Kentucky School Public Relations Association

🥳Here's to celebrating the champions of connection and collaboration in our schools! 👏👏

During day 1 of the Spring 2026 KYSPRA Conference, KSBA Staff Attorney John Powell and Director of Communications Brenna Kelly updated school communications professionals across the state on many of the education bills currently being considered in Frankfort.

Kentucky School Public Relations Association

👑🐎 What a winning run at the 2026 KYSPRA Spring Conference! 🐎👑

Our “Triple Crown Communications” conference brought together school communicators from across Kentucky for two incredible days of learning, connection, and inspiration. From engaging sessions to meaningful conversations, this year’s conference truly delivered!

We were especially thrilled to welcome Barbara M. Hunter, APR, Executive Director of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) who shared powerful insights that left a lasting impact.

And the fun didn’t stop when sessions ended—our social event at Puttshack was a huge success and a great way to connect and unwind! ⛳🎉

We were also proud to celebrate excellence in school communication with our several annual awards:

🏆 O.V. Jones Memorial Award – Caryn Lewis, Grayson County Schools
🏆 Richard Thornton Award – posthumously presented to Dr. Tom Shelton, with his daughters present to accept this meaningful honor
🏆 Flag of Learning and Liberty Award – Claudia Greenwood
🏆 2026 Kentucky School Communicator of the Year – Candace Gibson, NKCES

A huge thank you to the KYSPRA Board for their hard work in planning and organizing such a fantastic conference. Thank you to Jefferson County Public Schools for hosting us at Southern High School. We truly appreciate your support and hospitality!

We are also incredibly grateful to our speakers who gave excellent presentations, and our conference sponsors—Class Intercom, Apptegy, ParentSquare, Finalsite, Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (NKCES) and West Kentucky Educational Cooperative (WKEC) for helping make this event possible!

📸 Take a look back at some of our favorite moments below!

📌 KYSPRA Spring Conference Attendees!

The full conference program is now available! 🎉 Check out all the sessions, speakers, and times so you can plan your schedule: https://bit.ly/KYSPRASpring2026

We can’t wait to see you on March 19–20 for two days of learning, networking, and inspiration!

🏇👑 Reminder: Register for the 2026 KYSPRA Spring Conference! 👑🏇

The “Triple Crown Communications” KYSPRA Spring conference is right around the corner, and registration is still open! Join school communicators from across Kentucky on March 19–20 in Louisville for two days of learning, networking, and fresh inspiration.

Session topics include:
📣 AI and School Communications
🌎 Communicating with EL Students & Families
📰 Crisis Communications with Patricia Greer, former Marshall County High School principal
🏛 Kentucky Legislative Session update from KSBA
📱 Leveraging Parents as Storytelling Ambassadors with Class Intercom
🎤 The Message & The Mission with Barbara Hunter, APR, NSPRA Executive Director
🤝 Regional Roundtable Discussions
⚡ Speed Mentoring
…and more!

Saddle up and save your spot—we’ll see you at the starting gate!

REGISTRATION: https://www.kyspra.org/copy-of-2025-fall-conference

⏰📣LAST CALL! - 2026 KYSPRA Award Nominations are due TODAY, Friday, February 20!

Do you have a colleague who has gone above and beyond for their district or organization? Now is the time to recognize their impact and dedication to public education in Kentucky! 🏫🤝

🏆 2026 Kentucky Communicator of the Year
🔗 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeN4R2pWPkXBDalDUOwxlXgvDCTcqiOMusNan33WBzqqd_QmA/viewform

🏆 Flag of Learning & Liberty Award
🔗 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenPip7gwZACMBv6m9y0SISiYnerBTUvfzLGkgGAkgxRyg_zw/viewform

🏆 Richard Thornton Award
🔗 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenPip7gwZACMBv6m9y0SISiYnerBTUvfzLGkgGAkgxRyg_zw/viewform

🏆 O.V. Jones Memorial Award
🔗 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenPip7gwZACMBv6m9y0SISiYnerBTUvfzLGkgGAkgxRyg_zw/viewform

All award winners will be recognized at the Spring Conference Awards Ceremony on March 20, 2026.
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate excellence in school communications — submit your nominations today!

📣📣REMINDER - 2026 KYSPRA Award Nominations are due Friday, February 20!

Do you have a colleague who has gone above and beyond for their district or organization? Now is the time to recognize their impact and dedication to public education in Kentucky! 🏫🤝

🏆 2026 Kentucky Communicator of the Year
🔗 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeN4R2pWPkXBDalDUOwxlXgvDCTcqiOMusNan33WBzqqd_QmA/viewform

🏆 Flag of Learning & Liberty Award
🔗 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenPip7gwZACMBv6m9y0SISiYnerBTUvfzLGkgGAkgxRyg_zw/viewform

🏆 Richard Thornton Award
🔗 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenPip7gwZACMBv6m9y0SISiYnerBTUvfzLGkgGAkgxRyg_zw/viewform

🏆 O.V. Jones Memorial Award
🔗 Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenPip7gwZACMBv6m9y0SISiYnerBTUvfzLGkgGAkgxRyg_zw/viewform

All award winners will be recognized at the Spring Conference Awards Ceremony on March 20, 2026.
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate excellence in school communications — submit your nominations today!

👑🐎 The 2026 KYSPRA Spring Conference is coming up! 🐎👑

Registration and the hotel block are officially OPEN 🎉

This year’s theme, “Triple Crown Communications,” brings together school communications professionals from across the state for two days of learning, networking, and winning strategies.

🗓️ March 19–20, 2026
📍 Southern High School | Louisville, KY

📣REGISTRATION & HOTEL BLOCK: https://www.kyspra.org/copy-of-2025-fall-conference

⚜️ Registration is now open for the NSPRA 2026 National Seminar!

Join school communicators and education leaders from across the country and beyond for practical learning, real-world strategies and meaningful insight that strengthens the work happening in districts every day.

✨ 150+ dynamic learning sessions
🚀 Timely insights on crisis communication, engagement, marketing and more
🛠 Tools, templates and take-home resources you can use right away

Register now to lock in early-bird rates and join us July 19-22 in New Orleans! https://www.nspra.org/National-Seminar

📣📣Mark your calendars! 🗓️

The KYSPRA Spring Conference will take place March 19–20, 2026, in Louisville, KY! We can’t wait to bring school communicators together for learning, networking, and inspiration.