The Content Generation

On this episode of The Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Steve Miller, AICP, Business Development Director at architecture and planning firm, Clark & Enersen . With a background in city planning, public engagement, and school facility design, Steve brings a unique perspective on how schools gather feedback, communicate needs, and build community support around major renovations and build...

In this episode of The Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Cristina Capretta, APR, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Berea City School District and President-Elect of OHSPRA . With over a decade of experience in school communication, Cristina has become a trusted voice on how emerging tools like AI are shaping the field. Cristina views AI as a practical resource for school c...

In this episode of The Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Kelly Wachel, President of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) . Kelly shares how her path transitioned from the corporate world into public education shaped a career in school communications spanning urban, suburban, and rural districts across the Kansas City. That experience has prepared her to lead at a crit...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Derrian Hallas, Director of Communications at the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education in Alberta, Canada. A lifelong resident of the community she now serves, Derrian's role has grown significantly since she first stepped into the division's inaugural part-time communications position. Over the past decade, she has helped buil...

In the season six premiere of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Robbie Turner, Senior City Strategist at Nextdoor, who's been with the platform since its early days as a startup. Robbie shares how her background in tech and public sector innovation led her to Nextdoor and how that experience helped shape the ways public agencies, and now schools, use the platform to connect with thei...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Jake Sturgis, APR—founder of Captive Media + Consulting and a longtime advocate for video storytelling in schools. Jake shares how his background in broadcast news led him to a meaningful career in school communications, where he's helped districts across the country capture and share stories about students, teachers, and everyday...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Emily Worell, Director of Communications and Marketing, and Brent Doty, Athletic Director, at Wawasee Community School Corporation. As Wawasee-natives-turned-department-leads, Emily and Brent know their community well but, like in many districts, communications and athletics haven't always worked in sync. Emily and Brent share how...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Barbara Hunter, APR, Executive Director of NSPRA (the National School Public Relations Association). A lifelong advocate for public education, Barbara's journey began in the front office of her local elementary school, where her mother worked as the school secretary. That early exposure to education, paired with a passion for suppo...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we sit down with Lexi Vazquez, a high school senior at GMG Community Schools with a passion for social media and sports. As she prepares to attend the University of Iowa to study marketing with a minor in sports management, Lexi shares how her experiences in content creation as a student have shaped her career goals and ambition to one day produce...

In this live episode recorded at the 2025  Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA)  Annual Conference, Class Intercom's Dr. Jill Johnson sits down with Anupama Vaid, President and Co-Founder of  ParentSquare , to explore how schools can build stronger partnerships with families. Anupama shares how ParentSquare, which recently celebrated 14 years of serving schools, is redefining family e...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we sit down with Hudl's Tony Linder, to explore how the company is transforming the way schools engage their communities through sports and storytelling. As one of the biggest names in athletic performance analysis technology, Hudl is used by 99% of schools across the U.S. to help student-athletes and teams perform at their best. With the launch o...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Shari Veil, Dean of the College of Journalism & Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Under Shari's leadership, the college is one of the most highly regarded in the nation, recently welcoming its largest freshman class in history. She dives into the college's "Do From Day One" philosophy which sets their curri...

On this episode of The Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Melissa Mertz, Product Manager at ParentSquare, whose journey from the classroom to the edtech space offers a fresh perspective on how schools can elevate their online presence with school websites. As the leader of ParentSquare's Smart Sites tool, she helps schools create websites that balance aesthetics, functionality, and impact...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, a passionate educator, leader, and storyteller. With 26 years in education—including 12 as Superintendent of Fall Creek School District —Joe has made a profound impact on his own school community and others nationwide. Now a renowned author and speaker , he travels the country helping school leaders and educato...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Terry Julian, technology facilitator at Hastings Public Schools . Throughout her 14 years with the district, Terry has worn many hats, managing everything from training and professional development to school public relations and social media. With a focus on elevating district storytelling, she recently collaborated with administra...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Patrick Cogan, a senior at Pinkerton Academy and a standout student content creator. Patrick started as a sports videographer his freshman year, and since then his passion for video and content creation has grown. Now the school's primary content creator, Patrick has expanded his skill set, and taken on independent opportunities, w...

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Christopher Villarreal, EdD, Director of Communications at Papillion La Vista Community Schools in Omaha, Nebraska. With 15 years of experience in public education, Chris shares his unique path from marketing and graphic design to teaching, and ultimately, school public relations—all driven by his passion for serving students. Sinc...

In the season four premiere of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Heidi Vega, APR, the newly installed President of NSPRA (the National School Public Relations Association). With a unique start to her school PR career, Heidi shares her journey from serving in the Air Force to interning with her local school district's communications department, and now leading 200+ school districts ac...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Trent Allen, APR, current National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) president and Chief of Staff at San Juan USD in Northern California. With a rich background in school public relations, Trent shares his journey within the industry, growing from a one-man show to leading a large and dynamic communications team in one of California's largest s...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jason McGehee, Assistant Club Director at Stars Basketball Club in Franklin, TN, located just outside of Nashville. Since its inception in 2014, Stars has seen annual, exponential growth and is now established as the region's top basketball club, impacting over 5,000 young athletes annually. In this episode, Jason pulls back the curtain on how Stars lever...

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Marialice Curran, founder and executive director of the Digital Citizenship Institute . With three decades of experience in education as a teacher, administrator, and professor, Marialice shares insights on digital citizenship, and its impact on how school communities engage online.  Marialice talks about how a third-grade classroom sparked a pursuit to transfor...

Join us as we welcome Sydney Jensen, returning guest and 2019 Nebraska Teacher of The Year. Sydney is an esteemed educator from Lincoln High School (located in the heart of the state's capital city). She first appeared on The Content Generation Podcast in December 2019. Now, after a decade of teaching, Sydney not only imparts her wisdom on ninth-grade English students but also manages the school's...

Join us for a conversation with Chad Stevens, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at ParentSquare, the leading provider of innovative family and community engagement solutions for K-12 education. With a rich 28-year background that spans both public and private sectors in education and technology, Stevens shares his insights into the interplay between teaching and tech.  This conversation explore...

This episode of the Content Generation Podcast features  Kyleigh Kumm, a computer science and technology integration teacher at Harlan Community High School in Harlan, Iowa . In response to the need to get social media channels running for the district and buildings, Kumm proposed recruiting student content creators to help.  Now, these talented and experienced content creators are chasing after a...

In this episode, hear from Nicole Eimer, digital communications specialist for Valley View Public Schools. Located in a suburb of Chicago, VVSD, proudly serves a diverse community of about 15,000 students and 21 educational facilities. During a recent revamp of the district's strategic plan, focus shifted to building a heightened sense of belonging among students, families, and staff. In response...