Melissa Hartley reveals how a 15-year TA program has transformed her one-person comms team. Discover the simple yet powerful way students are capturing and shaping content daily. Hear how Melissa’s role evolved from pitching stories to the local newspapers to daily social storytelling. Thinking of bringing students into your workflow? Melissa’s dos and don’ts are pure gold. SPECIAL GUEST Melissa Hartley Director of Communications & Marketing Horizon Honors Schools, Arizona Email: melissa.har...
Jul 21, 2025•44 min•Ep. 276
Andrea Gribble spills the details on where to find her (and the purple crew!) at NSPRA—plus one must-see booth activity you’ll regret missing! Want to avoid session FOMO? Hear Andrea’s top tip for planning your schedule—and the one tool she swears by. From packing hacks to power snacks, get the inside scoop on how to survive (and thrive) at this year’s seminar. Not heading to DC? No problem. Discover the trending topics and presentation sneak peeks that every school communicator should know. Ema...
Jul 14, 2025•32 min•Ep. 275
Jenny and Lauren share how combining communications with community education helps build trust, engagement, and referendum support in River Falls, WI. Hear why the new social media retreat stood out—from hands-on learning to meaningful networking with peers who “get it.” Discover the team’s big “aha” around AI tools—and why staying authentic is more important than ever. Learn how River Falls uses character education, school forests, and staff appreciation to strengthen connections across their c...
Jul 07, 2025•43 min
In this jam-packed episode, Andrea sits down with Laurie Ehrlich and Miriam Stein, co-founders of ThriveHive, to talk about the real-world challenges—and solutions—schools face with enrollment, marketing, and social media strategy. From building healthy teams to crafting intentional messaging, this episode is full of practical insights for any school ready to level up. 4 Key Takeaways for Listeners: What simple shift could instantly bring more clarity and purpose to your school’s social media po...
Jun 30, 2025•49 min•Ep. 273
Max Smith, Digital Marketing Manager at Region 10 ESC, shares how he’s using social media to amplify school stories and connect with the community. Ready to level up your social media game? Hear how Max launched the Get Social Summit and why it’s a must-attend for school communicators. Max’s go-to advice: Stop ignoring comments! Learn how engaging with your audience can transform your social media presence. Do you have a social media idea that’s working wonders? Max shares how other agencies can...
Jun 23, 2025•41 min•Ep. 272
Superintendent Dr. Jason Hewitt and communications pro Erin Goad open up about how Shepherd ISD rebuilt community trust using social media. Think you can't afford a communications director? Hear how Erin’s unique path from librarian to storyteller is helping transform culture in their small Texas district of 1900 students. Wondering how to celebrate teachers and grow your own staff? Don’t miss Shepherd’s jaw-dropping surprise patrol and Inspire program—it’s changing lives. Shepherd ISD made a bo...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 271
Hear how AndreAnna Tate took a big idea—student influencers—and turned it into a game-changing program at Irving ISD. Want to reach families and community members without children in your schools? AndreAnna’s strategy using Nextdoor might be your next big move. From planning events to writing scripts, learn how these students do way more than just create social posts. Curious how she got over 80 students to apply—and grew that number by 51% in year two? You’ll grab the secret sauce. SPECIAL GUES...
Jun 09, 2025•52 min•Ep. 270
4 Key Takeaways: Foundations of Higher Performance Learn about Mark’s life-changing “Higher Performance Generation” system—built on mindset, relationships, and self-mastery—and how it helps students and educators elevate performance and well-being. The Story That Sparked It All Hear the powerful, emotional story of a student whose life was saved through connection and care—and how it inspired Mark to reverse-engineer a system to help others before they hit rock bottom. Simple Tools with Big Impa...
Jun 02, 2025•45 min•Ep. 269
4 Key Takeaways for Listeners: Batch It & Relax – Plan ahead with repeatable features like Throwback Thursdays, Question of the Week, and staff shoutouts to keep your feed active without burning out. Engage Through Challenges – Try summer reading challenges or school spirit days to spark interaction and user-generated content. Show the Humans Behind the Scenes – Custodial staff, food service workers, and bus drivers are summer MVPs—celebrate their behind-the-scenes work! Admire & Acquire...
May 26, 2025•35 min•Ep. 268
What happens when you empower school staff with the tools and confidence to tell their own stories? 💥 You get a district-wide transformation. In this episode, you'll hear how Marshalltown’s Social Media Ambassador program, led by Abby Koch and supported by Andrea Gribble, turned friendly competition into meaningful engagement. Learn why your videos don’t have to be perfect to make an impact Find out how social media boosted staff morale, student excitement, and even helped with recruitment Disc...
May 19, 2025•48 min•Ep. 267
Today’s episode is unique and we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Amanda Materre, whose unexpected career path shows how embracing new tools can open new doors – even for those who start out in the classroom. How can AI help school communicators get a week of time back each month? Dr. Materre reveals her top tools and strategies. Want to align your messaging across platforms without doubling your work? Learn how AI can streamline your content creation process. Discover why authenticity and vulnerabil...
May 12, 2025•35 min•Ep. 266
Your school’s brand is more than a logo—it’s how your community connects with your story. In this episode, Andrea chats with Kelly May from CEL Marketing PR & Design to break down a 10-item checklist to ensure your brand is ready for social media. From templates to accessibility, you’ll walk away with practical tips you can apply immediately. 4 Key Takeaways: Why consistent branding builds trust – and how to reflect your school’s personality on social media. Essential elements your brand kit...
May 05, 2025•42 min•Ep. 265
In this episode, you’ll hear from Lisa Streckert at St. Croix Lutheran Academy in Minnesota and learn her best tips for successful school storytelling on social media. Consistency Builds Engagement: Posting daily and encouraging simple interactions from parents and teachers can lead to strong, consistent engagement, even in a smaller school setting. Use a School-Owned iPhone: Having a dedicated phone for photos, content collection, and text submissions from staff has been a game-changer for orga...
Apr 28, 2025•33 min•Ep. 264
Extra, extra—scroll all about it! Former journalist turned school communicator Daniel Langhorne shares how his newsroom background helps him uncover and celebrate the best stories at Sage Hill School in Newport Beach, California. Timeliness and authenticity matter! Learn why Daniel and his team treat school PR like a small newsroom—focusing on real-time, engaging content that makes an impact. Mastering Instagram storytelling – Sage Hill has doubled down on Instagram as its primary platform. Hear...
Apr 21, 2025•34 min•Ep. 263
Managing social media for your school shouldn’t feel overwhelming—good news, there’s a better way! In this episode, we dive into expert insights and a powerful tool that can help you streamline your process and save time. Tune in to learn: The Evolution of Social Media Management – How a journalist-turned-expert helps schools simplify their social strategy. Maximizing Efficiency – A game-changing tool that can cut social media workload by up to 80%. Nextdoor & Schools – How this often-overlo...
Apr 14, 2025•30 min
Building Trust and Credibility in School Communications - School PR is more than marketing; it’s about strategic storytelling and transparency to build trust. Sandra shares how her district rebuilt trust after a failed bond project, leading to a 71% approval on the next vote. Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in School PR - Many communicators feel unqualified due to the wide skill set required, but recognizing strengths helps build confidence. Sandra introduces the Dunning-Kruger Effect, showing how ...
Apr 07, 2025•44 min•Ep. 261
In this episode, we're diving into free and effective marketing strategies for schools! Whether you're looking to boost enrollment, engage your community, or simply spread more positive stories, this episode is packed with practical ideas. Plus, stick around until the end for a special giveaway opportunity! 19 Free Marketing Strategies – Get a breakdown of 19 actionable ways to market your school effectively in 2025. What Marketing Looks Like Now – Learn the latest trends and basics of school ma...
Mar 31, 2025•36 min•Ep. 260
In this episode of Mastering Social Media for Schools , Andrea sits down with Erin Montgomery, the mastermind behind Promote419 in Ohio. Erin, a former full-time school counselor turned social media consultant, shares real, practical advice on how to cover school events in a way that engages and moves your audience. What you'll learn in this episode: How to capture and share school events like spelling bees, teacher highlights, and student achievements Tips for turning videos and stories into he...
Mar 24, 2025•43 min•Ep. 259
This episode is a must-listen for school leaders looking to elevate their communication and build community pride! 🚀🎙️ 5 Key Takeaways for Listeners: Tell Your School’s Story Consistently – If you don’t share it, someone else will. A structured communication plan ensures positive stories reach your community. Lead by Example – Dr. Breunig models engagement by visiting classrooms, taking photos, and actively participating in storytelling efforts. Recognize and Celebrate Staff – Publicly acknowl...
Mar 17, 2025•36 min•Ep. 258
In this episode, you'll get a data-driven look at how schools are using social media based on survey responses from over 550 school communication professionals. We'll cover: Top platforms: Are Facebook and Instagram still on top? What about Twitter/X? Biggest challenges: Lack of time and collecting content remain the top struggles for school social media managers. Key goals: The priority list for 2025 includes increasing engagement, posting more frequently, and involving students. Social media r...
Mar 10, 2025•40 min•Ep. 257
Meet Sparsh Shah, a 21-year-old musical prodigy, inspirational speaker, and Guinness World Records holder. Known to many as Purhythm, Sparsh is a singer, rapper, songwriter, music producer, and philanthropist. Despite being born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a rare and incurable disorder that makes his bones extremely fragile, Sparsh has turned his challenges into a platform for inspiring others. Leveraging Social Media for Good - Learn how Sparsh uses platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikT...
Mar 03, 2025•49 min•Ep. 256
In today’s competitive landscape—where declining birth rates and the rise of school choice and open enrollment are shifting the education system—it’s crucial for schools to rethink their marketing strategies. But how can you do it the right way? Tune in to hear expert Brendan Schneider, author of a new book designed to help schools tackle this challenge. Discover the 3 biggest mistakes schools are making in their marketing efforts. Learn the top social media stories that build strong connections...
Feb 24, 2025•39 min•Ep. 255
How are teens using social media today, and what challenges are they facing? In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Justin Patchin, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Co-Director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, to explore these pressing questions and more. Here’s what you’ll learn: 📱 The surprising trends in how teens balance multiple platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. 🌙 Why “nothing good happens online after 11 PM” and how slee...
Feb 17, 2025•44 min•Ep. 254
Key Listener Takeaways: Crisis Communication Plan vs. Toolkit - Discover the difference between your crisis communication plan (the strategy and steps) and your crisis communication toolkit (the practical resources and tools you’ll need on hand). Real-Life Application: Employee Arrest Scenario - Hear how the toolkit was put to use during a sensitive employee arrest situation and how it helped manage communication and maintain trust with the school community. Practical Tips for Proactive Prepared...
Feb 10, 2025•45 min•Ep. 253
Staff shortages are impacting schools everywhere, and bus driver recruitment is a top challenge. In this episode, we dive into how Peoria Unified School District tackled its bus driver shortage with creative strategies, unique research, and a focus on storytelling. Sara Meredith shares: The Power of Research: Discover the insights they uncovered to shape their campaign. Employee Value Proposition: Learn what it is, why it's essential, and how Sara wishes she had implemented it sooner. Storytelli...
Feb 03, 2025•34 min•Ep. 252
Today, we’re welcoming a guest from Canada to the podcast! Cindy Nickerson, a veteran school communicator with over a decade of experience, shares her journey of building capacity in school communication as a one-person shop in a school division with 10,000+ students. Here’s what you’ll learn: How Cindy’s Communication Lead Program Started Discover how she developed and trained a team of school-based communication leads to share stories on Facebook and Instagram. Tips for Empowering Storytellers...
Jan 27, 2025•40 min•Ep. 251
For those looking for a better system to manage your “do not photo” list for social media, this episode is for you! Today, you’ll meet Colin Anson, the CEO and Co-Founder of Pixevety. Discover the origin story behind this innovative technology solution and how it’s serving schools worldwide. This robust system is economical—listen until the end to learn about the pricing options. SPECIAL GUEST Colin Anson CEO and Co-Founder Pixevety Inc., Florida Email: colin.anson@pixevety.com LinkedIn: https:/...
Jan 20, 2025•44 min•Ep. 250
Feeling overwhelmed by social media? This episode highlights how simplicity and consistency can drive big results. Here's what you'll learn: Meet Laurette Woodward, Communications Coordinator for a school division near Calgary, serving over 11,000 students across 30 schools. Discover how social media is managed at each location with training that sets schools up for success. Learn how using a social media rubric can set clear expectations and deliver impressive results. Explore the simple milest...
Jan 13, 2025•41 min•Ep. 249
Discover the inspiring story of Ollie the Owl and how it became a symbol of connection and storytelling for schools. Learn how Ollie has transformed social media engagement, making communication more meaningful and impactful. Gain practical tips for overcoming social media challenges, like content collection, through creative solutions. Hear heartwarming success stories and actionable ideas for adapting Ollie’s approach to elevate storytelling in any organization. SPECIAL GUESTS Debbie Wong Digi...
Jan 06, 2025•37 min•Ep. 248
Can you define the culture and climate in your school? In today’s episode, you’ll find out how - and it all ties back to what your organization respects and values. Discover practical ways to use social media to showcase your school’s culture and climate to your community. Authentic storytelling is a key theme in this episode. You can’t fake the feelings and traditions that make your school unique. Be intentional about the posts you share! Social media can also impact staff retention. Learn how ...
Dec 30, 2024•37 min•Ep. 247
