Today, I had the honor of representing OSPRA at the Capitol in a meeting with Senator Lew Frederick, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education. I was invited to discuss SB 141 and HB 2009—the Governor’s Accountability Bills for Schools—and what they could mean for districts across Oregon.
Being invited into this conversation early is a promising shift. As a former OSPRA member and school communicator himself, Senator Frederick understands just how critical our role is. He knows that school PR professionals are contending with growing public distrust, misinformation, and politicized narratives every day—and that public education is not only under intense scrutiny but also increasingly targeted by coordinated campaigns aimed at undermining its credibility. Therefore, he recognizes the value and impact of bringing our voices to the table early and often.
The future is bright for OSPRA. We’re not just watching legislation unfold—we’re helping shape how it's communicated, how it’s received, and how it shows up in our local contexts. I’m hopeful that this is just the beginning of ongoing conversations with state leaders and that OSPRA continues to be seen as an essential partner in telling the story of public education.
Thank you for telling the stories that data alone can’t capture.
As part of the meeting, I provided his office with a handout that shared the realities our school communicators face and outlined how we envision partnering with lawmakers in the future to align statewide messaging around student success and growth.
A special thanks to those who took the time to provide feedback ahead of the meeting. Your insights directly shaped how we showed up today and helped us better represent the wide range of realities that school communicators face.
More to come soon,
Megan Mahoney
OSPRA Board President
