On this episode of The Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Steve Miller, AICP, Business Development Director at architecture and planning firm, Clark & Enersen. With a background in city planning, public engagement, and school facility design, Steve brings a unique perspective on how schools gather feedback, communicate needs, and build community support around major renovations and building additions. He shares how architecture, planning, and communication intersect when school districts begin rethinking their spaces. From safety upgrades and aging facilities to creating space for new and emerging programs, he explains why meaningful community engagement is critical long before a bond issue or referendum is presented to stakeholders. Steve was also part of the original founding team at MindMixer, a community engagement platform recently acquired and retooled by Class Intercom into an AI-powered survey and engagement suite for schools.Throughout the conversation, Steve reflects on how districts can create opportunities for communities to feel heard and involved throughout the process. He discusses how storytelling, student voices, and transparent communication help communities better understand school needs, ultimately building the trust and support needed to successfully execute facility projects.

In this episode of The Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Cristina Capretta, APR, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Berea City School District and President-Elect of OHSPRA. With over a decade of experience in school communication, Cristina has become a trusted voice on how emerging tools like AI are shaping the field. Cristina views AI as a practical resource for school communicators, utilizing it to analyze problems, generate feedback, and save time without compromising accountability or human voice. In this episode, she talks openly about how she experiments, where she draws boundaries, and why curiosity matters as these tools become part of everyday school PR workflows. In our conversation, she also reflects on how she remains resilient and positive through challenging seasons. She shares what it means to communicate for an evolving tri-city community, and how she lets purpose, people, and impact guide the work.

In this episode of The Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Kelly Wachel, President of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). Kelly shares how her path transitioned from the corporate world into public education shaped a career in school communications spanning urban, suburban, and rural districts across the Kansas City. That experience has prepared her to lead at a critical moment for public schools nationwide. Throughout the conversation, Kelly reflects on what it means to "meet the moment" in school communication as districts navigate increasing complexity and scrutiny. Drawing on decades of experience and the relationships she's built through state and national SPRA networks, she highlights the importance of listening and mentorship in helping school communicators stay grounded amid challenges.  Kelly also shares her vision for NSPRA's future, highlighting the role of advocacy and collective leadership in elevating school communicators and reinforcing public education as a cornerstone of strong communities. Her insights offer a timely look at how school PR professionals can support one another while shaping positive public perception, trust, and understanding.

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Derrian Hallas, Director of Communications at the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education in Alberta, Canada. A lifelong resident of the community she now serves, Derrian's role has grown significantly since she first stepped into the division's inaugural part-time communications position. Over the past decade, she has helped build a more intentional and strategic approach to communication. Derrian shares how her work has evolved from day-to-day content creation into leading the division's response during high-pressure moments, including a recent weeks-long teachers' strike that required clear, consistent, and empathetic communication for audiences with differing needs. She also discusses the recognition her team has earned through the national BRAVO! Awards from the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education. A key part of Derrian's leadership has been the development of a student media program that continues to thrive amid personal device restrictions in schools. With mentorship from local creatives and Class Intercom's technology, her student team has quickly become a valued part of storytelling. Tune in to hear Derrian's insights on building a culture of storytelling in schools, elevating student voice, and creating communication that is strategic, authentic, and engaging.

In the season six premiere of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Robbie Turner, Senior City Strategist at Nextdoor, who's been with the platform since its early days as a startup. Robbie shares how her background in tech and public sector innovation led her to Nextdoor and how that experience helped shape the ways public agencies, and now schools, use the platform to connect with their local communities. In our conversation, Robbie explains how school communicators can use Nextdoor to reach an often-overlooked audience: neighbors who may not have students in school but care deeply about education, safety, and community impact. From promoting district events to educating voters about bond issues, she offers practical tips for building trust, engagement, and support on a platform designed for hyperlocal connection. Robbie also shares insights on how schools can use features like geo-targeted posts, emergency alerts, and events to better serve their neighborhoods while strengthening their district's online presence. She also gives a peek at what's next for Nextdoor's public agency tools and why schools not yet using the platform need to make it part of their communication strategy.

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Jake Sturgis, APR—founder of Captive Media + Consulting and a longtime advocate for video storytelling in schools. Jake shares how his background in broadcast news led him to a meaningful career in school communications, where he's helped districts across the country capture and share stories about students, teachers, and everyday moments that build community. Jake reflects on the shift toward more authentic, unscripted content as audiences navigate a crowded digital space increasingly shaped by polished and AI-generated media. He explains that today's social platforms reward immediacy and realness—and why that's good news for educators looking to get started with video. With his new series, One Take Tuesdays, Jake embraces the imperfections of live-to-camera storytelling and encourages school leaders and communicators to do the same. The conversation also touches on episodic content, time-saving strategies, and why now is the time for schools to take control of their narrative. Jake's message is clear: If you're not telling your story, someone else is—and they're probably getting it wrong. 

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Emily Worell, Director of Communications and Marketing, and Brent Doty, Athletic Director, at Wawasee Community School Corporation. As Wawasee-natives-turned-department-leads, Emily and Brent know their community well but, like in many districts, communications and athletics haven't always worked in sync. Emily and Brent share how they grew from parallel efforts to true collaboration, sparking the creation of a parent social media ambassador program that's transforming their district's visibility and reputation for the better. What started as a trip to a ParentSquare user conference and a directive to improve their working relationship turned into a mindset shift about revitalizing district storytelling. Realizing the importance of owning the narrative within their community, Emily and Brent reimagined their communication strategy, recentering on Class Intercom and ParentSquare. This clarity led to the launch of a program that empowered selected parents to capture and curate content for spring sports, amplifying the district's voice through trusted, official channels. In this episode, Emily and Brent reflect on how strategic parent engagement has elevated their communications efforts. With defined roles for each platform, families now know where and how to find the information they need when they need it. More importantly, the community feels a renewed sense of ownership and pride in the district's story. Tune in to hear how collaboration and the right tools can shape a stronger, more authentic school story.

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we're joined by Barbara Hunter, APR, Executive Director of NSPRA (the National School Public Relations Association). A lifelong advocate for public education, Barbara's journey began in the front office of her local elementary school, where her mother worked as the school secretary. That early exposure to education, paired with a passion for supporting educators and elevating public schools, sparked a career in public relations and strategic communication. With decades of experience—including serving as assistant superintendent of communications for Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools (one of the largest districts in the country)—Barbara brings unique insight to her role at NSPRA. Barbara shares how her career path prepared her for what she calls the pinnacle of her professional life: leading NSPRA. Under her leadership, the organization has grown significantly in size, scope, and impact—guided by a mission-focused strategic plan and a commitment to supporting school communicators. She emphasizes the value of creating safe, connected spaces for professionals facing high-pressure challenges, whether through national and local events, ongoing strategic alignment, or NSPRA Connect, the organization's online community.  

In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we sit down with Lexi Vazquez, a high school senior at GMG Community Schools with a passion for social media and sports. As she prepares to attend the University of Iowa to study marketing with a minor in sports management, Lexi shares how her experiences in content creation as a student have shaped her career goals and ambition to one day produce content for professional sports.  Lexi began creating content as vice president of iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates), where she took over iJAG's social media channels during a trip to Washington, D.C. Hand-selected for iJAG by her teacher, Brittany Raymond, she quickly emerged as a leader and is now creating content for her school as a student. Outside of school, she also works to create engaging sports content that resonates with students. Lexi is actively building her portfolio and seeking internship opportunities.  Tune in to hear how she's paving her path in the sports media industry, using content creation to elevate student voices, and turning her passion into a future career.

In this live episode recorded at the 2025 Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) Annual Conference, Class Intercom's Dr. Jill Johnson sits down with Anupama Vaid, President and Co-Founder of ParentSquare, to explore how schools can build stronger partnerships with families. Anupama shares how ParentSquare, which recently celebrated 14 years of serving schools, is redefining family engagement by listening to educators and creating a roadmap that addresses the unique communication challenges schools face. ParentSquare is revolutionizing how schools connect by uniting all direct communication tools in one platform—serving 40% of students nationwide! The two also discuss AI and its powerful ability to personalize communications at scale. Tune in to hear how ParentSquare is empowering schools to communicate more effectively, maintaining a strong company culture through rapid growth, and paving the way for a more equitable, proactive approach to family engagement.