Playful on Purpose: Creative Storytelling Strategies for School Communicators

Date: 7/21/2026

Time: 10 - 11 AM

Room: Grand Salon 15 & 18 (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 an increasingly crowded digital landscape, school districts must find creative ways to engage students, staff, families, and community members while remaining authentic, trustworthy, and aligned with their district identity. Audiences are drawn to content that feels relatable and engaging, yet many communicators struggle to balance creativity with professionalism, leadership expectations, and brand consistency. This session explores how playful, creative storytelling—when done strategically—can strengthen stakeholder engagement and build lasting connections with school communities.

Ashlee Meredith, Supervisor of Communication for New Kent County Public Schools (NKCPS), shares how an unconventional idea she introduced early in her role helped shape the district’s approach to more relatable, engagement-focused storytelling across district platforms. The session uses the Lil Nichols initiative—a small, handmade doll created in the likeness of Superintendent Dr. Brian J. Nichols—as a case study to illustrate how a simple, lighthearted concept can evolve into a recognizable engagement tool. With leadership support, consistency, and clear intent, the initiative helped humanize district leadership, invite two-way interaction, and create a sense of shared community identity.

The initiative also served as an accessible, hands-on way to engage student interns early in the district’s communications work. Because the concept was simple and flexible, students were able to contribute creatively from the start—brainstorming ideas, creating content, and experimenting with engagement in a low-risk, supportive environment. This added layer highlights how playful storytelling can foster both external engagement and internal capacity-building.

While creating a miniature superintendent is not realistic—or appropriate—for every district, this example is intentionally presented as a conversation starter rather than a model to replicate. The focus of the session is not on the doll itself, but on the strategic thinking behind the idea: how it was evaluated, supported by leadership, aligned with district voice, and implemented in a way that built trust rather than undermined it. Attendees will gain insight into how playful ideas can coexist with professional standards and how creativity can be used responsibly to foster connection.

Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution, this session emphasizes adaptability. Participants will explore how to identify engagement opportunities that fit their own district’s culture, resources, audience expectations, and comfort level. Through guided discussion and collaborative brainstorming, attendees will be encouraged to think expansively—even about ideas that may initially feel "quirky"—and then apply a strategic framework to refine those ideas into realistic engagement initiatives.

This highly interactive session is designed to give communicators space to think creatively, learn from real-world experience, and share ideas with peers. Attendees will leave with a practical creative framework, fresh engagement concepts tailored to their own districts, and renewed confidence to experiment with purposeful, audience-centered storytelling that strengthens relationships and builds community trust across any school system.

Presenter(s)

Ashlee Meredith 

Supervisor of Communication

New Kent County Public Schools

Ashlee Meredith is the Supervisor of Communication for New Kent County Public Schools (NKCPS) in Virginia, where she leads districtwide branding, strategic storytelling, and community engagement efforts. As a one-person communications department supported by a student internship program and two part-time hybrid college-student assistants, Ashlee manages both the high-level vision and the day-to-day execution of the district’s communication systems—building structures that are sustainable, creative, and grounded in real-world school PR work.

Since stepping into this role, Ashlee has overseen major infrastructure improvements that have transformed how NKCPS communicates. She implemented the district’s service management platform, expanded the district’s social media presence and engagement strategy, and led a full provider transition for all websites and mass communication—an overhaul that modernized accessibility, consistency, and user experience across the district. She also manages districtwide digital signage and oversees all district messaging, ensuring timely, accurate communication across all channels.

Ashlee is known for her ability to blend strategic planning with imaginative, human-centered storytelling. She developed the Lil Nichols initiative—a handcrafted miniature superintendent that evolved into an engaging, relatable storytelling tool that boosted visibility, strengthened trust, and created meaningful opportunities for student intern involvement. Her work exemplifies how creative ideas can be implemented responsibly, even in small districts with limited staffing.

Before transitioning into a full-time communications role, Ashlee served as an English and Journalism Instructor at NKCPS, where she advised student yearbook production and taught courses ranging from general education to Dual Enrollment English. With a Master’s in English Education from Radford University and extensive experience in teaching, content creation, and leadership roles, Ashlee combines creativity and strategy to strengthen school-community connections and elevate student voice across district communications.

Ashlee also created and leads the NKCPS student communications internship program, where students gain hands-on experience in digital media, content creation, and communication strategy using tools such as Adobe Express, Adobe Photoshop, and social media management platforms.

Ashlee has presented at various conferences and through webinars. As an active member of NSPRA and CHESPRA, she has served on multiple CHESPRA committees, including the NSPRA Seminar 2025 Host Chapter Committee, and has held leadership positions in statewide professional organizations, including serving as President of the Virginia Association of Teachers of English.

With expertise spanning education, digital strategy, system implementation, and creative engagement, Ashlee brings a practical, approachable, and deeply hands-on perspective to school public relations.