| Find our more about Tom DeLapp |
tomdelapp@aol.com
(916) 315-1409 |
| NSPRA Leaders Support Tom DeLapp |
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"Tom is one of the most gifted strategic thinkers in our profession. He has the keen ability to think critically, creatively and strategically, and helps others to see different perspectives.
Bob Noyed, Minnesota
NSPRA Past President
"Tom may have personally helped or advised more NSPRA members over the years than any other current member. He personifies the NSPRA culture of professional excellence coupled with that intangible sense of family that we all hold so dear."
Jim Dunn, Missouri
NSPRA Past President
"I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to Tom for being one of the first NSPRA professionals to put his life and business on hold to help my team handle the Columbine High School tragedy in 1999. Tom not only was a great sounding board for my team and me, he was willing to roll up his sleeves and tackle any project or task we asked of him."
Rick Kaufman, Minnesota
NSPRA Past President
"I believe in CAP and I believe Tom is the right leader at the right time to take CAP to the next level. Tom understands at the individual and organization level how to improve professional development for all our members. Tom has a rare ability to crystallize issues in a way that helps anyone understand. Whether working one-on-one as a mentor or speaking in front of a roomful of education professionals, Tom is a credible, eloquent, problem solver. In a phrase, Tom knows his stuff."
Joe Krumm, Oregon
Former NW Region VP
"I was lucky that Tom took me under his wing almost immediately. Tom worked closely with my district to re-define the role of communications before I arrived. He set up a job description and supportive leadership environment that gave me the best possible start. I couldn't have asked for a better mentor the past two years."
Trinette Marquis
California, Twin Rivers USD
"I wholeheartedly endorse Tom DeLapp for NSPRA President-Elect. Tom probably has more experience than anyone else in the country in dealing with the full range of real-life problems facing school district PR practitioners. He is a consummate professional who is way ahead in the PR game. Hundreds of school leaders have benefited from his solid advice and support. NSPRA needs to take advantage of that big picture thinking at the board table!"
Louise Henry, Texas
Former So. Central Region VP
"Tom has a tremendous wealth of experience and understanding of the issues facing communicators and education today. He is on a never-ending quest to improve our profession. His willingness to share his expertise and to support colleagues in need exemplify the leadership qualities NSPRA and its members need to propel the world of school PR to the next level. I encourage you to join me in voting for Tom DeLapp for NSPRA President-Elect."
Danielle Clark, Tennessee
Director of Communications
Hamilton County Dept. of Ed.
"One of the benefits our membership has received from Tom is his "big picture" view. . . . Tom makes sure he stays abreast of the larger issues facing public education. It is this kind of macro view that would contribute to the entire NSPRA organization and its membership."
Kelly Avants, California
CalSPRA President
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| Greetings!
Your vote can shape the future of NSPRA
Standing up for kids, public schools, our profession and each other!
This election is about you, your future, and the role NSPRA can play in it. My name is Tom DeLapp and I am once again running for NSPRA President-Elect. In the weeks ahead I hope you have a chance to get to know me, what I believe about the future of our profession, and how our association can best serve the needs of the incredibly talented and dedicated people that serve in school PR roles today.
For nine years I served as Assistant Executive Director of California's 15,000-member administrators association (ACSA). I've also founded two successful private sector consulting practices. While I haven't worked as a school district employee during my 35-year career in educational communications, I have worked directly with over 400 school districts, trained over 50,000 educators in school PR, and traveled over one million miles advocating for effective school communications.
In my consulting practice, school districts count on me to be their on-call expert and strategic communication advisor for a wide range of situations, crises and programs. I believe this gives me a unique national perspective on the issues and challenges you face each day as a school PR practitioner and educational leader.
Meeting the needs of a changing membership
NSPRA was built on the sturdy shoulders of its veteran members, but the membership is evolving at a very rapid pace. Over half of NSPRA's members have been part of our professional family for five years or less; one-fourth for less than two years.
The challenge for the next generation of NSPRA leaders is to bring a new sense of relevance and impact to these new professionals who must succeed in a rapidly changing communication environment. I believe that I have the necessary experience, expertise, enthusiasm, and energy to lead NSPRA into that future. I would be honored to have your support!
Ballots will be mailed to NSPRA members by August 15 and must be postmarked for return no later than September 5. In the weeks to come I will be sending you regular campaign bulletins with information about my vision for NSPRA and details about my platform of practical, pragmatic ideas that will strengthen NSPRA and its impact on you, our members.
I encourage you to visit my NSPRA campaign website (www.tomdelapp.net) to find out more. It contains endorsements from numerous NSPRA leaders who share my passion for our organization. I also have a blog that enables you to join NSPRA Conversations on topics that affect your future in school PR. If you get a chance, please drop me an e-mail or give me a call so we can talk about NSPRA can positively impact your future!
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At the Washington DC Seminar
 It was great being able to visit with so many NSPRA members at the recent national seminar in Washington DC. What a tremendous learning and networking opportunity! I have only missed a few seminars in my 20 years as a member. I am continually amazed at the knowledge, dedication, talent and passion that school PR professionals bring to their educational organizations. I can't wait for the Seminar in San Francisco next June and hope to see you there! If you weren't able to attend the conference or if you missed the association General Meeting on Sunday I have posted the text of my campaign speech on my web site. It outlines my goals for NSPRA in the years to come. | |
Advocating for you & our profession
As I travel across the country, colleagues tell me they need two things from their professional association: (1) better tools, resources, and support systems to help them excel in their jobs and (2) an environment of acceptance where their unique roles are seen as vital and necessary by their employers. NSPRA must be positioned to deliver on both of these priorities for you.
Here's what I propose we do:
Launch the NSPRA V.O.I.C.E. campaign
When I ran for this office several years ago, I suggested that NSPRA launch an awareness-building initiative promoting the importance of effective school communication. I saw then and believe still that our members need to be seen as legitimate, credible and valuable players in setting district policy and connecting stakeholders to those policies. Too often we have to defend our very existence when the budget axe falls. That's unacceptable!
Since then, I have been an enthusiastic supporter of NSPRA's Communication Accountability Project as an active member of the CAP steering committee. CAP gave us the research and validation we need to persuasively make our case with education and community decision makers. We now can demonstrate that effective communication is the foundation for learning and leadership. But CAP must be more than a project and a body of data; it must now become a way of doing business by NSPRA.
As your President-Elect, I will spearhead an effort I call the NSPRA V.O.I.C.E. (Value Of Investing in Communication Excellence). I envision it as an integrated awareness campaign that takes our message all the way down to district-level decision-makers who create, staff and fund school public relations functions. We need to put in front of public school leaders the evidence, arguments, and justification they need to make the long-term investment in school public relations. We need to treat ourselves as a client and launch a reputation/awareness campaign for our profession.
If elected, I am committed to personally devote the time and energy to take that message to superintendents, school board members, and national, state and local administrator groups. We need to speak with one clear voice on behalf of our profession and the professionals in it.
Position NSPRA as your Career Partner
NSPRA can and should be your career partner to help you better define, defend, and do your job. Here are some specific, substantive ways we can serve our members:
Communication Masters Academy
This builds on the New Professionals Program I helped create eight years ago. Using case studies and scenarios it is designed for mid-career professionals to help them refine and expand their individual practice, craft and skills. This can be run collaboratively with state chapters.
Strategic Communications Symposium
Designed for veterans and their superintendents to analyze emerging trends, issues and techniques that keep our practice on the cutting edge. This event can be run in coordination with our regions as a collaborative effort.
NSPRA Career Development Center
More than just posting job openings, the Center would focus on mentoring and support services that help members grow their careers with leadership skills, tips on positioning themselves in the organization, and techniques for interviewing and evaluations.
NSPRA Tools for Success
Integrated practitioner resource kits on Communication Planning, creating a Communication Office, and a bundled Communicator's Bookshelf of "must-have" NSPRA publications at a discount package price.
Communication Resource Network
We need better use of technology-based networking for information sharing and member-to-member problem solving at the national level. Our state chapters have developed effective list-servs, blogs, and chat/bulletin boards. The national organization is working hard to re-vamp its technological delivery system and web site.
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Delivering relevant t ools you can use
One of the important things I try to do as a veteran school PR professional is develop and share useful tools colleagues can use to refine and enhance their work. At the NSPRA seminar, I handed out key ring tool kits (shown here) as a way to remind my colleagues of this goal in my campaign. The key to success in our work is to have the right tools! NSPRA must constantly work to be a relevant, solid, substantive resource for its members. If you click on the link you will see an article I wrote for the CalSPRA July newsletter called "Be Indispensible!" In it I offer tips on how to "bullet-proof" your career, department and budget during tough economic times. I hope you find this think piece helpful and useful in positioning yourself within your school district's management team.
"Be Indispensible!" article |
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Your vote counts! Vote for your future! Vote for Tom DeLapp! |
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