Mission Statement:

The mission of the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) is to strengthen support for Illinois public schools and to improve education for students through responsible public relations.

Good PR is like good teaching. It involves preparation and creation of a lesson plan to strategically communicate and engage our publics so that they have an interest in student learning, a stake in student success and a voice in shaping our students' future.

Goal 1:

Continue to provide professional development opportunities in school public relations/communication strategies

Objectives:

• Offer monthly workshops, seminars, presentations and speakers, based on input received from annual membership survey
• Provide public relations counsel for members - i.e., INSPRA Members Needs Help service
• Counsel and help others by developing web-based resources to assist members with communications strategies and plans
• Continue to support the cohort preparing for professional accreditation (APR)
• Offer professional development opportunities for veteran PR practitioners

Goal 2:

Sustain INSPRAs current membership and develop opportunities to expand the membership base

Objectives:

• Establish a plan for following up with INSPRA members who are non-renewals
• Annually assess current services and explore ways to enhance and improve them
• Produce a new member welcome letter outlining resources and opportunities
• Regional Directors will make contact with new members in their region
• Continue mentoring program and professional development for those new to the profession
• INSPRA Regional Directors will organize and coordinate regionally-based social networking opportunities
• Develop an Annual Meeting to share the organization's accomplishments and strategic plan with the membership at large

Goal 3:

Expand coalitions/partnerships with other educational organizations to support INSPRAs mission and goals

Objectives:

• Foster the new partnerships established with such groups as IASB, ISBE, IASA and IASPA with a focus on exploring presentation/panel opportunities at their state meetings
  • INSPRA is striving to participate in mainstream Triple I sessions (we have relinquished the INSPRA Advice Center)
• Increase INSPRAs visibility and leadership in the public education arena through participation in the new Illinois Education Rountable (IERT)

Goal 4:

Ensure the long-term financial stability of INSPRA

Objectives:

• Develop a long-range financial plan that includes investments (EDs, etc.)
• Establish a level of financial reserves to support future operating expenses (10% of operating budget???)
• Review fee structures and evaluate all programs for cost effectiveness
• Obtain alternative sources of revenue - business partnerships
  • Honeywell, Liberty Mutual, etc.

Goal 5:

Annually assess the status of progress toward the strategic plan

Objectives:

• Form a strategic planning committee to monitor and measure progress
• Present end-of-the-year committee reports
• Conduct membership survey to assess needs and progress towards goals