The following individuals will be on this year's ballot. The election will take place electronically from August 31 through September 4, 2026. All members will receive an email with a link for online voting. Bios appear here as they were submitted to NYSPRA by each candidate.

Candidate for Vice President/President-Elect

Jason Laz 

Jason Laz has been the Troy City School District’s Communications Specialist since 2021. A proud Troy CSD graduate, his one-person office oversees all district communications, including social media, the district website, budget, crisis and internal communications, mass notifications and media relations. Before returning to his alma mater, he spent seven years with Questar III BOCES Communications Service, supporting BOCES programs and component districts.

On the NYSPRA board, he has championed chapter revitalization by supporting conference planning, expanding professional development, and strengthening member networking at NSPRA.

Driven by a commitment to inclusive communication, Jason led Troy’s 2022 rollout of ParentSquare and continues to build accessible content strategies that connect diverse school communities. His decade in school PR is complemented by his earlier career in broadcast news at Fox23 and YNN Albany (Spectrum News). This newsroom background grounds his proactive, story-first approach to public education branding.

A regular presenter at NSPRA and NYSPRA, Jason holds degrees in broadcast communications and journalism from Hudson Valley Community College and Empire State University. He lives in North Greenbush with his wife, Megan, and their six-year-old son, Owen—and remains stubbornly convinced he will attend a Jacksonville Jaguars Super Bowl parade in his lifetime.

Candidate for Treasurer

Alex Wolff

Alex Wolff has served as the Director of Communications for Pelham Public Schools since 2016 and currently serves as the NYSPRA Treasurer.

In his district role, Alex has driven key initiatives to elevate school communications, including leading Pelham’s first-ever communications audit in partnership with NSPRA, revamping the crisis communications plan, and twice spearheading successful campaigns for the largest capital improvement bonds in district history. A strong advocate for communications as a core leadership function, Alex has presented on bond referendums, crisis communications, and strategic engagement at the NSPRA Seminar, the NYSSBA Leadership in Education Event, and the NYSPRA Spring Conference.

During his tenure on the NYSPRA Board, Alex has focused on enhancing the member experience and ensuring the organization’s long-term financial health. He is proud of the board's collaborative approach to streamlining the membership renewal process and developing strategic corporate partnerships to expand high-value professional learning opportunities for members.

Prior to entering school PR, Alex spent nearly a decade in print journalism, earning awards from the New York Press Association for his coverage of local government and high school athletics. He holds a B.A. in English/Journalism from the University of New Hampshire.

Alex lives in Pelham with his wife and daughter. Outside of work and family life, you can usually find him on the golf course or cheering on the Knicks, Yankees, and Jets.

Candidates for Secretary

Maura Manny

Maura Manny has served as Director of Communications and Community Outreach for the Saratoga Springs City School District for 13 years. In her role, she leads communications that engage and inform the entire school community and shares the stories, accomplishments, and successes of the district’s students and staff.

Maura developed the district’s first communication plan and serves as district spokesperson, overseeing media relations, crisis communications, and internal messaging. She is a member of the district leadership team and serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and District Emergency Response Team.

Maura holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Siena College and an MBA from Union Graduate College, now part of Clarkson University. Before moving into school communications, she worked in private-sector marketing, bringing that experience to her work in public education.

Maura is proud to be part of NYSPRA and to see new communicators enter this important field. She values the opportunity to learn from and support fellow school communicators and to help strengthen the profession.

Outside of her district role, Maura chairs the Saratoga Schools Education Foundation and volunteers with organizations throughout the Saratoga Springs community. She lives in Saratoga Springs with her family and enjoys running, cheering on her kids’ teams, and planning the next family adventure.