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Highlights from the Fall 2025 Conference

Thank you for joining us in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the CHESPRA Fall 2025 Conference! Over two inspiring days, school communication professionals from across D.C., Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia came together to learn, connect, and celebrate.

Relive the sessions, stories and standout moments from Charlottesville

Our Fall 2025 Conference Wrap-Up article shares how CHESPRA members explored the theme “Tradition Meets Transformation,” blending timeless principles with new ideas shaping the future of school PR.

Read the full conference recap →

Conference Highlights

  • Engaging sessions focused on storytelling, partnerships, data and innovation.

  • Hands-on “PR Power Circuits” with peer-to-peer learning.

  • Recognition of excellence at the annual CHESPRA Awards Dinner.

  • Optional wellness run/walks through Charlottesville’s scenic streets.

  • Sponsors and partners supporting professional growth.

Keynotes

Leaders including Dr. Royal Gurley Jr. (Charlottesville City Schools), Dr. Matthew Haas (Albemarle County Public Schools), and Crystal Borde (Vanguard Communications) reminded us that storytelling builds trust, connection and belonging within our school communities.

 

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Fall 2025 Conference Sponsors

CHESPRA 2025 Fall Conference in Charlottesville, Va

A group of seven people stand in front of a large sign that reads %22Graduate Charlotte%22 with string lights and a building in the background.
Three people stand in front of a plain wall with a doorway in the background.
A man in a dark shirt and pants stands at a podium in front of a projector screen displaying a portrait of Dr. Matthew S. Haas, with a floral carpet and chairs in the foreground and large windows in the background.
A woman with long brown hair and glasses on her head speaks into a microphone behind a podium with a red tablet, while a window with light streams through is visible in the background.
A group of people stand on a patterned carpet in front of a projection screen displaying %22CHESPA%22 and a landscape, with a round table in the foreground.
A woman in a vest and maroon shirt speaks into a microphone in front of a wall with an exit sign.
A blue %22SCOUT%22 bus with colorful graphics is parked in a covered area with trees visible in the background.
In the foreground, red stools and laptops sit on a white counter, while the background shows windows and a stuffed fox.
A brightly decorated mobile unit with a cartoon fox and children on its side is parked under a covered walkway.
A bright blue %22Scout%22 bus with colorful graphics of people is parked in front of a building with yellow lines on the ground.
A woman stands in the background of a mobile classroom filled with educational materials and technology in the foreground.
A smiling woman in a pink cardigan and plaid skirt holds a microphone in the foreground, with a blurred background of a window and a wall.
A purple dog figurine sits on a table in front of a decorative centerpiece with a pumpkin and small toys, while a projector screen and chairs are visible in the background.
In the foreground, people are seated at tables with laptops, while in the background, a man speaks into a microphone at a podium with two women standing behind him.
A vibrant bush with pink and red flowers in the foreground overlooks a sprawling valley and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.

Relive the sessions, stories and standout moments from Charlottesville!

 

Two smiling women stand on a grassy lawn in the foreground, with a grand, illuminated neoclassical building in the background.
Four smiling people pose for a selfie in front of a brick walkway and a building with lit columns.
In the foreground, people sit at round tables with laptops and drinks, while in the background, a projector displays text about a teacher shortage onto a screen, and two women stand at a podium.
A woman presents to an audience in front of a projection screen displaying %22PEOPLE-FIRST MESSAGING IN A POLARIZED LANDSCAPE%22 with a patterned carpet and chandelier in the foreground and a wall with double doors in the background.
Two people smile and point at a %22Be Alert%22 sign with a bear silhouette in the foreground, while a dark, blurry background suggests a nighttime setting.
In the foreground, several women are seated at round tables covered with white tablecloths, while in the background, a larger group of people are gathered in a conference room.