Beyond Helping Hands: Leveraging Volunteer Ambassadors to Enhance Community Engagement
Date: 7/21/2026
Time: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Room: Grand Salon 3 & 6 (Floor 1)
Skill Session - Live lecture, panel discussion or interactive session with time for Q&A. 60-minutes.
ENGAGEMENT–Internal/external stakeholder engagement
Session Description
In today’s schools, volunteers are far more than “extra helping hands”- they are potential ambassadors, advocates, and partners who can directly strengthen community trust and amplify district goals. This session is designed specifically for school district communications and community relations professionals looking to elevate their volunteer network from supportive helpers to strategic stakeholders.
Attendees will explore how to intentionally cultivate volunteer programs that reinforce district messaging, build credibility, and deepen engagement with families, alumni, local organizations, and business partners. We’ll break down practical strategies for identifying key volunteer groups, defining their roles as district representatives, and ensuring they feel informed, empowered, and valued. Participants will learn how to shift from transactional participation (“help where needed”) to partnership-based involvement (“co-create impact”), resulting in long-term community champions.
What makes this session unique is its combination of communication strategy, relationship-building techniques, and real-world implementation tools. You’ll take away:
Methods for aligning volunteer efforts with district goals and initiatives.
Communication practices that prepare volunteers to confidently speak on behalf of the district.
Tactics for retaining volunteers and transforming them into ongoing advocates.
Frameworks for measuring volunteer-driven impact on reputation, culture, and community perception.
If you’re seeking a session that goes beyond logistics and focuses on strategy, reputation, and authentic community connection, this is a must-attend. Leave prepared to reshape your volunteer program into a powerful stakeholder network that strengthens district engagement and delivers more than you ever thought volunteers could.
Presenter(s)
Kate Martin APR
Director of Marketing and Communications
Bloomington Public Schools (MN)
Kate Martin is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Bloomington Public Schools, where she has been a key leader for nearly 12 years. With a background spanning public relations, communications, and enrollment marketing in higher education, healthcare, and business, she brings a strategic approach to storytelling and engagement.
During her tenure at BPS, Kate has led two successful referendum campaigns, redesigned and launched district and school websites, and implemented integrated marketing strategies to enhance enrollment and community engagement. She has also streamlined parent communications, strengthened multilingual translation practices, managed crises and media relations, and mentored six communications and multimedia professionals.
As a long-time member of the school community and former parent of three BPS students, Kate draws on her deep connections and firsthand experiences to build trust and bring the district’s stories to life in an authentic way. LinkedIn Profile
Emily Gagnon
Director of Volunteer Connection
Bloomington Public Schools (MN)
Emily Gagnon has over a decade of experience in public education as a paraprofessional, teacher, and Volunteer Experience Coordinator with Bloomington Public Schools. For the past five years, she has led inclusive volunteer strategies that amplify every voice and strengthen multilingual outreach through meaningful school-community partnerships. Passionate about equity and access, Emily works to ensure all families feel seen, heard, and empowered to engage.
LinkedIn Profile
Beyond Helping Hands: Leveraging Volunteer Ambassadors to Enhance Community Engagement
Category
Skill Session - Live lecture, panel discussion or interactive session with time for Q&A. 60-minutes.