Crisis comes in all forms — and it's part of the reality of school PR. But so is resilience and community. 

Whether it was leading crisis communication efforts after a school shooting, managing the day-by-day changes of a global pandemic or crafting stabilizing words during polarizing times, NSPRA members have been there, guiding communities through the unthinkable. 

We’ll hear from Rick Kaufman, APR, and Lesley Bruinton, APR, as they reflect on the defining moments of crisis response and community that shaped their careers. As school public relations veterans, they share stories of leadership in times of crisis and the lessons learned from leading through adversity.

Because beyond the communications plans, it's about showing-up when it matters most.  And, perhaps most importantly, finding support in community. 

TRIGGER WARNING:
This episode features discussion on potentially triggering topics such as violence, school shootings, political unrest, and experiences from the global pandemic.  

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NSPRA at 90: The Stories That Shaped Us Podcast.
Episode 5:  In Crisis and in Community


GUESTS:
Rick Kaufman, APR
Lesley Bruinton, APR

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“The Stories That Shaped Us” is a limited series podcast by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) produced in celebration of NSPRA’s 90th Anniversary.

HOST & PRODUCER:  Mitchell Roush
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:  Sarah Loughlin
NSPRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:  Barbara Hunter, APR


https://www.nspra.org/

So much has changed, and so much has stayed the same. 

As we look through the eras of NSPRA’s 90 year history, we trace the tools and resources we’ve carried as school communications experts, and we marvel at how technology — and expectations — have evolved.  

We’ll explore how school communicators have adapted to shifting tools, platforms and technologies across decades. And how NSPRA played a role in helping members stay current through trends like cable TV, desktop publishing, websites, social media and now AI.

We’ll hear from Nicole Kirby, APR, Carroll Macke, and Andy Grunig, APR; each of them a trailblazer in their own right both in terms of leadership and disruptive technology tools they adopted to vault the work of school communications into new ears.  

Because while the mediums have changed, the mission hasn’t.

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NSPRA at 90: The Stories That Shaped Us Podcast.
Episode 4:  The Tools We Carried 


GUESTS:
Nicole Kirby, APR
Carroll Macke
Andy Grunig, APR 

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“The Stories That Shaped Us” is a limited series podcast by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) produced in celebration of NSPRA’s 90th Anniversary.

HOST & PRODUCER:  Mitchell Roush
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:  Sarah Loughlin
NSPRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:  Barbara Hunter, APR


https://www.nspra.org/

No one does the work of School PR alone. 

NSPRA’s 90 year history is rooted in many things, but perhaps nothing more meaningful than the power of building connections.  

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the meaning behind the work, and the people who not only make it happen, but the people who are built up by others and pay it forward.

Danielle Clark, APR & Dirk Tedmon, APR join the podcast as passionate believers in the work of School PR.  Both have recently been recognized by NSPRA for their efforts in connecting with others and building them up. 

As they share, you’ll hear how NSPRA has played a pivotal role in building connections for school PR professionals across the county, across generations, and the positive ripple effects felt throughout the profession and is felt throughout our public schools.

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NSPRA at 90: The Stories That Shaped Us Podcast.
Episode 3:  The People Behind the Podium


GUESTS:
Danielle Clark, APR
Dirk Tedmon, APR 

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“The Stories That Shaped Us” is a limited series podcast by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) produced in celebration of NSPRA’s 90th Anniversary.

HOST & PRODUCER:  Mitchell Roush
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:  Sarah Loughlin
NSPRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:  Barbara Hunter, APR


https://www.nspra.org/

Defining moments are the ones that challenge us and vault us into eras of opportunity. 
 
NSPRA’s history has that in spades.  Like all great moments, they are rooted in the efforts of great collaborative minds from the field of School Communications. 

Ninety years later, the Association is continuing charting a course with bold vision carrying the banner of advocacy.
 
In this episode, dive deep into a few seminal moments that defined NSPRA. Some deeply challenging, and others fueled by incredible opportunity. 

Rich Bagin, APR, former NSPRA executive director, and Frank Kwan, APR, longtime NSPRA leader and former president, join the podcast to share their experiences. 

Rich charts first-hand accounts of how NSPRA faced potential bankruptcy only to rise up to be bigger, better, and more supportive than ever.  Frank dives into how the internet quite literally changed everything.  

NSPRA’s history isn’t just a series of events — it’s a collection of decisions, risks and people who chose to lead during moments that mattered. And the ripple effects of those moments are still felt today.

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NSPRA at 90: The Stories That Shaped Us Podcast.
Episode 2:  The Moments That Defined Us


GUESTS:
Rich Bagin, APR
Frank Kwan, APR 

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“The Stories That Shaped Us” is a limited series podcast by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) produced in celebration of NSPRA’s 90th Anniversary.

HOST & PRODUCER:  Mitchell Roush
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:  Sarah Loughlin
NSPRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:  Barbara Hunter, APR


https://www.nspra.org/

The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) started small but was driven by a core set of ideals.  And now, 90 years later, the Association is thriving as the leader of School Communications expertise across the country.

NSPRA’s original 23 founders was one-third educators, one-third writers and one-third crusaders who had exchanged ideas for 10 years on better techniques, methods and materials for reporting and promoting the progress of public schools.

In episode one, we’ll go deep into the founding purpose and ideals that drove NSPRA in its early days all the way through to today 90 years later.

Joe Lowenthal, APR, and Kathy Leslie, APR, unpack the importance of integrity, the power of face-to-face communication, and how NSPRA has both transformed and stayed the same in its pursuit of anchoring public school communications.

While Joe & Kathy weren't there in 1935, they carry the legacy of that moment. Through their reflections, we’ll explore how NSPRA’s founding ideas still shape who we are nearly a century later.

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NSPRA at 90: The Stories That Shaped Us Podcast.
Episode 1:  From a Breakfast Table to a National Network


GUESTS:
Joe Lowenthal, APR
Kathy Leslie, APR 

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“The Stories That Shaped Us” is a limited series podcast by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) produced in celebration of NSPRA’s 90th Anniversary.

HOST & PRODUCER:  Mitchell Roush
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:  Sarah Loughlin
NSPRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:  Barbara Hunter, APR


https://www.nspra.org/

Where would public schools be without the communicators?

This is “The Stories That Shaped Us”, a limited series podcast produced in celebration of the National School Public Relations Association’s 90th Anniversary.

Join Mitchell Roush, Communications Director for Grand Island Public Schools, for the next seven weeks as he journeys through the voices, milestones, and moments that have shaped NSPRA — and the field of school communications — over the past nine decades.

Through reflective interviews we’ll tackle timely topics from the arena of School PR, unpack the storied history of NSPRA, and more. 

We’ll hear from longtime members, emerging leaders, past presidents, and award winners to honor both NSPRA’s legacy and to explore the evolving role of school communicators.

So dive-in with as we listen, learn, and lead.  

This is NSPRA at 90.

And this is “The Stories That Shaped Us” podcast.  

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“The Stories That Shaped Us” is a limited series podcast by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) produced in celebration of NSPRA’s 90th Anniversary.

HOST & PRODUCER:  Mitchell Roush
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:  Sarah Loughlin
NSPRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:  Barbara Hunter, APR


https://www.nspra.org/