted here, emailed to members and other subscribers, and posted on our social media channels.

To be added to our subscriber list, complete the chapter's brief subscription form

Save the dates for our 2026-2027 Workshops!
Fall - September 29, 2026: Accessibility, Compliance & Equity; The Three Musketeers!
Followed by the 2026 Communication Awards Celebration
Winter - January 14, 2027: Staying Sane in Strategic Communications
Spring - April 8, 2027: Tools & Tactics to Build Trust 


    • September 29, 2026
    • 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
    • NJPSA FEA Conference Center
    Register


    Fall 2026 Workshop &
    Communication Awards Ceremony
    Accessibility, Compliance and Equity:
    The Three Musketeers

    Tuesday, September 29, 2026
    9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

    Kick off NJSPRA's 2026 workshop season with candid conversations on accessibility, multilingual communication, and privacy compliance; then stay to celebrate the best in New Jersey school communications!

    From newsletters and branding to photography, video, social media and websites, this year's award recipients will be celebrated for the most innovative work of the 2025-26 school year.

    Breakfast/Check-In Open at 8:30 a.m.
    RSVP/Registration Absolutely Required
    by September 22, 2026

    Including for Active Members

    ____________________________________

    Student Privacy > More Than an IT Issue

    What can you share, post or publish about students, and when do you need permission? Student privacy reaches far beyond the technology department and into the everyday work of school communications.

    This session will explore FERPA, media consent and releases, student photos and video, directory information, digital platforms, emerging technologies and other privacy considerations through the lens of the school communicator. Attendees will examine the decisions districts make every day to protect student information while still telling their schools’ stories effectively.

    ____________________________________

    Beyond Translation: Building Meaningful Multilingual Communication

    Making information available in another language is only the beginning. This panel brings together three New Jersey school professionals to explore how districts can strengthen multilingual communication through thoughtful translation workflows, accessible media, family engagement, and community relationships.

    The conversation will examine the practical decisions behind reaching multilingual families, including when technology can help, where human expertise remains essential and how communicators can determine whether their messages are truly reaching and engaging the communities they serve.

    Gia Messore
    Public Information Officer for Strategic Communications and Partnerships
    Vineland Public Schools

    Gia brings an energetic, community-centered approach to family engagement, creating stronger connections between schools and the people they serve.

    Isaiah Gomez

    Isaiah Gomez
    Multimedia Content Specialist
    Middlesex County Magnet Schools

    A creative visual storyteller, Isaiah brings a modern multimedia perspective to making video and digital content more accessible, engaging and inclusive.

    Jessicka Oviedo

    Jessicka Oviedo
    Community Engagement & Branding Specialist
    New Brunswick Public Schools

    Bringing a fresh voice to bilingual school communications, Jessicka helps turn district messaging into communication that connects across languages and communities.

    ____________________________________

    Constructing Communications for Everyone with Digital Accessibility

    Can every family in your community actually access what your district publishes? Often, the answer is "not quite" and it's rarely just a website issue. Accessibility touches every document, graphic, video and post families rely on to stay connected.

    Join Christine Corliss for a practical look at digital accessibility and ADA compliance for school communicators. Learn to spot common barriers, build accessible content from the start, and stay ahead of evolving expectations before they become compliance problems.

    Walk away with strategies you can use immediately to meet the April 2027 Federal requirements and make your communications easier for everyone to navigate, understand and use.

    Christine Corliss

    Christine Corliss
    Public Information Officer

    Ridgewood Public Schools

    Christine brings an accessibility-focused perspective to helping school districts turn compliance requirements into clearer, more inclusive digital communications for every member of their communities.

    ____________________________________

    2026 Communication Awards Ceremony

    Meet, See, and Celebrate...
    the best in Newsletters, Marketing/Branding/Image,
    Media Relations, Photography, Social Media,
    Special Publications, Video and Website
    creations across New Jersey.
    Support your Colleagues!

    Logistics and Registration:

    NJPSA FEA Conference Center
    12 Centre Drive  Monroe Township, NJ 08831

    RSVP/Registration required for everyone, including active members,
    and due by October 2, 2025.

    Open to:
    Active NJSPRA 2026-2027 Members
    Dues must be paid in full or purchase order received.

    All 2026 Communication Awards Entrants and Winners
    Notifications sent on or by Tuesday, September 8th.
    Check your email or contact executivedirector@njspra.com
    for the registration code.

    2026 Communication Award Winners may bring one guest
    for the full day's program.
    Check your email or contact executivedirector@njspra.com
    for the registration code.

    2026-27 Members unable to attend may send a substitute from their district - Contact executivedirector@njspra.com for the registration code.

    All Other Guests - $125 per

    Includes continental breakfast (available at 8:30am) and lunch

    THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

    Champion Level


    Patron Level


Past Events 

2025-26

  • 26 March 2026 - Spring Workshop: Recognition, Reputation and Reach - Building an Unforgettable Brand
  • 10 February 2026 - Special Webinar: How to Write Positive and Credible Headlines with Data
  • 13 Jan 2026 - Winter Workshop: AI for Communicators - Amplify Your Impact
  • 9 Oct 2025 - Fall Workshop & Communication Awards Ceremony:  Snap, Edit, and Share: A Content Creator's Guide (Canva, Smore and Photography)

2024-25

  • 9 May 2025 Annual Meeting and School Communicators Day Celebration
  • 13 March 2025 - Spring Workshop: Driving the Communication Train: Getting Everyone on Board with Your Outreach
  • 16 Jan 2025 - Winter Workshop: From Recruitment to School Spirit: The Power Is in the Post (Social Media For Hire; Hr+ PR: A Perfect Combination, Social Savvy Hiring: Connecting with Top Candidates in the Digital World)
  • 10 Oct 2024  NJSPRA School Communication Awards Celebration
  • 23 Sept 2024 - Fall Workshop: Keeping Law and Order with AI & Strategic Planning
2023-24
  • 10 May 2024 Annual Meeting and School Communicators Day Celebration
  • 12 March 2024 - Spring Workshop: Branding and Strong Communications to Help Attract and Retain Students and Staff (How School PR Can Help with Employee Recruitment; Maximizing Your Network with Community Partnerships; Implementing Brand Identity to Unite District, Schools and Community; Who Speaks for Your Brand)
  • 30 Jan 2024  Virtual Workshop: Ethics in School Communications (NJSPRA Members Only)
  • 11 Jan 2024 - Winter WorkshopPrepare, Prepare, Prepare - What You Should Do Before Your District Is in the Headlines (Preparing for a Crisis - Have a Plan; Journalists Turned School Communication Pro's; Reporters Are on My Campus - Now What? Tutorial on Media Training)
  • 23 Oct 2023  NJSPRA School Communication Awards Celebration at NJSBA Annual Workshop
  • 2 Oct 2023 - Fall Workshop: Crewing the Ship Through Choppy Waters: Good Communication Starts at the Helm (Dynamic Duo: Superintendent and School Communicator; Keeping Calm and Let the School Communicator Help; Board Members, Social Media and Freedom of Speech; Tech and Design Tips for School Communicators: Canva, Newsletter, Social Media)

2022-23

  • 12 May 2023  Annual Meeting and School Communicators Day Celebration/Luncheon, Communicator of the Year awarded
  • 25 Apr 2023  - Spring Workshop: Showcase & Roundtable with Video, Website and Social Communication Award Winners, Importance of Internal Communications, The Good, the Bad & The Ugly (Three NJSPRA members sharing good, bad and ugly situations they experienced) 
  • 07 Feb 2023 - Winter Workshop: Social Media Analytics and Content Strategy; 2022 Communicator of the Year Presentation; NJSBA Legislative Update; Creating an Internal Communications Team
  • 30 Nov 2022 - Fall Workshop: Communicating in Crisis; Leadership in Turbulent Times; 100 member celebration
  • 18 Oct 2022 2022 Communication Awards Dinner



      Meet Your Programs & Events Committee

      The Programs and Events Committee plans, assesses, and evaluates professional development offerings and member learning options provided by the chapter throughout the course of the school year. Review your confirmed event registrations.

      Mailing Address

      760 Route 46 West #1001
      Parsippany, NJ 07054

      Contact Us

      executivedirector@njspra.com 
      845-406-0631

      NJSPRA is one of 34 officially chartered chapters of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) representing school communications professionals in individual states
      and multi-state regions across the United States, U.S. territories, and Canada. © 2026 New Jersey School Public Relations Association. All rights reserved.
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