By Kelly Avants, President, CalSPRA,
Administrator, Communications & Board Relations, Clovis USD

I recently had someone tell me I have a “candle job.”  While I often have people tell me they “sure wouldn’t want my job” (usually said in the midst of an unpleasant situation, when the cameras are rolling), the candle description was a new one to me.  So, I asked the gentleman who said it, what he meant.  The response was this, “You know, a candle: it burns brightly, but it also quickly burns out.”

This comment took me back a bit, but after some thought I had to say it does describe what can happen to those involved in school communications.  I love my job, don’t get me wrong.  In fact, while I’m glad there isn’t a long line of my Clovis Unified colleagues queuing up for my job, I’m always dumbfounded that there isn’t.  My job is different every day.  I get to be a part of telling the story of public education.  Is the story a little (OK, a lot) wacky sometimes?  You bet.  But is it also heartwarming, compassionate and uplifting?  Absolutely.  So, when I hear people tell me they wouldn’t want my job, I just respond “That’s great- ‘cause I don’t plan on giving it up any time soon!”

That being said, I also know that it can be easy to get burned out- working long hours in a high stress atmosphere, where your integrity can be the topic of debate because you are the spokesperson for your district, can wear you out.  That’s why I have found such value in CalSPRA, and have so enjoyed the past year as President of our organization.

CalSPRA was created, just like our parent organization NSPRA, to be a safety net to individuals working in school communications.  Whether in a one-person or five-person office, or in a full-time or part-time capacity, we need know that there are others around California working toward the same goal.  And we need to know that support from our fellow laborers is just a phone, email or lunch meeting away.  I believe that CalSPRA does that for our members.  While our professional development seminars are of great value to our members, I think there is just as much value in providing a network whereby our members can access the combined knowledge of 200 professionals around the state.

My term as President of CalSPRA has come to an end, and I know that incoming president Trent Allen will continue to move our organization forward in 2008-09.  But before I sign off, I’d like to encourage each of our members to find ways to continue to support CalSPRA. Whether it is attending a seminar, or making yourself available to mentor or coach a colleague, know that the organization is only as effective as we make it for each other.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Board, and I look forward to seeing many of our members at upcoming chapter sessions.  Thank you, too, to my fellow 2007-08 Board members Trent Allen, Terry Koehne, Dianne Pavia, Judy Leitz, and (while she isn’t technically on the Board, we’ve informally appointed her “Member in Perpetuity”) Joan Ski.  You are awesome volunteers for CalSPRA!

Can it be easy to burn out in the role of a school communicator?  Sure. But by the same token, CalSPRA can be the oil in your lamp to keep your flame burning long and bright.  I hope that each of our members lets CalSPRA serve that purpose in their careers.