Why he's running for Vice President of Communications:

As the WSPRA Vice President of Communications, my primary goal is to utilize my extensive background in strategic mass communications, collaborative teamwork, strategic planning, and creative thinking to enhance and grow the organization's brand and reputation as one of the most resourceful and comprehensive NSPRA State Chapters. 

With my emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, I would ensure that every WSPRA member feels represented, consistently aware of  webinars, opportunities, and conferences, and be empowered to elevate their voice with their colleagues and create professional relationships across the state. I would also create strategic messaging and tactics to target external audiences. This would include future and current public relations professionals and school districts that don't have a stand-alone communications sector, helping them understand the value of school PR and make certain they know WSPRA is a reliable resource to help them break into the profession and establish their own department.

Personal Bio:

Rashaad O'Neal runs the one-shop communications department at Orting School District, serving as their public information officer since Sept. 2021. He began his school PR career volunteering at Tukwila School District in 2018. In Apr. 2019, Rashaad landed his first full-time position as a communications specialist at Douglas ESD in Roseburg, OR. Also, he served as an at-large board member and the diversity, equity, and inclusion subcommittee chair with OSPRA during the 2019-20 school year. He briefly worked with WSSDA in 2020 and as a communications specialist with the Washington House Democratic Caucus during the 2021 Legislative Session. Before coming to Puyallup, he was the public information officer at Orting School District.

Before he began his school PR career, Rashaad worked as a TV sports anchor and news reporter and a video editor in Mississippi, Seattle, and Tri-Cities, WA.

Rashaad holds a BA in Communications from Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX (2011) and a MA in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of West Alabama (2021), completing the program online. His community involvement includes mentoring Black male teenagers in South Seattle Saturday mornings and with the Young Professionals Network of Tacoma-Pierce County.