Know & Do

Dress Up Days

Wondering What to Wear to the TSPRA Conference?

Monday, February 17, 2025

Pre-Conference means Pre-Gaming!

Let’s Taco-Bout School PR, and the many toppings we savour daily! Judges will find, photograph, and award prizes to the tastiest attire!

Viva TSPRA!

Think bright colors, embroidered tops, guayaberas, and more! It’s our first day of conference and we invite all to break out your finest Fiesta flare!

During the day, we will wear our Viva TSPRA t-shirts sponsored by Thomas Evans and team at School Revenue Partners. (Pick up your complimentary t-shirts at Booth C-4.)

We will gather for a Magical Fusion on the River Walk, just after our 2nd General Session, 10:30 am – 11:00 am, Wednesday, February 19, for a photo in our festive apparel.

In the evening, we bring out our best business cocktail attire for the Star Awards Reception, Celebration, and After-Party. Let them see you sparkle and shine!

Nacho Average PR Squad!

Represent your schools and districts in your hometown hype-wear, sharing your school PR pride as you prepare to ride home from the conference!

It’s Back! CESO Conference Comms

It’s simple. Wake up, check your email, and be In the Know, with CESO’s Conference Communications! Julie Thannum, APR, and Justin Dearing, APR, are going to be out and about covering and capturing everything conference! Then you get a summary of what was and a look ahead to what will be! Its breakfast for your brain! Thank you, Bob Nyod and Team CESO for sponsoring our daily conference communications! Thank you to the team behind the daily CESO Conference Communications, Julie Thannum, APR, and Justin Dearing, APR, for sharing the scoop with us, providing a daily dose of festive reminders, things to know and do, and conference highlights!

Breakfast & Belonging

Tuesday, February 18 | 7:00 am – 8:00 am

If you are a first-time conference attendee, or are just completing your first year with TSPRA, join us for Breakfast & Belonging. It’s your chance to meet some fellow colleagues, away from the larger group, to make connections, network, and find friends that are facing the same challenges and successes as you! You’ll meet TSPRA President Arianna Vazquez-Hernandez, and speak with other members of the Executive Committee to learn some tips and tricks to successfully sail through your first conference! Find us in Texas Ballroom A.

Solutions Lab

Sponsored by Finalsite

Tuesday, February 18 | 10:30 am – 5:30 pm

Finalsite Solutions Lab invites you to bring your burning questions to the mini-lab at the conference. The team is ready to cater to your district’s needs. Want to dive deeper? Meet 1:1 with one of their Solutions Engineers! You pick the topic or area of focus, and they will be prepared to support you. Find them in Travis A!

TSPRA Office Hours

Tuesday, February 18 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm & 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

TSPRA Office Hours is a new opportunity that has grown from the work of our Professional Advancement Committee! It provides an opportunity for TSPRA members to seek advice, consultation, support, and educational growth on everything from TSPRA educational initiatives, online learning, conference learning tracks, the certifications that grow from our new learning modules, and anything topic specific that will help our members gain the answers and support they need to be successful in their professional lives and leadership.

  • At Conference – Free to all attendees
  • TSPRA Past Presidents, retirees and coaches staff an “office” for one-on-one coaching and counseling
  • Attendees simply walk-in and can ask any question and receive advice or be referred to a TSPRA Coach for additional support.

Look for them in Travis D!

Early Bird Catches Career Focus

Wednesday, February 19 | 7:00 am – 8:00 am

TSPRA is starting a bit earlier on Wednesday with our NEW career focused sessions for professionals at all levels! Join us to gather wisdom and experience from our early risers, who will help you get the jump start you need to make your next big move! Starbucks gift cards to lucky attendees in each session. And coffee, there will be coffee!

PowerSchool Power-Ups

Sponsored by PowerSchool

Wednesday, February 19 | 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Want to power up the work that you are doing at home utilizing the tried-and-true talents of the PowerSchool team? Join the team throughout the day in their engagement center, located in Travis A. Together, you will find the solutions to power your school communications!

Coaching Concierge

Presented by Veronica Sopher

Wednesday, February 19 | 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Regardless of your experience level, we all can use a thought partner. Hone your skills and talent under the guidance of renowned K-12 Communications Expert Veronica V. Sopher at the TSPRA Conference. Join exclusive group coaching sessions designed for K-12 Communications Professionals and Departments, featuring personalized advice, collaborative learning, and actionable strategies. Limited to four participants per session, these sessions promise a transformative experience to address your unique challenges. Find her in Travis D!

Meet ParentSquare’s Founders

We are honored to host ParentSquare’s Founders, Anu and Sohit, at TSPRA this year! They would love to meet you! Schedule a 1:1 meeting to discuss your district’s needs and learn more about their vision for transforming school-to-home communications. Find them in our NEW Exhibit Hall Exhibitor Presentation Area, Tuesday, February 18, from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm and 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm!

Publications Exchange

Pick up some great ideas at the TSPRA Publications Exchange! The 2025 Conference will feature tables with stacks of printed publications with grab and go samples to fuel that next big project. In a world saturated with digital information, printed documents have a special appeal because they are tangible and enduring. Stop by the Publications Exchange in the Exhibit Hall during your stay!

What’s Happening Here

Here are a few things happening in San Antonio during our visit:

Right outside our door here at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk you will find the winding, fun-filled River Walk. Ride on the Go Rio River Cruise, shop at Rivercenter Mall, enjoy a variety of restaurants and bars, walk or run the River Walk route, visit the Alamo, enjoy a museum, ride the elevator to the top of the Tower of the Americas, explore Hemisphere Park, and so much more!

Ready to float through San Antonio? ParentSquare is hosting two of our TSPRA Work/Life Balance opportunities! Stop by their booth (C-8) in the Exhibit Hall to register for a FREE Go Rio River Cruise, happening February 18th, at 4:15 pm during the sponsored Work/Life Balance session. What’s the other Work/Life Balance opportunity sponsored by ParentSquare? Karaoke, of course!

The San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo opened on February 6 and runs through February 23. While in town, you might want to head to the rodeo to see Diamond Rio on February 17, at 7 pm, Joe Nichols, February 18, at 7 pm, or Whiskey Myers, February 19, at 7 pm!

HEADS-UP: It’s a Work / Life Balance Karaoke Night!

Tuesday, February 18 | 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Parent Square has prepared another fun, festive and fierce Karaoke competition! Light appetizers, drinks, and a karaoke competition! Work with your region in advance to prepare a performance or come rock the stage solo! There will be medals, and of course, bragging rights!

HEADS-UP: It’s NEW!
The Exhibit Hall Exhibitor Presentation Space

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

11:00 am – 12:00 noon
Presented By: Always On, Teddy Daiber
Session Title: Smarter Websites, Better Insights with AlwaysOn AI Chatbot

Session Description: Is your community struggling to find key information on your website? Missing information, outdated content, and complex navigation can lead to frustration and unnecessary support requests. Join AlwaysOn for an in-depth look at how AI chatbots can help your community find information fast and provide your district with unique insights to better understand the how and why your community uses your website.

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Presented By: ParentSquare
Session Title: Meet ParentSquare’s Founders

Session Description: We are honored to host ParentSquare’s Founders, Anu and Sohit, at TSPRA this year! They would love to meet you! Schedule a 1:1 meeting to discuss your district’s needs and learn more about their vision for transforming school-to-home communications.

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Presented By: ParentSquare
Session Title: Meet ParentSquare’s Founders

Session Description: We are honored to host ParentSquare’s Founders, Anu and Sohit, at TSPRA this year! They would love to meet you! Schedule a 1:1 meeting to discuss your district’s needs and learn more about their vision for transforming school-to-home communications.

3:45 pm – 4:15 pm – Afternoon Break in Exhibit Hall

4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Presented By: Friends of Texas Public Schools (FOTPS), Leigh Anne Pearson, Executive Director, and Shelby McIntosh Goldman, Board President
Session Title: You’ve Got a Friend

Session Description: Join Leigh Anne and Shelby to learn how FOTPS supports districts across Texas in sharing the good news about public schools! Learn about the Friends initiatives and secure some of their materials to help spread the word in unique ways in your own district.

11:00 am – 12:00 noon
Presented By: HCDE, Stephanie De los Santos
Session Title: Battle It Out … AP Style!

Session Description: Come and test your knowledge at our AP Style Trivia competition. Bring your communication and marketing teams (and your A Game) to battle it out in this exciting competition. May the best school district win! Every participant will leave with an AP Style Quick Reference Guide.

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Presented By: Alboum Translation Services, Hillary Berman, Sandra Alboum
Session Title: ASAY is the New ASAP

Session Description: Texas schools serve increasingly diverse communities, which means that fast and accurate multilingual communication is essential for student success and parent involvement. Together, we’ll explore practical tools and strategies (both human and computer-aided) for translation (written) and interpretation (spoken) that help schools quickly overcome language barriers, ensuring clear and effective messaging.

A Grito Filled
with Gratitude

  • Festive thanks to Laura Humphries Graphic Artist & Designer for her creative rendition of our 2025 Viva TSPRA Conference Logo and Program!

  • We are proud to be partnered with Region 4 Print Services and Bryan Tucker. Each year, Bryan and his team share their talents, providing TSPRA with beautiful full-color programs and signage that celebrates all who support the conference!

  • Sincere thanks and appreciation for Michael Foley and Inok Lim of eLearnza for their creativity and dedication in creating our web-based app, housed on our TSPRA website!

  • We are grateful to CESO for sponsoring our daily conference communications! Thank you to the team behind the daily CESO Conference Communications, Julie Thannum, APR, and Justin Dearing, APR, for sharing the scoop with us, providing a daily dose of festive reminders, things to know and do, and conference highlights!

  • Thank you, Cecelia Jones, Little Elm ISD, Jasmine Nguyen, Klein ISD, and Joshua Koch, Humble ISD, for lending your voices to our 1st & 2nd General Sessions and Star Awards Celebration!

  • Big gratitude to our San Antonio TSPRA Conference Advance Team under the direction of Kim Cathey, APR, and Monica Faulkenbery, APR! They have created moments that will make for great memories for each of our members, sponsors and exhibitors.

  • Special thanks to the John Jay High School Mariachi and Straus Middle School Folkloric Dancers for an amazing welcome to San Antonio! Thank you to Northside ISD for sharing the talented students with us, and to Fine Arts Director Elizabeth Sanchez Lopez for coordinating the festive performance for TSPRA!

  • Big gratitude to our San Antonio TSPRA Conference Advance Team under the direction of Kim Cathey, APR, and Monica Faulkenbery, APR! They have created moments that will make for great memories for each of our members, sponsors and exhibitors. Heartfelt thanks to: Monica Faulkenbery, Kailey Loza, Kim Cathey, Briana Estrada, Natalie Guzman, Lexie Greathouse, Amanda Bauer, Lindsey Gomez, Dr. Samantha Ruiz, Lauren Jette, and Camilla Montoya.

Where will TSPRA be in 2026?

Think warm breezes and sandy shores with your toes in the sand! Yes! We are headed south to visit Galveston in February 2026 for beachfront learning, fun, and a bit of sun!