2023 Annual Summer Conference

We are delighted to share a more detailed agenda for our Summer Conference, which will be held at Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, June 11-13, 2023.

Check-in begins on Sunday, June 11, and all attendees will be invited to a social event that will be held in the evening.

Sunday, June 11

• 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Partners in Progress 5K, (sponsored by Class Intercom)

• • Location: Meet in hotel lobby
• 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.:  Welcome Mixer (hosted by Finalsite)

• • Location: Flagstaff Room

Monday, June 12

• 7:30 a.m.: Registration opens
• 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Welcome & Breakfast (sponsored by School Mint)
• 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Race to Connect Starting Line
• 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Opening Keynote: Forging Your Path: Your District’s & Your Own
  • Cathy Kedjidjian, APR, NSPRA President
• 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: What to Consider When Implementing a New Communications Tool

• • Danielle Airey, APR, Chief Communications Officer, Peoria Unified School District
  • Kristine Harrington, Director of Communications and Marketing, Scottsdale
    
  • Unified School District, Chris Prince, Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Break

• 10:45 a.m. to Noon: Magnify Your Message Using the Power of Podcasting

• • Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications, Jordan School District
  • Dr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent of Schools, Jordan School District
  • Doug Flagler, Communications Specialist, Jordan School District

Noon to 1 p.m.: Lunch & Networking (sponsored by Target River)

• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Connection Sessions

  • Marketing & Communication Plans 101: A Hands-On Workshop
    Monica Allread, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

  • Put Your Money Where Your Data Is: A Hands-On Workshop
    Carolyn Wood, Assistant Director of Communications & Engagement, Kyrene Elementary School District

  • APR Facts & Fiction: Demystifying the APR Process
    Danielle Airey, APR, Chief Communications Officer, Peoria Unified School District

  • 10 things to know about multilingual communications
    Luz Jimenez and Will Argeros, Roosevelt Elementary School District

  • Recruitment in the Great Reshuffle: How a growing district became fully staffed amid shortages
    Jessica Bautista, Director of Marketing & PR, Queen Creek Unified School District

  • Video Veterans: Key takeaways from a panel of pros!
    Michael Kandaris, Videographer, Tempe Elementary School District
    Jonasan Pauley, Videographer, Gilbert Public Schools
    Victor Vongpraseuth, Videographer and Owner of Vongspoth

  • Hospitality Through Moments
    Sarah Roberson, Senior Education Advisor, Apptegy

• • Gathering Data to Help Solve Challenges
    Chase Barney, K12 Account Executive, Qualtrics
    Robbie Brown, K12 Assistant Vice President, Qualtrics

• • A Targeted Approach
    Kris Cosca, Vice President of Education, Target River

• 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Race to Connect Pace Check
• 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Treasurer’s Report
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Personal Time
• 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Member Appreciation Reception
  • Location: Ponderosa Room

Tuesday, June 13

• 8 a.m.: Welcome & Breakfast (sponsored by CESO) 
• 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Project Management: The Next Generation Communications Plan
  • Heidi Vega, Director of Communications, AZEdNews Editor, Arizona School Boards Association
  • Mat Droge, Director of Marketing and Communications Paradise Valley Unified School District
• 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.: Bylaws & Business
• 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Break
• 11 a.m. to Noon: Closing Keynote: Navigating Crisis: How to Defend a Reputation from Attacks and Come Out on Top in a PR Crisis
  • Molly McPherson, M.S., APR, Founder, Indestructible PR®
    
• Noon–12:30 p.m.: Gratitude, 2023-2024 Board Introduction