Fall PD Series - Profile like the FBI 2.0

10/08/2025

11:30 am to 12:30 pm

(Source: District Calendar)

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Details:

Trust is tribal, and today, the opinion of a friend can be worth more than a mountain of professional communications. Enhance your communications skills by learning to leverage psychological principles that build (or restore!) trust and credibility at the community, school, and personal level. Participants will gain valuable insights into fostering cognitive and emotional trust, overcoming subtle psychological barriers, and establishing authentic connections. By the end of the session, attendees will be able to apply scientific insights and data-driven psychological strategies to enrich communications, overcome imposter syndrome, and ensure messaging resonates more profoundly with their target audiences. Sondra Whalen, APR is the Director of Student Programs and Communications at Vernon Verona Sherrill Central School District in New York, where she establishes communications strategy and cultivates enhanced student learning opportunities. Sondra is passionate about elevating the field of public relations and has garnered recognition for her insightful and engaging presentations at state and national events. With a focus on empowering colleagues, she helps PR professionals build a solid foundation in communications science and data analytics. She believes that this approach demystifies public relations work, allowing practitioners to advocate with confidence, showcase their value, and create a common starting point for stakeholder partnerships. In her day-to-day work, Sondra focuses on storytelling and creating genuine relationships within the school community. Her creativity and dedication to these efforts have been recognized with multiple awards from the NY School Public Relations Association and a Golden Achievement Award from the National School Public Relations Association.