If you would like to nominate yourself or another member for a seat on the NCSPRA Board of Directors, please send a short biography and headshot of the nominee to nspra.executivedirector@gmail.com. Biographies should be between 100-150 words. All nominations must be received by Friday, April 11 at 5:00 pm.

As you consider whether to seek a seat on the NCSPRA board, please know that we have an active board whose members are expected to take on duties and responsibilities beyond attending regular board meetings. In addition, you must be an active member of both NCSPRA and NSPRA. If you need more information about board member expectations, please contact NCSPRA Executive Director, Ellen Boyd (ncspra.executivedirector@gmail.com).

This year's ballot will include three available board seats. Each seat is for a two-year term that will run from June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2027. The ballot also will include officers running for election:

• President: Valerie Newton, Sampson County Schools
• Vice President: Dr. Tracey Helton, Guilford County Schools
• Treasurer: Jada Jonas, Iredell-Statesville Schools
• Secretary: Aarika Sandlin, Vance County Schools

We will email the ballot and candidate bios to members on Monday, April 14. Ballots will be electronic and must be submitted by 5:00 pm Friday, April 25. The new officers and board members will be announced after the ballots are tabulated, and the new Board will take effect on June 1.

The deadline to RSVP for our Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony is Tuesday, April 1st. The event is free for all NCSPRA members to attend. However, we do require RSVPs. Please RSVP by using the button below or the NCSPRA Blue Ribbon Awards link on our website. Blue Ribbon Award winners may each bring one non-member guest at no charge. The cost for additional non-member guests is $40 per person.

Our Blue Ribbon Awards celebration will be held Friday, April 11th at the Blue Heron Event Venue in High Point, NC. It will include a wonderful brunch and the opportunity to celebrate accomplishments with friends and colleagues from across the state. We also will announce and honor our 2025 NCSPRA School Communicator of the Year.

If you want to arrive the night before the ceremony, we have a small block of rooms available at the nearby SpringHill Suites in Greensboro. The discounted room rate is $134 per night. You may book a room by using the button below. **The deadline to book a room at the discounted rate is March 26th.

NCSPRA is an Exemplary Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). For three consecutive years, NCSPRA has been honored with the prestigious Mark of Distinction Award for delivering outstanding professional development to members and to school PR professionals throughout the country.