In this Issue: At-Large VP Kristyn Cathey, Conference Checklist

Short on Staff? Reach Out To Your Local College

By Kristyn Cathey
At-Large Vice President Place 2

As the field of school public relations continues to grow, many districts are now realizing the importance of having someone on their staff that can effectively communicate with their stakeholders. Many smaller districts are running departments of one; myself included. No matter the size of your district, it is difficult to do our jobs effectively alone.There are only so many schools and departments that we can visit in a day before we wear ourselves thin! What do you do when the well runs dry and you have no one to call on? Reach out to your local college or university!

Before becoming the Media/Communications Specialist for Port Arthur ISD, I was an instructor in the Communications Department at Lamar University. I also taught speech as adjunct at several local community colleges. For five years, I worked in an amazing department that helped to prepare our students for careers in the communications field. Many of the students that I taught, especially those majoring in either print or broadcast journalism, had no issues acquiring internships, but the public relations students were often left out of the equation. There aren’t many public relations opportunities in Southeast Texas, therefore many of those students graduated without having real experience in the field. After working a few years alone in my district, I approached my superintendent about creating an internship program. I had several internships in college and graduate school and I recognized the importance of gaining experience before leaving college. He whole-heartedly agreed and in 2013, the PAISD Communications Department internship was born! What are the next steps after receiving buy-in from your boss?

Contact your local college or university. We have three community colleges in Southeast Texas, but they do not have a Communications major. That’s okay! Reach out to the English Department. Those students have a wealth of knowledge in copy-editing, proofreading and can be a great asset to your department! However, if they do have a Communications Department, you’ll have your choice of students to choose from. Our internship program is open to all communications students-regardless of their particular emphasis.

If you can’t pay them, make sure they get the credit. Paid internships? What’s that? If you have a small budget and there’s wiggle room to give the student some type of stipend (gas, mileage, etc.), then feel free to do so, but if you don’t, make sure that you communicate directly with the chair of the department to ensure that the student will be able to receive credit for their work. Lamar University has an internship course that students register for and they must present their project to a panel at the end of the term to receive credit. Dr. Natalie Tindall, APR, Lamar University Department of Communications Chair, believes it’s imperative that students have something to show for what they’ve done throughout the term. “It’s not good enough for a student to say that they had an internship,” she says. “This is a job and we want them to treat it as such. Presenting their project at the end of the term shows us that the student has what it takes to make it in the field of communications. It means we are all doing our jobs.”

Use their youthfulness to your advantage. Every intern that I have had over the past six years has not only learned something from working with me, but I’ve learned from them as well. It is very easy to get stuck in a rut or get complacent, but working with college students allows us to see the world from their vantage point. They know the hottest trends in technology and the best methods in which to reach young audiences. My interns have not only given me invaluable insight on certain public school issues, but the students love seeing someone that is close to their age visit their campus are open to dialoguing directly with them.

In the end, it’s a win-win not only for your district, but serves as good PR for the college as well! It can also lead to the development and growth of your department.

Have questions on how you can develop your own departmental internship program? Feel free to contact me or the Chair of the Lamar University Department of Communications, Dr. Natalie Tindall, APR.

2019 Annual Conference Checklist

• Run, or walk, to sign up for the Annual TSPRA Run/Walk being held Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7 a.m. To participate, first make a donation of at least $20 to the Texas Lions Camp. You can donate online here and learn a little more about them. After you make your donation, click here to register for the Run/Walk. 
  
  
• This year's conference hashtags will be #TSPRA19 and #CampCommunication. (That's with no "s" on the end.)
  
  
• Buy a 2019 Preconference ticket here.
  
  
• Buy a 2019 Star Awards Banquet here. 
  
  
• Here's your conference Dress code: Don't forget to bring something warm.
  
  
  • Tuesday, Feb. 19: Comeback Communications - Wear a favorite TSPRA annual conference T-shirt from previous years. T-shirts from 2017 will be provided to rookies and first-timers while supplies and sizes last. 
  • Wednesday, Feb. 20: Color Me Camp Cool - Wear district colors, collegiate colors, or just your favorite color, as well as sunglasses at the President's Luncheon. (Bring your own if you want, but Peachjar will be providing conference attendees with some while supplies last.)
  • Star Awards Banquet: Business or cocktail attire - So you can show your photos to your superintendent.
  • Thursday, Feb. 21: Camp Communication - Wear your 2019 TSPRA Annual Conference T-Shirt provided by School Revenue Partners and stick around for the group photo after breakfast.

Sneak Out Of Your Tent With A Shuttle To Bastrop

TSPRA Annual Conference attendees will have the opportunity to get off the Hyatt Lost Pines property and take a free shuttles into nearby Bastrop on Tuesday, Feb. 19, compliments of Visit Bastrop. 

The bus will board at the Hyatt at 6 p.m. and travel to downtown Bastrop, dropping off at the Visitor Center there at 904 Main Street. Pick up will take place at the Visitor's Center at around 8:30. Here's a map of downtown Bastrop.

Visit Bastrop has provided a list of dining and shopping opportunities in downtown Bastrop for members perusal. Click here to access it. Even if the bus doesn't fit your schedule, there's ample parking one block off of Main Street in downtown Bastrop.

Get to Know Your TSPRA Executive Committee

Each week, the TSPRA newsletter will spotlight a different member of our Executive Committee, in no particular order, by having them answer a short set of questions.

Name:
Rebecca M. Villarreal, APR

Title:
New Braunfels ISD Director of Communications

How long have you been in your current position?
I'm in my 6th school year with NBISD.

How long have you been a member of TSPRA?
I'm in my 15th year as a member.

What do you actually do in your job (looking beyond your title and job description)?

Among the normal duties of a school PR professional I am also the brand manager for the district with the distinct privilege of promoting and protecting the one-of-a-kind New Braunfels Unicorn mascot. I am a relationship-builder who takes pride sharing knowledge and making sure that everyone around me has the resources they need to meet their goals and objectives.

What’s your favorite part of the community where you school district is located? 

Even though our population continues to grow, the small town vibe still remains. I grew up in a small town in West Texas and love the charm and culture that this community has maintained since it was founded nearly 175 ago. My husband grew up here and we love the central location, outdoor amenities and of course the world-famous Schlitterbahn Waterpark!

What’s one thing about yourself most people would be surprised to learn? 

I want to travel the U.S. and visit all of the states in my lifetime. I have visited 26 so far and keep checking them off my list.

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