Mastering Social Media for Schools

From a goodwill gesture that was captured by phone during a cross-country race to being recognized on Good Morning America, find out the full scoop from the school in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, which has about 7300 students. How do you take a story to the national level? Of course, it starts with a story that garners attention on social media, but then a little work must be done to secure the upper...

WooHoo! It’s time to celebrate the 200th episode of the Mastering Social Media for Schools podcast! Today, we have a special interview conducted by Bill Gribble, Andrea’s husband.  Turning the page back to the beginning, Andrea shares how she got started and who her first mentors were early on. Schools still often struggle with social media. Learn the 3 keys that are most important when it comes t...

Do you use TV monitors to communicate in hallways, common areas, and more in your school? Then, you don’t want to miss this conversation with a school leader in digital signage! Many don’t realize the impact that digital signage can make. It can affect student involvement, school safety, and positive school culture! Some schools are doing a better job than others regarding their displays. Jennifer...

What is your school’s plan for social media in 2024? Are you dropping Twitter/X? Adding TikTok? Focusing on Instagram? Today, you’ll find out how others responded as we share the results of #SocialSchool4EDU’s 2023 Communications Survey. We had 537 responses to our annual survey - thank you to everyone who responded! There were a few new survey questions this year, including a statement regarding...

Managing six different social media profiles in a one-person shop sounds impossible. Find out how adding student interns made it possible for this CTE school in Pennsylvania. Developing the perfect tagline or hashtag can be challenging, but not when you get your students (and their parents) involved! Learn how #aMBITion was created and how they have incorporated it into every story they tell. Many...

Instagram, videos, staff recruitment - we talked about it all in today’s interview with Erin Woodiel! Your phone is all you need to create great video content. Learn the steps Erin followed to create her “Day in the Life” series. Andrea’s mind was absolutely BLOWN AWAY with takeaways on how to edit voiceover with video clips!!! You might have Instagram envy after looking at Lee’s Summit R-7 School...

You can gain a lot of insight from those in their 90s. I share the one piece of advice a 99-year-old choir member gave when asked what his secret was… New Year’s Resolutions are hard to keep. But one word? This might just be the ticket to transforming your year and your life. I’ll share my 2023 word and how it has impacted my life. What is your one word for 2024? Share it with me - email me or sen...

AI can be overwhelming to us all, but Rebecca will share various resources to help you get started! Using platforms like Chat GPT as a strategy and thought partner is key. You’ll learn dozens of prompt ideas you can use in your role as a school communicator. Ethics and AI - identify what you need to be aware of to keep you and your district in good standing with your stakeholders. SPECIAL GUEST Re...

Managing social media for a school might seem like a very formal task, but today’s guest is going to urge you to have fun by leaning into the creation of engaging content. Should your school be on TikTok? You might be surprised by Kristen’s response! Here is one school you NEED to follow on social media - don’t miss out. SPECIAL GUEST Kristen Doverspike Director of Marketing Operations Finalsite,...

She’s only been in her district for 10 months, but the growth in social media is off the charts! Learn what Lynn’s focus was as she started her job for this district of 5,200 students near Kansas City, Missouri. There are two keys to getting great content from your staff - and you’ll learn exactly how to use them in your school! Reaching over 30,000 different people per month on Facebook is possib...

Want to hear a great case study that will help support adding another person to your communications team? This is it!  Katelyn has been on the job for only 18 months, but she breaks down how she gets content, how often she posts, and the amazing growth she’s had on Instagram. If you wonder how to utilize the hashtag associated with your district, listen in to grab some great ideas on repurposing t...

Do you reach 1,000,000 people each month with your content? Well, today’s guest leads the digital strategy at a high school that does - and you’ll want to listen in. Today’s students are interested in media, video production, and more. Use the work they do in class to help promote your school! La Salle College High School has just over 1,000 students attend its all-boys school, and you’ll learn ex...

A person’s journey into school communications is always interesting. Today’s episode is no different! Learn how Ryan went from math teacher to technology integrationist to communications coordinator in Austin, Minnesota. See what social media looks like for this one-person shop in a district of more than 5,000 students. Ryan shares the various social media features that he posts on a regular basis...

From journalist to school communicator to mom - this week’s guest has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with you! She has successfully implemented a social media stipend at each of her 12 schools, and she’ll explain exactly what the staff members are paid and their responsibilities. You might be afraid of a communications audit, but Melissa likes to think of it as an assessment. She br...

With 20 years of working with independent schools, Deanna has built an expertise in social media storytelling, and she dishes out example after example in today’s episode! “Reselling the Sold” is a term Deanna uses to describe the strategy behind social media content. Learn all about what that means and how to incorporate it at your school. Are you nervous about letting students help with Instagra...

Do you need help putting complex issues like budget reductions, referendum/bond questions, and curriculum changes into your communication strategy? You’re not alone! Grab practical advice from our experts, Bob & Nicole. When you communicate complex items, you need to remember four things: Time, Repetition, Context, and Message Layering.  Schools can only inform through communication efforts. F...

Have you ever received a request to create a flyer? Of course you have! But what happens when you really dig in and ask questions? Why do they need the flyer, and what do they hope to accomplish with it? Asking these questions could prompt you to think about a better solution than creating “just a flyer.” Christine is going to tell her story today - and you’re going to want to listen in! Schools a...

Today’s guest is bursting with energy and passion for school communications! With more than 18 years in education, discover Matthew Jennings's unique journey to the school PR world. After being with Peachjar for just one year, Matthew shares how to reach your community strategically with information they want and need to know. Social media does not have to be perfect; you should have fun! Che...

At some point, public schools will be faced with asking the community to support more funding for the school. It might seem like you don’t have time to ask for feedback, but research is the most important part of the process. Are you making the most common mistake when asking voters for money? Find out! What are bonds really about? KIDS! Kathleen and I discuss several examples that will get your w...

If Abby told you that implementing just one simple weekly practice could increase your flow of photos and stories from staff by 2-5 times, would you do it? Great content doesn’t just happen by chance. Learn the monthly goal that Abby sets for herself to ensure she covers students of all ages within her district of 4,000 students. Many listeners are one-person departments. You’ll learn some great t...

You could call her a mom on a mission! Learn why Anu Vaid started her software company in 2010 in direct response to the overwhelm she felt from her son and daughter’s school. It’s no accident why ParentSquare is now impacting more than 9 million student families! Discover how a focus on user experience, both from educators and parents, has driven the success of this unified communication solution...

It is possible! You can actually lighten your workload through the use of social media interns. Arcadia Unified School District in California is now in its 8th year using social media student interns. Ryan breaks down how they select the students, what training is provided, and the tasks their student interns are responsible for. The interns at Arcadia are not paid, and it is treated as an after-s...

Do you wear multiple hats in your school district? Is social media just one more thing? Then you’ll love today’s interview and tips with Wendy Coker, Technology Director in Petrolia CISD, TX. Setting up an email address to receive social media content has been the BEST move that Wendy has made since taking over the social media management role in her district of 475 students. What’s the magic tric...

Let’s talk about using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your role as a school communicator! Today, I am joined by a trained marketer and writer, Emily Schutte, MBA.  Are you worried that AI will take your job? Do you wonder if you should mention a disclaimer about using AI in your work? Are you looking for great prompts to get you started? We discuss it all and more. There are some aspects of AI th...

Oh my - today’s guest is like an East Coast version of ME! I’m so excited for you to meet Laurie, Founder of Elevate Marketing Strategy in Maryland! Are you still thinking about Threads? Wondering if you should ditch Twitter? Laurie shares her thoughts, and we discuss what might be best based on your school or district. Instagram is a powerful tool, but only if you use it in the right way. Learn s...