President

President - Megan Overman

Megan Overman, APR, CPC

TSPRA Colleagues, Partners and Friends,

Welcome to the 2024 TSPRA Conference, where we are Livin’ the School PR Sweet Life! The annual conference is always a great time to reset, recharge, and reconnect with the people and the purposes that bring us together each year.

This year’s theme is a nod to our host location, Sugar Land, which was the 160-year home of Imperial Sugar Company and boasts a variety of gourmet and custom sweet treats at shops throughout the community (some in which I hope you will get to indulge!) On a more philosophical level, it also is a reminder that while our jobs continue to bring more and more challenges, our lives are all a lot sweeter with the strength of TSPRA and its 1,200+ members behind us!

Your Conference Planning Committee has carefully curated an action-packed schedule to provide you with valuable insights and tools to streamline and enhance your daily PR practice. There are a diverse range of sessions to choose from that cover the latest trends, innovative strategies, lessons learned and practical tips.

A new addition to the conference lineup reflects the work of our Executive Committee and a continued focus on developing members to be strategic leaders in whatever position they hold for a school or district. To that purpose, one of our strategic initiatives this year has been to explore new professional learning and advancement tracks. This includes dedicated learning tracks in specific topic areas that, upon completion of all identified sessions, earns you a certificate of expertise from TSPRA in that area. Be on the lookout throughout the printed program and mobile app for notations designating which sessions have certificate opportunities!

Additionally, our Professional Advancement Committee (formerly APR Committee) has revamped the previous Rookie Bootcamp to a Communications A to Z pre-conference session that will provide a deeper dive into the job of the school PR professional today, the education industry at large, early career pro tips and how TSPRA can support you in your career journey. And, of course, we continue a focus on professional advancement opportunities with sessions and support on APR, CPC, and advanced degrees and certifications.

To complement all this professional learning, we also want to make sure your Livin’ the School PR Sweet Life experience includes some intentional work/life balance. Your TSPRA state office and our fabulous vendors have built in some dedicated moments to help you prioritize YOU. From the annual fun walk/run, to yoga, to dancing, to a candy cart (some healthy stuff, too) and more, you have a variety of choices throughout the conference schedule to lower your stress and boost your spirits. And let’s not forget the invaluable networking. There are plenty of opportunities available to fill your cup, both literally and figuratively! I also want to give a big shout out to our Conference Advance Team of members from our host region who have been working behind the scenes to maximize their local connections and provide members with some sweet touches throughout the week. Thank you, HASPRA!

My hope for each of you is that you leave this year’s conference having made new connections, shared your experiences and learned from others, gleaned at least one new idea to take back and implement, and feel inspired and excited to continue making a positive impact in your communities. Ultimately, I hope you know in your heart that you are part of a special community, a TSPRA family, that is here for you.

It has been my sincere honor to serve as TSPRA President this past year. I am thankful to have served with such talented and dedicated leaders on your Executive Committee and it was a true privilege to be a part of selecting the new executive leadership for TSPRA. I’m also thankful to each of you who reached out and volunteered your time and expertise. Looking back, I am so proud of all we accomplished together this past year and, looking ahead, I am excited for the vision of TSPRA already in motion for the years to come.

So, on behalf of the Executive Committee, the Conference Planning Committee and the TSPRA staff, welcome to the School PR Sweet Life!

First General Session

Dr. Joe Sanfellipo

Dr. Joe Sanfelippo

Dr. Joe Sanfelippo spent the last 12 years as the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District in 2016 and 2017 by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Joe holds a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from St. Norbert College, a MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a MS in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Leadership, Learning, and Service from Cardinal Stritch University. Joe is also an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Viterbo University. Joe has taught Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 5th Grade. He was also a school counselor and high school coach prior to taking on an elementary principal position in 2005. He has served as a principal in suburban and rural Wisconsin.

Joe started the #1minwalk2work Leadership Challenge. He lives across the street from his school in Fall Creek, Wisconsin. It literally takes him 1 minute to walk from home to work. So, he launched the #1minwalk2work leadership challenge to help try something different without throwing a huge disruption into an already full day.

Take a walk with Joe and take the leadership challenge!

Joe co-authored The Power of Branding-Telling Your School’s Story, Principal Professional Development: Leading Learning in a Digital Age and Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students and Parents Love. He was selected as 1 of 117 Future Ready Superintendents in 2014 and 1 of 50 Superintendents as a Personalized Learning Leader in 2016 by the US Department of Education. He attended summits at the White House for both distinctions. Education Dive named Joe 1 of 5 K-12 administrators to watch in 2018 and their National Superintendent of the Year in 2019. He has been a featured speaker in multiple states in the areas of Advancing the Use of social media for School Leaders, Telling Your School Story, Creating a Culture of Yes, and Personalized Professional Growth for Staff.

Joe recently authored Lead from Where You Are: Building Intention, Connection, and Direction in our Schools. Joe shares, “School communities are full of people who have both the ability and desire to lead. Some lead without knowing it. Most lead without the recognition they deserve. Whether you lead in a classroom, department, building, or district, chances are you know how challenging it can be to identify and develop other strong leaders, and to grow the leadership capacity of your organization. But ensuring that the leaders around you know their worth, helping them cultivate connections, and growing their confidence can help your whole team move forward together, helping the organization and the people within it to thrive.

Lead from Where You Are offers a down-to-earth, implementable approach to rethinking how we build leadership and community in schools. Sanfelippo shares that our focus must be on growing leadership potential across the community, from students to teachers to staff. We can do this by reflecting on how we build a sense of intention together, how we connect with each other, and how we direct those we lead with compassion and affirmation. Sanfelippo’s discussion of leadership will help inspire our TSPRA team to new levels of leadership both in our home districts and throughout our organization.

Second General Session

Dr. Woods

Dr. Brian Woods, Deputy Executive Director, Advocacy for the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)

Dr. Brian Woods serves as the Deputy Executive Director of Advocacy for the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). He served the organization as President in 2020-2021. Woods retired from his role as Superintendent with Northside ISD in San Antonio, serving the district for 31 years.

In his role, Woods focuses on community and the engagement of parents, business, and civic leaders, who support public education. His leadership in advocacy will continue to strengthen the foundations built by public school districts across Texas and beyond.

Woods was the 2018 Texas Superintendent of the Year and one of four finalists for 2019 National Superintendent of the Year. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from The University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree and doctorate in educational leadership from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Woods is TSPRA’s 2023 Key Communicator.

TASA Executive Director Dr. Kevin Brown shares, “Dr. Woods has been a public education champion at every level he has served. As one of the top superintendents in the nation, he understands how important it is to make connections locally to enhance support for local schools. He is uniquely positioned to do this important work on behalf of all TASA members and the 5.4 million children they serve.”

TSPRA is proud to honor Dr. Woods as our Key Communicator this year, and to lean into his work and message to learn how we as communicators can best serve our districts in that ever-important role.

Third General Session

Dr. Tiffany Spicer

Dr. Tiffany Spicer, Buna ISD

Dr. Tiffany Spicer is an educator who has served in public education for over 20 years. She is an educator passionate about equity and access for all students, ensuring they are prepared to reach their fullest potential.

Dr. Spicer has served as a general education and special education teacher, as well as an administrator; Assistant Principal, Associate Principal, Middle School Principal and High School Principal. After campus leadership, she transitioned to central office and has assumed such roles as Executive Director, Assistant Superintendent and Chief of Staff.

Dr. Spicer attended the University of Texas where she obtained her Bachelor of Social Work, Texas State University-San Marcos for her Masters in Educational Leadership, and Texas A&M University for her Doctorate of Philosophy.

She currently serves as the Superintendent of Buna Independent School District. She enjoys serving her community, exercising for self-care and blogging to share her journey. Her personal and professional work can be summarized by this quote… “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after an experience with you becomes your trademark.” ~Jay Danzie

Dr. Martha Salazar

Dr. Martha Salazar, Tomball ISD

Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora has served as an educator in Texas for over 36 years and as the Superintendent of Schools in Tomball ISD since 2017. She is a trailblazer and is the first female Superintendent of TISD and the first Hispanic Superintendent of Tomball ISD.

Prior to being named Superintendent, she worked as the district’s Chief Academic Officer for three years.

Recognized as the 2023 Texas Superintendent of the Year, representing Region 4 as well as a 2024 AASA National Superintendent of the Year Finalist, Dr. Salazar-Zamora not only leads a fast growth district, but one of the highest academic achieving districts in the State of Texas, all while maintaining strong financial management practices.

As the Team Tomball leader, Dr. Salazar-Zamora has elevated Tomball ISD into a consistent A-rated school district and as the #1 Best School District in Harris County for the fifth straight year, according to Niche rankings. In addition, Tomball ISD was honored as a 2023 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards finalist in both Large School District and Outstanding School Board categories, the only school district in Texas recognized for one than one award.

Under Dr. Salazar-Zamora’s leadership, Tomball ISD continues to set the bar high with innovative programs and initiatives that are student-centered and intentional.

Dr. Salazar-Zamora earned a doctorate of education at Texas A&M University, a master of education in educational administration and a master of education in special education at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and a bachelor of science at Texas A&I University.

She also enjoys spending quality time with her husband Emilio, their two daughters, Milan and Matisse, and granddaughters Arya Rose and Aurelia Rose.

Mr. James Colbert

Mr. James Colbert, Harris County Department of Education

James Colbert, Jr. takes a very personal approach to education, advocating for students while focusing on leadership philosophies and support for public schools.

Mr. Colbert has more than 30 years of diverse educational experience in urban, suburban and rural school districts spanning multiple states. His assignments have ranged from special education teacher to coach, assistant superintendent and county superintendent.

Mr. Colbert joined Harris County Department of Education in 2014 as Superintendent, where he is responsible for a wide variety of programs that support students and educators in the greater Houston region.

Mr. Colbert is known around the state and nation for his dynamic, interactive presentations about a variety of topics including educational leadership, school innovation and board relations.

During Mr. Colbert’s tenure, HCDE has become known for outstanding financial practices, innovative programs and strategic communications efforts. Mr. Colbert is a systemic thinker with a penchant for tackling audacious goals. He looks at each issue facing public education with a problem-solving mindset, focused on creative and strategic thinking.

In 2022, he was named the Texas School Public Relations Association Key Communicator, becoming the eighth sitting Superintendent to achieve this honor since the award’s inception in 1989.

Mr. Colbert holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Texas Austin and a Master of Education in Administration from Texas State University.

Dr. Robert Bostic

Dr. Robert Bostic, Stafford MSD

Before arriving at SMSD, Dr. Bostic served as the Assistant Superintendent for Academic Programs at Denton ISD in Denton, Texas. At DISD, Dr. Bostic made using “technology as a tool” a top priority to help teachers and administrators streamline their work with teaching and learning in the district and throughout the state.

He founded and instituted the largely successful Technology Integration Academy that is held each summer in Denton, Texas to this day. He founded and spearheaded the i-Bot competitive robotics league for elementary and middle school students, authored the district’s application for the National Tech-Savvy School Districts for 2009 and 2010 where under his direction Denton ISD placed in the Top 10 in the nation for two consecutive years. He was a recipient of the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) Administrator of the Year in 2008 and was also honored as a top finalist for Technology Administrator of the Year in 2011.

Dr. Bostic earned his Bachelor’s degree from Langston University and his Master’s of Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. He earned his Superintendent’s Certificate and Doctorate in Education degree at the University of North Texas. Dr. Bostic enjoys professional sports tournaments, fishing, boating, and family time. He is happily married to his wife, Ellen, and together they have two children. He is also the proud owner of a dapple dachshund, Roxy.