Julie Thannum, APR, has more than 25 years in school public relations in Texas, and currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Board & Community Relations for Carroll ISD in Southlake, Texas. Julie oversees all aspects of the district’s communications, marketing and school safety. She previously served as Public Information Officer for Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD and as a newspaper reporter and editor in Illinois and Texas. Julie is recognized and respected for her knowledge and skills in crisis management, writing, marketing, public speaking, media relations, and leadership training. A past President of the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) and the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), Julie has been an active member of both organizations and has served on numerous committees and project teams over the years.

In this episode, Shane Haggerty talks to Julie about their time together serving on the NSPRA Executive Board, but really focus on the book Crucial Conversations and how it impacts the work we do in schools today. Julie has trained groups of parents, teachers, and administrators on the content in the book and relays strategies, tactics and results of her work using the methodology. When Crucial Conversations was first released it had a significant impact. The first edition of Crucial Conversations exploded onto the scene and revolutionized the way millions of people communicate when stakes are high. It gives people the tools to 

• Prepare for high-stakes situations