Mastering Social Media for Schools

Dr. Jill Johnson shares the heart behind her new book, Students Tell the Story , and why she believes student-led social media can strengthen school culture, community trust, and student leadership. Student storytelling isn’t just a way to get more content created. Jill explains how giving students real responsibility provides an authentic place to practice digital citizenship, creativity, communi...

Melissa Bevier shares the remarkable progress her district has made since attending the Social Media for Schools Retreat, including nearly tripling its social media following and creating content that reached tens of thousands of views. Sometimes the biggest improvements don’t require a complicated strategy. Melissa explains how simple shifts - like relying less on graphics and showing more authen...

Sharon Patrick is a one-person communications department serving 28 schools and 18,000+ students - and she’s making social media work! She shares the practical systems, shortcuts, and mindset that help her keep telling great stories without trying to do everything perfectly. More posts don’t automatically mean better social media. Sharon once had a goal set by her superintendent: five posts every...

Robert Chapman believes your school’s Instagram should be a “trophy case.” Discover how this simple mindset helps Clinton Public Schools consistently celebrate students, staff, and the everyday moments that make their district special. You don’t need to chase the algorithm to grow your Instagram. Robert shares how Clinton Public Schools built an audience of more than 5,000 followers by intentional...

Fresh out of college and loving her role at Pinkerton Academy, Genna Dellisola shares how students have become an important part of the school’s communications team - creating content while gaining hands-on experience they can take straight into college and future careers. What if your student social media team was actually a class? Hear how Pinkerton structures its one-credit independent study, f...

You really can create a bunch of great video content without spending hours at your school! I’m sharing exactly how I turned less than one hour at Academic Night into 10 different Reels. One event can give you weeks of content if you know what to look for. I’ll walk you through how I found students, staff, projects, and little moments worth capturing along the way. Your videos do not have to be pe...

Mike Cyze has spent 14 years in school communications, and he knows firsthand what this role demands. He shares a perspective on the work that will have many school communicators nodding along and thinking, Yep… he gets it . There’s a part of this job that most people never see. Mike opens up about one of those moments - and the lesson he took from it is something every school communicator needs t...

Alex Richmond and Marc Copani from Fulton City School District share how their Fulton School Champions program has grown into a beloved tradition that celebrates staff, builds pride, and brings the community along for the ride. If staff morale and retention are on your mind, this episode will show you how intentional recognition can help people feel seen, valued, and proud to be part of your distr...

Greg Viebranz shares lessons from 35 years in school communications and explains how his 360° approach can help districts strengthen trust, transparency, and community support. Discover how a simple “temperature check” survey can reveal what families really think about your communication - and help you make smarter decisions about what to share next. Learn the 30-3-30 principle for creating conten...

Today is a very special interview with Allison Martinson, our graphic designer here at #SocialSchool4EDU. You’ll get to know Allison beyond the incredible designs she creates and hear why giving back has become such an important part of her life and our shared mission. Giving back doesn’t have to mean doing something huge. We’ll talk about how each of us can use our own gifts, resources, and oppor...

Frank Devereaux shares how school communicators can move beyond viewing AI as a threat or shortcut and start using it as a thought partner to strengthen ideas, streamline workflows, and create clearer messages. Discover how custom AI agents trained on your district’s style guides, mission, and trusted resources can help your team communicate more consistently - without losing the human voice your...

Deron Stender has spent 24 years leading school districts, and one lesson stands above the rest: communication builds trust. Hear how early setbacks helped shape his belief that communication isn't just part of leadership - it's one of the most important leadership skills a superintendent can develop. Are you telling your community what's happening - or involving them in the convers...

Growing membership doesn’t happen by accident. Christa explains how PenSPRA built relationships with superintendents, tracked new communications roles, and reached out when districts posted jobs. For one-person school PR shops, connection is everything. You’ll hear how PenSPRA creates a built-in network through mentoring, monthly conversations, and professional development designed specifically fo...

Today’s solo episode shares a timely reminder that AI can absolutely support school communication - but it should never replace the real, authentic stories that build trust with families. You’ll hear why student photos, names, and likenesses need extra caution when AI tools are involved, even when families have already signed photo permission forms. AI-created flyers may look impressive, but they...

Piper Adamson shares how her first year in school PR has transformed her perspective on storytelling, student engagement, and why working in schools is unlike any other communications role. Discover how simple, authentic content - from a spontaneous “67 Day” Reel to hallway microphone interviews - can generate incredible engagement and strengthen community connections. Learn Piper’s practical work...

Meredith Oman shares how one simple invitation turned into a life-changing growth group for Andrea. What started as a short book study became a weekly source of encouragement, accountability, friendship, and personal growth. Andrea opens up about why this group has made her a better leader, mom, wife, friend, and human. Busy school communicators will relate to the challenge of carving out time - b...

Cala Elliott shares how she stepped into school communications without a traditional PR degree - and how she continues to push through imposter syndrome by focusing on the value of the stories she gets to tell. You’ll hear why being physically present in school buildings can completely change the stories you discover. Cala explains how hallway conversations, break room chats, and simply showing up...

Jake Sturgis from Captivate Media joins Andrea to unpack the growing concern around AI, deepfakes, and student photos - and why school communicators need thoughtful guardrails, not fear-based decisions. You’ll hear why a blanket “no more student photos” policy can create unintended consequences for trust, transparency, enrollment, referendum storytelling, and family connection. Andrea and Jake sha...

Samantha Fleming brings nearly 20 years of independent school experience to this conversation, and her practical advice will help school communicators find more balance, purpose, and joy in the day-to-day work. You’ll hear why Samantha believes social media should not be about selling your school. Instead, it should showcase your culture, celebrate your people, and share the joy already happening...

Andrea gets refreshingly honest about the five lies she still has to fight in her own school social media work. From “I’m not good enough” to “I have to do everything,” you’ll hear real stories, real mistakes, and the mindset shifts that can help you move forward anyway. You’ll learn why waiting until you feel “ready” might be the very thing keeping your school stories hidden. Andrea shares some o...

Meet Emily DeBaker. She has a unique role as chief of staff at Racine Unified, where she supports district leaders, advises the superintendent, and brings a communication lens to big decisions before they reach staff, families, or the community. You’ll hear why getting involved in a professional development association like WSPRA (Wisconsin School Public Relations Association) can be a game-change...

Meet Jeanise Dimitri. She has spent 18 years at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, and today she’s sharing how a student influencer initiative became one of the most exciting and impactful projects of her career. You’ll hear how Jeanise went from struggling to gather content from staff to receiving more than 70 student applications for a program designed to help tell authentic stories from insi...

Andrea Joseph shares why some of the best school photos happen when you slow down, stay quiet, and let the moment come to you. Her idea of “curated spontaneity” is something every school storyteller will want to try. You’ll hear simple but powerful photography tips to help you capture more authentic images at school, from watching the full frame to finding cleaner backgrounds and better angles. An...

Jennifer Bode breaks down the exact fundraising formulas her small school uses to consistently run a high-impact gala. There’s a simple way to structure your auction (hint: fewer items = better results) that can instantly improve your fundraiser. Stop wasting time on ineffective promotion - learn which social media tactics actually drive attendance and engagement. Walk away with practical, doable...

In this deeply personal episode, Andrea is joined by her husband, Bill Gribble, to share both sides of her journey through anxiety and depression - and his perspective is such an important reminder that loved ones need support and guidance, too. Andrea opens up about what anxiety and depression really felt like behind the scenes, even while life looked “fine” on the outside. It is an honest look a...