Annual Conference
Mark your calendar for our annual conference February 28 to March 2, 2024. Don't miss this fun and inspiring event packed with networking opportunities, dynamic speakers, and immersive learning experiences. Register before October 31 for early-bird pricing and a chance to be highlighted on our social media. Explore a comprehensive lineup of sessions, including a pre-conference workshop, and make sure to attend the Annual Awards Gala.
Updates regarding programming will be posted on this page as they become available.
Members must login before visiting the registration page to receive member pricing.
This year's conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento. We have a block of rooms available at a discounted rate of $199.00 per night. To receive the discounted rate, you must book your room with this URL: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/SACRA/G-SPRC
Pre-conference session: Unlocking Your CalSPRA Experience - Wednesday, February 28, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. (Free)
Are you a first-time attendee at the CalSPRA Annual Conference? Join us for an exclusive Pre-Conference Session tailored just for you. This session is designed to equip you with the essential tools to make the most out of this transformative professional development opportunity. Receive insider knowledge from the veterans regarding conference navigation, networking mastery, maximizing learning, unique insights, elevating your career, making informed decisions on which sessions to attend, and having fun making life-long lifelines and friends. Space is limited, so secure your spot early. Be part of the next generation of CalSPRA success stories.
Pre-conference Seminar: Media Mastery with Christine Paik, APR - Wednesday, February 28, 12 - 4:00 p.m. ($250, includes mid session snack)
Join Christine Paik, Chief Communications Officer for the Poway Unified School District, for a half day session that will leave you feeling more confident about working with the media and training others in your organization on media relations.
Since joining PUSD in January 2016, Christine has led award-winning strategic communications for 41 schools, 35,000 students and their families, and over 4,000 staff members. She has mentored dozens of former journalists making the transition to school PR. She also oversees a high school CTE internship program, training future journalists and filmmakers. Christine is passionate about telling stories for a living, which started with a 15-year, Emmy-winning career in TV news.
A snack will be provided, but participants may also want to pick up lunch at the hotel restaurant.
Pre-conference session: Adobe Tools for School PR with Hector Ramirez - Wednesday, February 28, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. ($250, includes mid session snack)
Join Hector Ramirez, Communications Specialist for Merced County Office of Education, to gain knowledge and practical application of the Adobe Creative Suite. This session offers an exciting opportunity for attendees to create communication materials using Adobe Creative Suite tools, including Photoshop, InDesign, and Express. This hands-on workshop is designed to empower participants with the skills and knowledge to create compelling narratives and visually stunning content. Whether you're a seasoned communications professional or just starting your journey in the field, this session promises to elevate your storytelling tactics and equip you with the tools to engage and captivate your audience like never before. Take advantage of this chance to harness the creative power of the Adobe Creative Suite and take your communication strategies to the next level. This session is appropriate for beginner to intermediate levels.
A snack will be provided, but participants may also want to pick up lunch at the hotel restaurant.
Pre-conference session: What’s Working in School Social Media with Andrea Gribble - Wednesday, February 28, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. ($250, includes mid session snack)
My, how things have changed regarding school social media! Whether you have been in school communications for 1 year or more than 20, you know that the platforms, the strategy, and the engagement evolve almost daily. While navigating the negativity in a highly politicized climate can drain your energy, there is still so much to celebrate. Andrea Gribble, School PR’s biggest cheerleader, will host this workshop session to share ideas on:
1. Twitter (X), Threads, and other platforms that schools are still figuring out
2. Best practices for managing Instagram and Facebook accounts using Meta Business Suite and Meta Business Manager
3. New & creative ways K12 can boost engagement
4. Simple strategies to increase the stories coming from your schools
5. How to stay on the cutting edge of social media without spending a ton of time
A snack will be provided, but participants may also want to pick up lunch at the hotel restaurant.
The following meals will be included with this year's conference:
Wednesday
- Evening Reception light refreshments
Thursday
- Breakfast
- Evening Reception light refreshments
Friday
- Breakfast
- Evening Reception light refreshments
- Awards Gala Dinner
Saturday
- Breakfast
Please be sure to indicate any dietary preferences or food allergies in your registration form. In the registration, we are also asking you to indicate whether or not you plan to participate in these meals so that we can plan accordingly. You can make your best guess when you register and go back and change it if your plans change.
The call for presenters is open for the CalSPRA 2024 Annual Conference! Don't miss this opportunity to share your solutions and lessons learned with school communicators across California. Everyone is invited to submit a proposal, and priority will be given to CalSPRA members.
The deadline for submitting your proposal is Monday, November 6, 2023. If selected, you will be notified by Monday, December 4, 2023. Presenters will automatically receive the Early Bird Registration Rate.
Visit our Session Submission web page to check out our FAQ and the proposal rubric or attend our CalSPRA Office Hour on the topic September 29.
Plan to join your colleagues and meet new friends as we bring our popular 5k back to this year's annual conference!
We'll meet in the hotel lobby and after a short warmup walk to the starting point, our 5k run/walk will take us around California's Capitol Park across the street. Details about the cost and race timeline will be released shortly.
We have a lot of new members that are also new to the profession. Thanks to very positive reviews in the past, we will continue to offer “Ask a Pro.” The program pairs advisees up with advisors that have been in the trenches for brief appointments for advice.
People will sign up in advance for a time and be paired with 1-2 pros. The advisees will be able to sign up to talk about anything they want - run an idea past advisors, have them look at a plan, answer a crisis question, or provide general job or career advice.
The time slots are during the workshop time frames on Thursday, February 29. and Friday, March 1 during the extended lunch break.
If interested as an advisor or advisee, please indicate that on your conference registration form. This offering is free for conference participants.
The preliminary conference schedule is provided to assist with travel plans. Specific timing may be adjusted as the programming is finalized.
Wednesday
- Registration and Pre-Conference Sessions start at noon
- Welcome Reception starts at 6 p.m.
Thursday
- Registration/breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m.
- General and breakout sessions 9 - 11:15 a.m.
- Lunch on your own 11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
- Breakout sessions 1:15 - 4:45 p.m.
- Reception 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday
- Registration/breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m.
- General and breakout sessions 9 - 11:15 a.m.
- Lunch on your own 11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
- Breakout sessions 1:15 - 4:45 p.m.
- Reception 6 - 7 p.m.
- Awards Gala 7 - 9 p.m.
Saturday
- Breakfast and regional meetings 9 -10:30 a.m.
- Board meeting 11:30 - 2 p.m.
Sparsh Shah Thursday, February 29
Sparsh Shah a.k.a. “Purhythm” is a 20-year-old prodigy, singer, songwriter, rapper, inspirational speaker, philanthropist, and Guinness World Records holder. He was born with an incurable disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which makes his bones extremely fragile/brittle, due to which even a hard hand shake can break his bones. Despite all the challenges in life, Sparsh’s spirit is unbreakable and he has inspired millions of people all over the world with his musical talent and motivational speeches.
Sparsh has been a keynote speaker at the United Nations, Google, Microsoft, Bank of America, and the World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Sparsh has won prizes in nine singing competitions, including the prestigious "Young Voice of NYC;" and became the Youth Ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Sparsh became a worldwide internet sensation with the launch of Eminem’s cover song, “Not Afraid” with over 80 million views. Subsequently, Sparsh launched his first cover album, “Tribute To Eminem.” With this album, Sparsh initiated a unique idea to pioneer a sub-genre of music called “Raga-Rap”. It is an amazing combination of Indian Classical Music with Hip Hop-Rap.
Sparsh delivered an inspirational speech: “My Disability Does not Define Me” on #WEDAY UN organized by WE.org to inspire 19,000 world-changers at Barclays Center and delivered a TEDx Talk: “How a 13 year old turned Impossible to I'M Possible" at Asia's largest TEDx event: TEDx Gateway. This has become the most viewed TEDx Gateway talk ever with over 25 million views.
Kevin Gordon and Jack O'Connell Friday, March 1
Kevin Gordon, Capitol Advisors Group LLC, President and Partner
Widely viewed among the top education advocates in California, Kevin is the President and a founding Partner of Capitol Advisors Group. Kevin was the longtime Executive Director of the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO), and previously served as the Chief Lobbyist and Assistant Executive Director of the California School Boards Association (CSBA). He also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Robert T. Matsui and as a legislative advocate for the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). He holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. Prior to that, while completing his undergraduate degree in communication studies at University of California, Davis, he was recruited by the IBM Corporation and served three years in its national marketing division for large systems.
Jack O'Connell, Capitol Advisors Group LLC, Partner
Former State Superintendent Jack O’Connell brings decades of public service and expertise to Capitol Advisors Group. During his two terms as State Superintendent of Public Instruction and twenty years as both a state Senator and Assembly Member, O’Connell focused on closing the achievement gap and preparing students for a rapidly changing global economy by holding high standards for all students. He is most proud of his successful efforts in reducing the vote threshold for passage of local school bonds from 67% to 55%. He remains a strong supporter and facilitator of partnerships among schools, businesses, communities, and philanthropies in order to engage all students with challenging, real-world education experiences. Prior to becoming a founding Partner of Capitol Advisors Group, Jack served as the Chief Education Officer at School Innovations and Advocacy. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton, and a secondary teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach. He is married to Dr. Anne O’Connell, a former California school Superintendent.