Mastering Social Media for Schools

My APR friends are going to be so geeked out to listen to this episode! My friend Angela Brown is diving into the research that can help school communicators do their job more effectively! IN THIS EPISODE, ANGELA SHARES: The many ways Niche can help K12 schools (beyond just the school ranking) Specific stories you should be telling on social based on parent research Why highlighting teachers is so...

Oh my goodness - we made it to episode 100!! And it’s my birthday!! Two big reasons to celebrate - and you get the gift of learning the 10 best social media tips from our listeners. IN THIS EPISODE, LISTENERS SHARE: Practical ways to use more video in your social storytelling The importance of building a team to help you with social media Why you should NOT be afraid to try something new How this...

Schools of every size need a person devoted to school communications, but many think they can’t afford it. Learn how John Charlton convinced his district of 2,000 students to add a new position and learn about the amazing impact he has had in just two years! IN THIS EPISODE, JOHN SHARES: How he convinced his school district to add a communications position Why his initial focus when he got started...

Are you a one-person communications shop who struggles with managing all the things? Then you’re going to want to meet this week’s guest! Learn practical tips and systems to help you celebrate your school district with the world. IN THIS EPISODE, STEPHANIE DISCUSSES: How she convinced her school district to jump into social media and the platforms she uses today to celebrate her students and staff...

Are you struggling to find stories to share on social media right now? Or maybe you are sick of the negative comments you are receiving? Grab 14 easy social media post ideas that your community will absolutely LOVE! IN THIS EPISODE, ANDREA SHARES: One easy tip sure to lead to more content from staff 14 ideas with sample posts linked in the show notes How to keep things SIMPLE for yourself (for you...

When the role of Communication Specialist was added to the Oconto Unified School District two years ago, they were aware of the positive potential it could have for their community. Meet Anindita, the woman who did the work and proved them right! She is a first-generation American who is really making an impact in the K12 education world. IN THIS EPISODE, ANINDITA SHARES: Her diverse background wh...

To kick off 2022, I sat down with Niche’s Enrollment Insights Podcast host Angela Brown. You can catch the original podcast at this link. It was a fun conversation so I asked if I could share the interview here on my podcast! IN THIS EPISODE, ANDREA SHARES: Eight resolutions for school social media managers The latest failures she’s had on social media How she stays informed on what is working bes...

You can give your community a backstage pass to the great things happening in your school through a simple tool called Facebook Live! Today’s guest uses it frequently and she’s going to share her best tips and lessons learned in today’s interview. IN THIS EPISODE, JESSICA DISCUSSES: How she uses Facebook Live to showcase her high school What equipment is helpful for streaming live Her pre-live che...

You are the storyteller for your school district! Let that important role fuel the energy you bring to celebrating the many stories that deserve to be told. Today’s podcast is going to give you the confidence and tools to do that in 2022! IN THIS EPISODE, TED SHARES: The story of the buffalo and how you can use it to help your district navigate 2022 Why celebrating your students and staff is so im...

Let’s get strategic with your social media approach! In today’s interview, Karen Heath shares proven tactics to help your school celebrate the great stories happening in your school district. IN THIS EPISODE, KAREN DISCUSSES: A simple method used to preplan post content twice per year How customer service training for your social media team can shape the interactions your school has with its follo...

Not everything that your school communicates needs to be posted on your social media pages. I’ve been saying this for years to all of the schools we serve here at #SocialSchool4EDU. Today I’ll break it down for you. IN THIS EPISODE, ANDREA SHARES: One personal success story from a school of implementing the strategy of not posting every decision on social media. Five reasons NOT to share everythin...

Budgets are tight for every school out there. Learn how to leverage social media to help with fundraising and more in today’s podcast. IN THIS EPISODE, MARIA SHARES: Why her small school with 800 students invested in a communication position Specific ways she used social media to raise $19,000 in two weeks in order to purchase new Chromebooks for her district Strategies that she uses to outperform...

Nicole Valles is living proof that social media works in staff recruitment! She landed her role as Digital Content Specialist three years ago because of a Facebook post.  IN THIS EPISODE, NICOLE DISCUSSES: How social media is handled at each of their schools through digital coaches  What one decision has led to less stress when it comes to social media The #SuperSubstitutes campaign that led to hu...

Your school has great stories to share, whether you have 40,000 students or just 219 students like the school we’re talking with today. Learn how Principal Laura Jo Jarchow is spreading the mission of St. Mary School in her Wisconsin community and beyond! IN THIS EPISODE, LAURA JO SHARES: Her role and numerous responsibilities as Principal How she uses Facebook and Instagram posts to share the mis...

Looking for ideas to engage families with your school district? Then you’re in the right spot! John is going to share a BUNCH of strategies to build trust while celebrating the great things happening in your school district. IN THIS EPISODE, JOHN DISCUSSES: What social media channels he manages for the district  Alternate ways to share events (beyond just creating a flyer) Strategies to get conten...

When you have a small school, it’s important to get everyone involved in telling your story. Learn how this small district in Nebraska of 400 students celebrates their school in a big way on social media! IN THIS EPISODE, SARA SHARES: How her staff submits stories to be posted on social media Why she decided to get students involved in sharing stories on Instagram How she selects and trains the st...

Are you stressing about adding a TikTok channel for your school? Well, stress no more. Instagram Reels is here and it’s easier than you think! Grab great advice about getting started and take a look at what’s working for Melissa Reese in Allentown School District. IN THIS EPISODE, MELISSA SHARES: The importance of meeting parents where they are How she stays on top of 25 schools and 17,000 student...

Showcasing the amazing students and staff inside of your district is an awesome job. Let Maria inspire you with some great ideas that you can implement in your district! IN THIS EPISODE, MARIA DISCUSSES: How social media fits in her role, along with website management and video creation What strategies her district has used to tackle the substitute teaching shortage The award-winning #BeWell34 ini...

Are you stuck in a rut with low content right now for your social media pages? Schools have amazing stories to share - we just need to find them! This episode will share 5 tips for getting more content. IN THIS EPISODE, ANDREA SHARES: How asking specific staff members for submissions will work far better than an email to everyone What weekly features you could add to your social media content cale...

All schools need to recruit students but in a career technical center, you face some unique circumstances. Luckily, Stafford Technical Center in Vermont has nearly twice as many applicants each year as they have spots. Learn the secret to their success in this episode! IN THIS EPISODE, CINDY DISCUSSES: How social media fits into her role as Outreach Coordinator Why she focuses on student stories w...

I recently got to hang out with Erin McCann, cohost of the School PR Happy Hour podcast. She was kicking off season 3 of the podcast and we recorded a fun episode. It was so jam-packed with nuggets you could use that I asked if I could reshare it with my audience. She said YES! IN THIS EPISODE, ANDREA AND ERIN DISCUSS: Andrea’s journey of starting #SocialSchool4EDU and what her company does to hel...

Want to learn some real social media strategies that work? Then you’re in the right spot! Holly McCaw, APR is going to provide some guidance that you can use right away in your district. IN THIS EPISODE, HOLLY SHARES: Why she runs only district social media accounts and not separate school accounts for her district of 2,400 students How she gets great stories to share from her five different schoo...

You can showcase your school’s mission through social media, and Erica can show you how! She had no background in school communications before joining Pulaski Academy back in 2019, but she put her marketing experience to work and has made an impact.  IN THIS EPISODE, ERICA SHARES: How she uses social media as a welcome mat for prospective students What methods she has found helpful in getting staf...

Let this be your warning. There is a right way and a wrong way to set up access to your school’s social media accounts. This take-action episode will help you avoid the common pitfalls of other social media account managers around the world. IN THIS EPISODE, HEIDI AND ANDREA DISCUSS: The difference between how you access your accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Why you need to use your pe...

We all are both mentors and mentees. Learn exactly what this means and how it can help you in your own journey in school communications from this thoughtful interview with Susan Brott, APR. IN THIS EPISODE, SUSAN SHARES: Her recent surprise and humbled celebration after being named as the 2021 Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award recipient from NSPRA How mentorship has shaped her career What she gain...