Monumental Impact: Barbara Hunter on NSPRA & School Communications
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.
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Student Content Creator Lexi Vazquez on Real-World Learning & Career Readiness
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.
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Live from TSPRA with Dr. Jill and ParentSquare’s Anu Vaid
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.
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How Hudl is Revolutionizing School Sports through Social Media Engagement
In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we sit down with Hudl’s Tony Linder, to explore how the company is transforming the way schools engage their communities through sports and storytelling. As one of the biggest names in athletic performance analysis technology, Hudl is used by 99% of schools across the U.S. to help student-athletes and teams perform at their best. With the launch of Hudl Fan Suite, the company is now expanding its focus beyond athletes to support entire athletic departments with solutions for live streaming, sharing highlights, ticketing, schedules, and more. In his 11-year career at Hudl, Tony has transitioned from sales to product management, and now leads market development. In this episode, he offers insights into how high schools are embracing authentic storytelling to stand out and connect,along with how Hudl’s solutions help schools tap into student talent for sports broadcast, marketing, and content creation. Tune in to discover how schools can leverage technology to tell authentic stories, involve students in meaningful ways, and maximize their resources to promote athletics and the community behind them.
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Shaping the Future of Journalism: Shari Veil on Experiential Learning and Navigating Industry Change
In this episode of the Content Generation Podcast, we’re joined by Shari Veil, Dean of the College of Journalism & Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Under Shari’s leadership, the college is one of the most highly regarded in the nation, recently welcoming its largest freshman class in history. She dives into the college’s “Do From Day One” philosophy which sets their curriculum apart by providing students with hands-on, experiential learning from the start. With this real-world experience, her students are primed for success in an industry that is rapidly changing. Drawing from her expertise in risk and crisis communication, Shari discusses the importance of building trust and effectively reaching audiences in today’s fragmented media landscape. She also highlights how the college is preparing students to combat misinformation, source credible stories, and navigate the challenges that come with AI-generated content. Tune in to hear Shari’s insights on preparing the next generation of storytellers, the importance of evolving with the field, and her vision for journalism in the years to come.
Ireland