The Power of Authentic Video Storytelling in Schools with Jake Sturgis, APR
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.
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Bridging the Gap Between Athletics & School PR
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.
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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.
South Africa