November/December 2025

Cover Stories

• The Keys to Community Engagement

  Compiled by Theresa Kelly Gegen

  To gain perspectives on community engagement from those who practice it every day, the Journal asked two questions to members of INSPRA.

• Simple Steps to Protect Yourself and Your District on Social Sites

  By Heath Hendren

  Using respect, responsibility, and caution is the best approach.

Regular Features

• Front Page: Community Engagement

  By Theresa Kelly Gegen

  Still, it’s vital to remember that the best community engagement decisions, like so many board of education decisions, are local ones.

• Leadership Letter: From Election to Engagement: Foundational Communication for School Board Members

  By Kimberly Small, J.D.

  The best practices for these communications with your community are rooted in transparency, collabora­tion, and strategic outreach.

• On Outreach & Training: Beyond the ‘Hey!’

  By Katie Bulava

  One of the most essential duties of a board is to educate its community on what it does and how it operates.

• Advocacy Angle: Federal Advocacy Conference and the Power of Storytelling

  By Kristin Fitzgerald

  What is your advocacy story? What drives your passion for students? Regardless of your story, it is likely the main character is the same: students.

• Policy Page: Building Community Connections Through Policy

  By John Fines

  Policy provides a comprehensive foundation, but community engagement requires local deliberation and is where a board’s philosophy, priorities, and vision must come through.

• ICYMI: Building Collaborative Partnerships with the Community

  Reported by Kara Dohman

  ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) features panel reports from the 2024 Joint Annual Conference

• Practical PR: The Rise of Career-Connected Learning

  By Lauren Miholic

  Early exposure to careers through internships, dual credit, appren¬ticeships, and CTE programs is key to equity and engagement. 

Commentary

• What Technology Can’t Replace: The Human Side of Engagement

  By Patrick Mogge

  What was once “a time to reflect and reconnect” has evolved into a time to listen, partner, and build authentic relationships that sustain trust and collaboration.