March 27, 2026
Puget Sound ESD | Renton, Washington
Registration now open!
Hotel Information
While we are not reserving a hotel block for the conference, we recommend the following locations which are nearby:
AGENDA
Thursday, March 26
6 p.m. No-Host Dinner and Networking
Interested? Please complete this quick form to RSVP. Once we have numbers, we’ll share more info.
Friday, March 27
8 to 9 a.m. Registration and Morning Refreshments
9 to 9:20 a.m. Welcome
9:20 to 10:20 a.m. Partnerships Helped Us Turn Bond Failure into a Massive Success (and You Can Too!)
Spokane Public Schools
After nearly 30 years of consistent voter support for school construction and improvement, Spokane Public Schools faced a turning point when a February 2024 bond failed at the ballot box. District leaders immediately began listening to their community, hearing clear concerns about rising property values and growing skepticism about how taxpayer dollars are used. Those conversations sparked a shift in approach and a willingness to rethink long-standing practices. What followed was a bold, collaborative effort to rebuild trust and reimagine how public agencies could work together to better serve Spokane.
The result was “Together Spokane,” a joint proposal uniting school and city investments into a single, community-centered vision. By aligning school rebuilds and renovations with parks, athletic facilities, and shared public assets, and by leveraging private partnerships to stretch taxpayer dollars, Spokane Public Schools and the city demonstrated the power of collaboration and clear communication. In this session, we will explore how SPS moved beyond “the way it’s always been done,” built a cohesive brand and message grounded in community feedback, and ultimately secured voter approval for a renewed bond with 62 percent support, one of only two school bonds in Washington state to pass that November.
10:20 to 10:35 a.m. 15 Minute Break: Network and Visit Sponsors
10:35 to 10:45 a.m. Platinum Sponsors Introductions
10:45 to 11:45 a.m. When Everything Goes Dark: Communicating Through a Ransomware Attack
Tove Tupper, APR - Highline Public Schools
When a ransomware attack hit Highline Public Schools, the district closed schools for three days and operated with no network tools, computers, or internet for six weeks. Learn how the communications team strategically pivoted to alternative methods, maintained transparency, and preserved trust throughout the crisis. This session breaks down the strategies, decision points, and practical tools that shaped the district’s response when systems went dark. Highline’s approach, grounded in the RPIE process, earned an NSPRA Gold Medallion for its crisis communication plan.
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch & Networking
1 to 1:50 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Session 1: The perfect storm: Proactive strategies during budget cuts, open bargains, and unpredictable labor relations
Katie Jennison, Tacoma Public Schools
In Spring 2025, Tacoma Public Schools faced a $30 million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year and opened bargaining with the teacher’s union. In what felt like the perfect storm, communications played a critical role in helping our district navigate a complex financial shortfall, announcing staffing cuts in schools, and negotiating a three-year collective bargaining agreement with our labor partners. We committed to weekly communications over a two-month period, starting with staff and then the public. Join us to hear more about our strategy – what worked, how the year ended, and lessons learned.
Session 2: Cougar Cabinet - Empowering student voice and advocacy
Lakewood School District - Kristina Bowman, Communications and Public Relations Officer; Dr. Erin Murphy, Superintendent; Bryan Toutant, Executive Director Teaching and Learning
Discover how Cougar Cabinet at Lakewood School District elevates authentic student voice and strengthens district communication by empowering students as leaders, advisors, and storytellers. This session demonstrates how a structured, student-led advisory team provides school and district leaders with real-time insight into student experiences while building students’ capacity to lead initiatives and shape a culture of belonging.
Now in its third year, Lakewood students in grades 4–12 meet monthly with school and district administrators to share ideas, solve challenges, and bring communication full circle. Student-driven projects have included a bus expectations video, attendance welcome-back cards, a student-led podcast, and school-based groups like a high school belonging advisory and elementary kindness club. Cougar Cabinet ensures student voices are not only heard, but meaningfully embedded in district communication and decision-making.
2 to 2:10 p.m. 10 Minute Break: Network and Visit Sponsors
2:10 to 2:40 p.m. Breakout Sessions with Platinum Plus Presenters
2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Facilitated Hot Topic Roundtables
3:30 to 3:45 p.m. Wrap Up and Closing
Thank you sponsors!
Platinum Plus
Gold Level
Special Event
