The NSPRA Podcast

Earning your accreditation in public relations is a milestone. Maintaining it is where the real growth happens.  In this episode of "Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey," host Krystyna Baumgartner, APR, sits down with Tove Tupper, APR and Emily F. Popek, APR, NSPRA's representives to the Universal Accreditation Board. Together, they unpack what it actually looks like to sustain your APR over time, a...

Failure isn’t the opposite of progress. Sometimes it’s part of the process. This powerful episode of Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey features Jessica Duff, APR, and Christy McGee, APR, in a refreshingly honest conversation about persistence, professional growth and what happens when the APR journey doesn’t go according to plan. With candor, humor and hard-earned perspective, they unpack why setb...

What changes when you stop seeing communication as a series of tactics and start approaching it as strategy? In this episode of  Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey , host Krystyna Baumgartner, APR, is joined by Lesley Bruinton, APR, and Dirk Tedmon, APR, for a conversation about the lasting impact of APR and why many describe it as a turning point in their professional growth. From building a share...

What happens after you earn your APR? In this episode of "Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey," host Krystyna Baumgartner, APR, talks with Kristyn Cathey, APR, about what accreditation looks like in practice long after the pinning ceremony. Kristyn takes listeners inside the twists, breakthroughs and big lessons of her journey to accreditation, then explores how those three letters continue to show...

The APR exam can feel like one of the most intimidating parts of the accreditation journey, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of "Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey," host Krystyna Baumgartner, APR, explores what to expect from the exam and how to approach it with greater confidence. Hear from Jessica McCartney, APR, and Mandy LeCompte, APR, as they share practical strategies that helped t...

In this episode of "Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey," host Krystyna Baumgartner, APR, sits down with Kevin Christian, CPRC, APR, and Jordan Ziemer, PhD, APR, to unpack how different learning paths, from academia to industry certifications, shape stronger, more strategic communicators. You’ll hear how APR transforms day-to-day work from task-driven to strategic, why ethics and evaluation are foun...

What difference does a mentor really make in the APR journey, and why does it matter just as much after you earn it? In this episode of Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey , host Krystyna Baumgartner, APR, sits down with Cindy Warner, APR, 2025 National School Communicator of the Year, and Danielle Clark, APR, 2025 NSPRA Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award recipient, to explore the power of mentorship...

What really happens during the APR panel and how can you walk in ready? In this episode of "Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey," host Krystyna Baumgartner, APR, is joined by accredited professionals Eric Hagemann, APR and Tracy Jentz, APR, to break down one of the most talked-about steps in the accreditation process: the panel presentation. From choosing the right project to refining your narrative...

Collaboration is at the heart of the APR journey, and the NSPRA APR Cohort brings that to life. In this episode, we explore how the cohort creates a space for communicators to learn together, share experiences and support one another through every stage of accreditation. Host Kristina Baumgartner, APR, is joined by NSPRA Member Engagement and Professional Development Manager Melissa McConnell and...

In this episode of Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey, host Krystyna Baumgartner, APR, sits down with school communication leaders Marci Orr, APR, and Jake Potter, APR, to explore how artificial intelligence is showing up in the day-to-day work of school PR. From brainstorming and workflow efficiencies to ethical considerations and transparency, this conversation takes a practical look at how commu...

What’s it really like once you decide to take the APR journey? For many, it’s not a straight path. It can be stops and starts, self-doubt and questions about where to begin. In Episode 2 of “Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey,” two recently accredited school communicators share what it looked like to commit and keep going. From imposter syndrome and failed exams to mentors, study strategies and bal...

What happens when you take a step toward something that could change how you work? It often starts with hesitation. Maybe even a little fear. In the kickoff episode of "Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey," NSPRA Accreditation Committee Chair Danielle Airey, APR, pulls back the curtain on her decision to pursue her accreditation in public relations, what challenged her along the way and what began t...

Welcome to “Shaping Strategy: The APR Journey,” Season 2 of The NSPRA Podcast. This series explores the path to Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and how it shapes strategy, leadership and professional growth in school communication. Listen to the trailer for a preview of the conversations ahead! https://www.nspra.org/

The work of school communications is the work of moving mountains for a greater good. As we've reflected on NSPRA’s 90 year history, one thing is certain — the legacy of the association has been built by the talents, leadership, expertise, creativity, and collaboration of countless incredible school communicators. All of it pushing the profession and public schools forward. In this closing episode...

There is no end to what can be done in the field of school-community relations.   As we have reflected on the eras of NSPRA’s 90 year history, we’re now ready to glance ahead at not just what’s next, but what’s possible.   This episode features voices from across generations — new professionals, award-winning leaders, and association leadership.  We’ll reflect on how the work of school communicati...

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 school violence, 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, AP...

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 ro...

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 pod...

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...

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...

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...