Craig Verley

In the words of George Michael in the song Everything She Wants…”You’ve shown me you can take, you’ve got some giving to do.”

TSPRA has many opportunities and ways in which you can do a little giving. One of the biggies is to make a topic pitch for the 2026 Annual TSPRA Conference. That email went out recently. Give it some serious consideration. We each have so much we can share from our experience and knowledge. Maybe you used a unique twist on an old idea that brought great results; perhaps you have an area of interest/skill that has come in handy that you can pass on along with how best to utilize that skill; or maybe you just have a wealth of knowledge in an aspect of our school communications world and would like to share a small piece of it with others. I was one of those who suffered from imposter syndrome and still do. Consequently, that kept me from pitching a session idea. Instead, I opted for a round table presentation or two over the years. You might consider asking some of your regional friends who are familiar with your work if there was something they felt you could present at a conference session. Getting that outside perspective can make a difference.

Okay, so doing a conference session isn’t your cup of tea. There are so many other ways you can give back to TSPRA and it’s members.

• If you can help during the conference in some way, reach out to Janet Crock in the TSPRA office and let her know.
• Volunteer to serve on a committee. Each year, the incoming president is faced with filling many committees that play an important role in the operations and health of our organization. You can find a list of some of those on the TSPRA website, Chairpersons & Committees – The Texas School Public Relations Association . You might be surprised how many of these don’t require too much of your time but go a long way towards helping TSPRA run smoothly. Don’t be afraid to reach out to our current President, Kristyn Cathey to see if she still needs some committee help, or to President-Elect Dr. Jordan Ziemer to let him know you would love to help after he takes the gavel at the conference. Serving on committees also increases your knowledge of our organization, and a more informed membership makes TSPRA stronger.
• Do you participate and share during your regional meetings? Participating in your regional meetings is a great way to not only stay connected but also to help keep your professional batteries charged. Plus, there is so much sharing that goes on during individual conversations. You don’t have to present at your regional meeting; just be present and open to opportunities to pass along tidbits during conversations.
• Check in with your TSPRA neighbors. This is especially important if you notice or hear about a hurdle they may be struggling with. You may not be able to offer any concrete help, but sometimes just being that non-judging shoulder to unload on can really help a fellow TSPRA member get through a rough patch.
• As you participate in trainings, lunch-and-learns, online sessions, etc., be sure to give your constructive feedback when given the opportunity to do so. Responses to those are used in helping guide future decisions.
• Serve as a Regional VP. Okay, so there is a little more of a time and travel commitment involved in this one. This is a tremendous way to help represent your region on the Executive Committee, and to use your professional knowledge and experiences to help shape the future of TSPRA. Non-school communications professional experience really comes in handy in making sure our organization stays strong. Volunteering for some committees and getting a little of that under your belt is a great way to prepare for serving as a regional VP.

One of the things I have always loved about TSPRA is the sharing that takes place between members. That sharing spirit is important to our organizational health and future. I challenge you to look for ways to help keep TSPRA strong. When you do, you are not only helping the organization, you may be helping a TSPRAn with just what they needed, just when they needed it.