In this episode of Comms & Chaos, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Riss, a retired educator and superintendent who had a well-structured approach to onboarding new school board members and meeting with potential candidates. We’ll dive into the importance of a strong orientation process, defining the board’s role, and fostering a positive working relationship between the board and superintendent. Whether you’re a district leader, board member, or considering running for a seat, this conversation will give you valuable insights on setting up a successful governance team from day one.

Supporting documents from episode

Recorded February 11, 2025

Hey, there. Welcome to "School Comms & Chaos" the podcast for Missouri educators dedicated to navigating the wild world of Missouri K-12 education. 

In this episode of School Comms & Chaos, I sit down with Dr. Kevin Carl, the leader of the Hancock Place School District. We chat about a superintendent’s approach to preparing school board members for success, including building a trusting relationship, communication tips, and successful onboarding practices. 

Recorded & edited by host: Marci Orr, APR

One-third of Missouri schools have transitioned to a four-day school week. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jon Turner, a retired public school educator with 30 years of experience and an associate professor at Missouri State University. Dr. Turner shares insights from schools across the state, breaking down the three main reasons districts consider adopting a four-day week and promoting the importance of school comms for schools exploring this calendar option.

Resources:
Website: fourdayweek.us
Contact Jon Turner: [email protected]

Are you using the right social media platforms for your school? The way people consume information has changed, and it’s time to adapt! In this episode, we dive into the why, how, and what of school social media with Ren Luebbering, Coordinator of Marketing & Digital Strategies at Springfield Public Schools.

Ren shares why Twitter/X is out and LinkedIn is in—and how she uses LinkedIn not just for job postings, but to elevate stories that celebrate her district’s students, staff, and community. We’ll explore how aligning social media with your strategic plan can amplify your impact and how data-driven decisions can save you time and effort.

Plus, Ren offers practical time management tips for chasing and curating content in Missouri’s largest school district.

If you’ve ever considered starting a LinkedIn page for your school, or if you’re still clinging to Twitter/X, this is the episode for you! Let’s learn how to work smarter, not harder, from a true social media pro.

Springfield Public Schools LinkedIn
Springfield Public Schools Website
Springfield Public Schools Facebook

“Public education has always been important. But it’s never been as important as it is today.”

In this episode of "Comms & Chaos," Marci is joined by Dr. Tracy Bottoms, superintendent of the Montgomery County R-II School District, who is stepping into retirement after a 29-year career as a rural educator.  

Dr. Bottoms reflects on his journey as a rural superintendent and educator, sharing insights on the countless hats a rural leader wears—from recruitment & retention efforts, like starting a staff daycare, to navigating major shifts in education over the past three decades, like social media!

We dive into onboarding board members, how leadership roles shape a superintendent’s approach, and why fostering connections and relationships is vital for success. Tracy offers invaluable advice for new rural superintendents.  

If you make it to the end, you can even learn how retired superintendents are like soap opera villains! 

Comms & Chaos welcomes Josh Varner. Josh is a trauma-informed speaker and a school mental health professional with a passion for helping individuals and schools support students who have been impacted by childhood trauma. He has presented over 300 high-energy, informative, interactive presentations to audiences nationwide. He shares his experience in the classroom working with traumatized students so he can help teachers and school staff.

Today, we’re turning chaos into clarity with eight effective ways to manage stress - for educators, for kids, and for plain ‘ole life.

Visit joshvarnerconsulting.com for more info!

Social media, huh? Certainly no chaos there!

Today on Comms & Chaos, I’m chatting with school attorney Emily Omohundro. Emily talks us through the legalities and expectations of social media as a limited public forum. We’ll also touch on utilizing social media for employment decisions. Finally, what are three things your staff members should understand about their personal social media use as public school employees?