NSPRA Academy: Solo Communicators track
School communicators working as a team of one carry the full weight of
the work, including managing daily communications, responding to urgent needs, supporting leadership, and much more, often without additional staff or built-in systems.
The Solo Communicator track is designed to help you bring structure
and sustainability to that reality. Through practical frameworks, repeatable systems, and real-world examples, this experience focuses on helping you prioritize effectively, streamline your work, and
respond with confidence, even when everything feels urgent.
Module 1: Thursday, January 14, 2027 (1 - 3 p.m. ET, Virtual): Managing
the Work When You Are the Team
When you're the communications department, every request can feel
urgent and every responsibility falls to you. This session focuses on managing the work strategically by identifying priorities, making intentional decisions about where to invest your time, and
creating a sustainable approach to the role. Participants will explore practical strategies for evaluating requests, balancing proactive and reactive work, setting expectations with leadership, and
protecting time for the communications work that matters most. Whether you're new to a solo role or have been doing it for years, this session will help you move from constantly reacting to
intentionally leading your workload.
Guest
Facilitator: Ruth Richardson | Public Information Officer, Sedro-Woolley School District (Wash.)
Module 2: Thursday, February 4, 2027 (1 - 3 p.m. ET, Virtual):
Building
Systems that Save You Time
Solo communicators rarely have the luxury of starting from scratch…but
too often, that's exactly what happens. This session focuses on building practical systems that reduce repetitive work, improve consistency, and create more time for strategic communication.
Participants will explore templates, workflows, content planning, AI tools, and organizational strategies that streamline everyday tasks and make communications more efficient. The emphasis is on
building systems that can be implemented immediately and adapted to fit any district.
Guest
Facilitator: TBD
Module 3: Thursday, February 11, 2027 (1 - 3 p.m. ET, Virtual): Managing Urgency, Crisis, and Competing
Demands
No matter how organized you are, unexpected issues, breaking news, and
last-minute requests will test your priorities. This session explores how solo communicators can make thoughtful decisions under pressure while keeping essential work moving forward. Participants
will examine practical approaches for triaging requests, responding to crises, balancing competing demands, and maintaining focus when the unexpected disrupts even the best plans. Rather than trying
to do everything, participants will learn how to make confident decisions about what matters most in the moment.
Guest
Facilitator: TBD
Module 4: Thursday, March 11, 2027 (1 - 3 p.m. ET, Virtual): Working Up, Across, and Without Support
Solo communicators accomplish their best work by building strong
partnerships throughout their organization. This session explores how to influence decisions, strengthen relationships with superintendents and district leaders, collaborate effectively across
departments, and create a network of communication champions who extend your reach. Participants will examine practical strategies for gaining buy-in, increasing organizational capacity, and
advancing communication goals—even without a formal team. The session focuses on turning relationships into one of the solo communicator's greatest strengths.
Guest
Facilitator: TBD
Full
program registrants will receive calendar invites for each module after registration.
Pricing
-
Full
program: $599 Members, $799 Non-Members
Single
modules: $199 Members, $249 Non-Members