We’re Going Back… to Leavenworth!
WSPRA Annual Fall Conference & Awards Banquet
Enzian Inn, Leavenworth, WA
October 23 to 24, 2025
Great Scott and Guten Tag!
After a few years away, we’re firing up the DeLorean and heading Back to Leavenworth—where the mountain air is crisp, the pretzels are warm, and the nostalgia runs deep! Join us in Washington’s own Bavarian village for the WSPRA Annual Fall Conference & Awards Banquet—a blend of professional growth, festive fun, and gemütlichkeit (that’s cozy community spirit, Bavarian-style).
Whether you’re a time-traveling comms veteran or a first-time conference-goer, this year’s journey through time promises engaging sessions, meaningful connections, and just the right amount of schnitzel and sparkle.
The conference will be a full day on Thursday, Oct. 23 and half-day on Friday, Oct. 24.
We've reached capacity and registration is closed!
Registration is $225 for members, and $325 for non-members (become a WSPRA member for $100 to pay the discounted member rate and receive a year of member benefits). Register before Oct. 1 to avoid paying sales tax (We think! We were just made aware of a new state law and are diving into researching how this impacts WSPRA—stay tuned!)
Your registration includes:
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Inspiring speakers and learning sessions
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Invaluable networking opportunities
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Delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Thursday and breakfast on Friday.
Awards Banquet
The fall conference is also a celebration of your dedication to advancing school communications. We will have our annual awards banquet Monday evening.
Room Reservations
Our room block has been filled, but you can still reserve under the group rate by calling Laura in the Event Office at the Enzian Inn directly at 800-223-8511 to reserve your room.
Questions? Email us at wspraboard@gmail.com
AGENDA
Wednesday, Oct. 22
4:00 - 5:30 p.m. - Registration
6:00 p.m. - No-Host Dinners
Thursday, Oct. 23
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. - Registration and Breakfast
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. - Welcome
9:30 - 9:45 a.m. - A Message from your NSPRA Northwest Region Vice President
Presenter: David Beil
9:45. - 10:15 a.m. - WSPRA Strategic Plan Update
Presenters: Jessica McCartney, APR, WSPRA President & Catherine Carbone-Rogers, APR, WSPRA Executive Director
15 minute Break: Network and Visit Sponsors
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. - Keynote Presentation
Presenter: Barbara M. Hunter, APR
Barbara M. Hunter, APR, became the executive director of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) in November 2020. Before leading NSPRA, she spent five years as president/CEO of Hunter Communications LLC in Alexandria, Va., and more than a decade as chief communications officer for Alexandria City Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools—the 10th largest district in the nation. Earlier in her career, she served as editor of The School Administrator magazine at AASA, the School Superintendents Association, and as director of communications for the National School Boards Association. Under her leadership and in partnership with a dedicated staff and board, NSPRA has grown significantly in membership and impact, now serving nearly 3,000 professionals nationwide as the go-to source for best practices and professional development in school communications.
Barbara was the driving force behind NSPRA’s Rubrics of Practice and Suggested Measures, now widely recognized as the standard for evaluating school communication programs. Her work has earned national recognition, including a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America and a Gold Medallion from NSPRA for a campaign on changing school start times. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and management from Hood College and a master’s degree in public relations management from The American University, along with accreditation in public relations (APR). She has served as NSPRA’s Mideast Region vice president, president of the Chesapeake chapter, and currently chairs the Learning First Alliance, a coalition of national education associations advancing trust, investment, and equity in public education for every learner.
11:30 - 11:45 a.m. - Platinum Sponsor Introductions
11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Lunch & Networking
1:00- 1:30 p.m. - Simple Majority for School Bonds
Presenter: Lesley Rogers, APR
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. - The Virtual Connection Code: Mastering Digital Body Language Across Platforms
Presenter: Brittany Kaple, Toppenish School District
15 Minute Break: Network and Visit Sponsors
2:45 - 4:15 p.m. - Keynote Presentation, Warm Up the DeLorean: It's time for Advanced AI Strategies at 88 MPH
Presenter: Rebecca Bultsma
Rebecca lives in the messy space between AI possibility and AI reality - building expertise in what's worth your time and what isn't. With 16 years in PR & Communications under her belt, she understands the gap between what technology promises and what communicators actually need. She spends her days diving into new AI tools, following the latest AI headlines, dissecting research papers, stress-testing workflows, and breaking things to see how they fail - all while studying AI ethics at the University of Edinburgh. Luckily, this creates exactly the kind of productive tension you want: she's the friend who can show you the genuinely cool stuff but will also warn you about where it might go spectacularly wrong. Her approach: empower communicators to leverage AI for stronger strategies and authentic relationships while keeping equity and ethics central - because the goal isn't just adoption, it's doing it right. She's here to help you build confidence in your AI choices without losing what makes your work meaningful. When she's not experimenting with AI tools, Rebecca brings this perspective to international keynote stages and her roles as Chief Innovation Officer at Amplify & Elevate Innovation in New York, co-host of the AmpED to 11 Podcast, and contributor to Canada's Digital Governance Standards Institute.
4:15 - 4:30 p.m. - Wrap Up Day One
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Networking Hour
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Dinner & Awards Banquet
Friday, Oct. 24
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. - Registration and Breakfast
9:00 - 9:15 a.m. - Welcome Back
9:15 - 10:15 a.m. - 1 Hour Professional Development Breakout Sessions
Session 1: Post Smarter, Not Harder: Using GA4 to Find the Best Times to Engage Your Audience
Presenter: Rashaad O'Neal, Puyallup School District
Session 2: Inclusive by Design: Getting Started With Digital Accessibility
Presenter: Kaitlyn Hall, ESD 113
10 Minute Break: Network and Visit Sponsors
10: 25 - 10:55 a.m. - 30 Minute Sponsor-Led Breakout Sessions
Session 1: From Questions to Answers: Ask AI in Action
Presenters: Brooklyn Child, Finalsite, and Conor Laffey, Snoqualmie Valley School District
Session 2: On Brand: How to Create a Distinctive School District Brand
Presenter: Greg Turchetta, Apptegy
11:05 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. - 1 Hour Professional Development Breakout Sessions
Session 1: Custom GPTs & the School PR Flux Capacitor: Great Scott, You Can Build That?!
Presenters: Kirsten Fitterer, Yakima School District, and Tim Garchow, Executive Director, WASA
Session 2: One Team, One Voice: Strengthening Internal Communication
Presenter: Elena Olmstead, ESD 123
10 Minute Break: Network and Visit Sponsors
12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Closing
SPONSORS
Platinum Sponsors
Special Event Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
