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NCSPRA Board of Directors Election
Elected April 2023
The following NCSPRA officers were elected to a one-year term beginning June 1, 2023.
PRESIDENT: DR. STACIA HARRIS – BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Dr. Stacia Harris has extensive experience in television news and promotions and marketing. A graduate of Wake Forest University ('01), Stacia worked in the Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Schools communications department for four years after graduation. She then transitioned to TV news and then promotions.
In 2015, she moved to Asheville to accept a position in the BCS communications department and is looking forward to continuing to promote and highlight BCS' wonderful students and staff!
Stacia earned a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Montreat College ('19) and completed the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership program through Gardner-Webb University in '22.
VICE PRESIDENT: VALERIE NEWTON – SAMPSON COUNTY SCHOOLS
Valerie Newton is the Director of Communications and Family Engagement for Sampson County Schools. She is entering her 17th year as a school public relations professional, working under six different superintendents. Valerie has served on the NCSPRA Board as State Coordinator and on the Executive Board as Secretary and Treasurer. Since 2019, she has also served on the Executive Board of NCASA. Valerie has been a member of NCSPRA and NSPRA since 2006.
Valerie received her bachelor’s in marketing and a minor in organizational leadership from North Carolina Wesleyan where she graduated magna cum laude. She also received a certificate in social media management from North Carolina Wesleyan. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Beta Delta academic honor societies.
SECRETARY: WANDA EDWARDS – GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS
Wanda currently serves as the Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Guilford County Schools. In her eighth year, she is responsible for internal and external communications, media relations, volunteers and community outreach, partnerships, social media, special event planning, and GCSTV, the district’s 24/7 television station. She and her team have won numerous state and national awards including NSPRA’s prestigious Gold Medallion Award, the top award in North America that recognizes superior educational public relations programs grounded in strategic communications and best practices. The team strives to ensure the best communications are shared across the district that serves more than 69,000 students and 10,000+ employees.
Prior to joining GCS, Wanda worked at her alma mater, Bennett College, for more than 20 years in various capacities, including Director of Public Relations and Communications.
TREASURER: BRENT CAMPBELL – WINSTON-SALEM / FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS
Brent graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s in Broadcasting and Communications. His first job was at WPDE-ABC 15 in South Carolina as a news reporter.
As the Winston-Salem Bureau Chief for FOX8 – WGHP for 14 years, Brent was nominated for an Emmy Award and received recognition from the Associated Press, the Radio, Television News Directors Association and more.
In 2016, Brent was named the Chief Communications Officer for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Under his leadership the team has received more than 100 North Carolina School Public Relations Association Blue Ribbon Awards and a “Best of the Best” Award.
In the community, Brent has served as the Chair of the AIDS Care Service Board of Directors, and served on committees for Leadership Winston-Salem, Crosby Scholars, the Salvation Army, and the Forsyth Humane Society.
DIRECTORS ELECTED APRIL 2023 (Listed Alphabetically)
SHAYLA CANNADY - CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS
Shayla Cannady is the chief communications officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In this role, she is responsible for developing the overall communications strategy to build understanding and goodwill for the district's students, staff and community. She serves as the public relations counsel to the superintendent, executive and senior staff, and is also a liaison between the press and the district, and to community organizations, elected officials and leadership groups.
Prior to joining CMS, she served as the assistant director of public relations for Orange County Public Schools, the fourth-largest school district in Florida and ninth largest in the nation.
The outgoing president of the Sunshine State Public Relations Association earned her bachelor's degree in Journalism from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, a master's in Mass Communication from the University of Central Florida, and is a doctoral candidate of Strategic Communications at UCF.
JADA JONAS – IREDELL-STATESVILLE SCHOOLS
Jada Jonas serves as the Public Information Officer for Iredell-Statesville Schools and has worked in school public relations for 15 years. Since 2008, Jada has been a member of NCSPRA and NSPRA, participating in events and earning multiple NCSPRA Blue Ribbon Awards for Excellence. She was named by NSPRA to the fifth class of 35 Under 35, a program that recognizes emerging school public relations leaders.
Jada holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication, Advertising from Appalachian State University and a Master of Business Administration in Public Relations from Liberty University.
DR. LINDSAY WHITLEY – CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS
Dr. Lindsay Whitley, the associate superintendent of Communications and Community Engagement, joined Cumberland County Schools in 2018. Dr. Whitley is responsible for overseeing external and internal communications generated on behalf of the school system in the areas of public and media relations, internal and external communications, marketing, customer service, community engagement, print and graphic design, video production, website management, and social media.
A national award-winning public relations practitioner, Dr. Whitley has presented at conferences and seminars across the country, sharing information on effective family and community engagement, communications, and public relations practices. He has also served as the author and co-author of several journal articles on family and community engagement. Dr. Whitley has over 16 years of experience in school public relations.