Mastering Social Media for Schools

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...

Dan O’Brien shares how NESPRA supports school communicators through professional development, networking, and practical training for today’s school PR challenges. Learn how Worcester Public Schools responded to an OCR accessibility complaint and used the experience to strengthen communication practices across the district. This episode explores why accessibility in school communications matters, f...

Today’s guest brings such a practical perspective for women in school leadership, especially when it comes to speaking up about your strengths, advocating for your work, and building confidence in a way that feels authentic. If burnout has been creeping in, this episode will really hit home. Rebecca unpacks how unclear roles, weak boundaries, and always saying yes can quietly push high-achievers p...

Elissa Dickey shares how she grew Aberdeen Public Schools’ presence from just 36 followers to nearly 2,000 by telling positive stories, building trust across the district, and staying consistent. Her journey is such a good reminder that growth does not happen overnight, but it does happen when you keep showing up. This episode will encourage any one-person school comms shop that feels stretched th...

Kari Klebba reveals the moment Milton realized their usual enrollment reminders weren’t landing - and the unexpected shift that changed their results. You’ll hear the simple “event-style” concept they used to make 4K/kindergarten enrollment feel exciting and why it sparked attention well beyond the classroom. Kari breaks down what her community consistently responds to (and what they scroll past),...

Andrea breaks down what’s changing (without panic) - why WCAG 2.1 AA is becoming the standard for all school digital content (including social media), plus the key compliance timelines (April 2026/April 2027). Alt text becomes a daily habit, not an optional extra. You’ll learn what “good” alt text sounds like, what to avoid when describing students, and how to edit alt text on Facebook/Instagram (...

Sara Meredith shares how Peoria Unified rebuilt teacher recruitment around research - not guesses - so messaging matched what educators actually value. You’ll hear why “pay” wasn’t the main reason staff were leaving and how that insight reshaped their campaign to spotlight coaching, benefits, and growth. Get practical ideas you can steal: staff testimonials (“Why Peoria?”), shareable mini-toolkits...

Author, speaker, and retired school leader Dr. Joe Sanfelippo joins the podcast to dive into his newest book, Lead from Who You Are . It all starts with values - because who you are drives how you lead. You’ll learn Joe’s three leadership rhythms (personal, people, process) and how they help you stay steady - even when school life isn’t. Presence isn’t a personality trait; it’s a habit. Hear how s...

Adelle Wellens walks us through how she survived 13 crises in just 9 days - and she handled them all as a solo communications department! You’ll learn some of the tools she had in place to help. You’ll hear how strong community relationships made all the difference during high-stress situations. Adelle shares simple social media settings and templates that helped her stay sane and stay ahead. She...

It’s here - the 2026 Social Media Survey results! Listen in as Andrea breaks down what 497 respondents revealed about who’s running school social media, what platforms they’re managing, and what’s shifting year-over-year. Facebook still dominates, Instagram remains strong, and X/Twitter continues to slide - learn the biggest changes since 2022. Are you ready for the new accessibility standards tha...

Today you’ll meet Iuri Melo, a licensed clinical social worker and co-founder of SchoolPulse, who's helping schools support student mental health in a whole new way. Learn how simple texts are changing the game for student wellness and opening doors to real-time help. Think your school is doing “enough”? Iuri breaks down the three questions every school should be ready to answer - especially...

Jeannette Hartwig is a one-person comms team - but that didn’t stop her from leading a customer service refresh across her district. You’ll love the simple, eye-opening tactic she used to uncover real customer service gaps. She created a go-to resource for staff that’s still making a difference - find out what’s in it! Plus, Jeannette’s using a few clever AI tools to better serve families... and t...

Mental health is a top-of-mind topic for schools across the country. Today you’ll meet Tasha Schuh. She shares her powerful journey of resilience and how it fuels her mission to support others through speaking, coaching, and now, a brand-new resilience course. Learn how Tasha uses social media for good - creating authentic, hope-filled content that connects deeply with students and adults alike. S...

Andrea Gribble walks through seven smart, practical strategies designed to ease the stress of managing school social media. Whether you're brand new to the role or a seasoned storyteller, these tips will help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed. You'll learn how narrowing your focus to your most effective platforms and choosing a few weekly features can bring structure and sani...

Kayla and Kelly share how they launched a districtwide Social Media Champions program within their growing school system in Iowa, including why they started it and how they secured buy-in from leadership to offer a stipend for these employees. You’ll hear how they structured expectations, offered ongoing support, and adapted training to work across 20 different schools. The social media results sp...

Coty Kuschinsky shares how empowering every staff member to be a storyteller has created major pride, connection, and culture at Saginaw ISD. “Collective authorship” isn’t just a fancy term - Coty breaks down exactly how it works and how you can make it happen, even if you're a one-person shop. Forget perfect photos and polished captions - real, raw moments are what truly resonate. Coty expla...