Mastering Social Media for Schools

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 in Your Schools
  Learn how to enable staff to contribute to your social media efforts with confidence and consistency.
• Success Stories from a Social Media Campaign
  Get inspired by the award-winning "Did You Know" campaign that built awareness and earned Cindy a Golden Gribble award.

You’ll leave this episode with actionable tips to help your district amplify its voice and better celebrate your schools.

SPECIAL GUEST

Cindy Nickerson

Director of Communications

Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools, Alberta, Canada

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://www.redeemer.ab.ca 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CTRcatholic 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctrcatholic/ 

Twitter/X: https://x.com/ChristRedeemer1 

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Did you know? Campaign examples:
  • Small class sizes - Jan 2024
  • Healthy schools - Dec 2024
• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

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www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

1. 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.
2. Discover the origin story behind this innovative technology solution and how it’s serving schools worldwide.
3. 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: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-anson-smith-102b2b3/ 

Website: https://www.pixevety.com 

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

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 milestones created to make Facebook management effective and impactful.
• Get inspired by a standout idea: showcasing student work opportunities, which became the district’s highest-reaching posts of the year!

SPECIAL GUEST

Laurette Woodward

Communications Coordinator

Chinook's Edge School Division, Alberta, Canada

Email: [email protected] 

Twitter/X: @LauretteWoodwa5

Website: https://www.cesd73.ca 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChinooksEdgeSchoolDivision 

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Student Work Opportunity Highlights:
  • Ethan, Heavy Equipment Technician on a Farm - Reached over 156,000
  • Ashton, Mechanic - Reached over 61,000
  • Ada, Agricultural Equipment Technician - Reached over 48,000
• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

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www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

1. Discover the inspiring story of Ollie the Owl and how it became a symbol of connection and storytelling for schools.
2. Learn how Ollie has transformed social media engagement, making communication more meaningful and impactful.
3. Gain practical tips for overcoming social media challenges, like content collection, through creative solutions.
4. Hear heartwarming success stories and actionable ideas for adapting Ollie’s approach to elevate storytelling in any organization.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Debbie Wong

Digital Communication Specialist

Santa Clara County Office of Education, California

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiekimwong/ 

Personal Instagram: @FitztheFox

Ollie the Owl

Mascot

Website: https://www.sccoe.org/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCCOE 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santaclarasccoe/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/santa-clara-county-office-of-education/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SCCOEvideo 

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Ollie the Owl example posts:
  • Ollie reading Social Media for Schools - Photos
  • Ollie at an event - Reel
  • Top Reach: Ollie at SCCOE’s 54th Annual Teacher Recognition Celebration - Reel
  • Top Engagement: Behind the Scenes with Ollie at the Inaugural Special Education Student Prom - Photos
  • Ollie takes you on a tour of SCCOE - Reel
  • Sacred Heart Community Service Pack-a-Back campaign - Reel
• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

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www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

1. 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.
2. Discover practical ways to use social media to showcase your school’s culture and climate to your community.
3. 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!
4. Social media can also impact staff retention. Learn how storytelling can help you attract and retain staff.

SPECIAL GUEST

“Stand Tall” Steve Bollar

Speaker, Trainer, Author

Stand Tall Enterprises, New Jersey

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://www.standtallsteve.com 

Facebook: Stand Tall Steve

Instagram: @standtallsteve

LinkedIn: @standtallsteve

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

• Feeling overwhelmed by the constant shifts in social media, rapid AI advancements, and the lingering chaos of the past election year? In this episode, Andrea Gribble delivers a pep talk and actionable insights to help you keep your storytelling authentic and impactful.
• Top Podcast Highlights: Discover the 6 must-listen episodes from 2024, featuring tips on content gathering, student storytelling, video strategies, and more.
• Membership Group Gems: Explore the 5 most impactful training sessions from the #SocialSchool4EDU Membership Group, including Canva Camp, Instagram Challenges, and the Social Media Bootcamp.
• Best Blogs for 2024: Get inspired by the 4 top blogs to elevate your storytelling game, covering topics like accessibility, high-impact posts, and marketing strategies for schools.

Email: [email protected] 

Follow Andrea on Twitter/X: @andreagribble 

Website: www.socialschool4edu.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socialschool4edu  

USEFUL INFORMATION

• All resources are linked here!
• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

1. Managing Social Media with a Small Team: Hear how Ben Boothe keeps social media thriving for a school district of 6,000 students, even without a dedicated communications team. He shares his approach to juggling responsibilities and still getting the job done.
2. Easy Content Collection Tips: Ben reveals how making it simple for staff to submit photos and stories transformed their social media content, showing how a streamlined process can make all the difference.
3. Simplifying Social Media for Better Results: Learn why Ben decided to focus on fewer social media platforms and how that shift increased their audience engagement and made their efforts more impactful.
4. Letting Go of the Guilt: Ben talks about how partnering with #SocialSchool4EDU helped him let go of the guilt of not posting enough, freeing him up to focus on other critical aspects of his role.

SPECIAL GUEST

Ben Boothe, Ed.D.

Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

Gardner Edgerton Unified School District 231, Kansas

Email: [email protected] 

Twitter/X: @BootheBen    

Website: https://www.usd231.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GardnerEdgerton 

Instagram: @GardnerEdgerton

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Great posts from Gardner-Edgerton
  • Inclusive activity making Taylor Swift-inspired bracelets
  • Hall of Fame photo album
  • Bond planning awareness
• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

• Does the fear of receiving an OCR complaint in your district keep you up at night? This fear became a reality for today’s podcast guests in 2017, but they are proof that you can survive! They’ll share the first important steps they took when receiving their letter.
• You can take some simple, practical steps to enhance your ADA compliance. Gain insights into these and how to implement them in your district.
• Training is key, and you’ll hear how Birdville ISD tackled this ongoing effort for their 31 schools and over 90 social media accounts.
• Want one simple tip to help your efforts? Install a screen reader extension on your computer! You’ll be able to experience what others can understand based on how things are shared on your website.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Stephanie Whitlock

Communications Specialist

Birdville ISD, Texas

Email: [email protected] 

Michelle DoPorto

District Webmaster

Birdville ISD, Texas

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.birdvilleschools.net 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirdvilleISD 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BirdvilleISD 

Twitter/X: https://x.com/BirdvilleISD 

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

1. Meet Lynette White, an influential social media advocate empowering schools in California and beyond with over 15 years of educational experience and author of a must-read new book.
2. Discover Lynette's journey into the art of school storytelling and how her academic background equipped her to become a leader in educational social media.
3. Gain insights into the top 3 common social media challenges educators face and Lynette's practical advice for overcoming them.
4. Walk away with easy-to-apply strategies to enhance your school’s social media presence, shared in an approachable, relatable discussion.

SPECIAL GUEST

Lynette White

Communications Consultant

Founder/CEO of Lynette White Social, LLC - California

Email: [email protected] 

Personal Twitter/X: @lynettewsocial

Website: https://www.lynettewhite.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-unified-school-district 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynettewhitesocial/

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Podcast Episode - Banning Real Talk
• Purchase The Ed Branding Book: How to Build Educational Leadership with Social Influence written by Dr. Renae Bryant & Lynette White
• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

1. Do you feel alone or on an island when it comes to managing social media for your school? So did today’s guest. Hear how Lanita has transformed her storytelling efforts for her small Christian school of 600 students in Fort Worth, Texas.
2. Discover the simple change she made that improved her efficiency and reduced stress in celebrating classroom moments—and how you can do it, too.
3. Hear about Lanita’s experience with the #SocialSchool4EDU membership program, which provided her with:
   • Templates
   • Training materials
   • Shared solutions
   • Emotional support
4. Find out how Lanita overcame hesitation in her role, creating wins for her students and staff. You’ll gain practical tips and inspiring stories to help any school social media manager succeed.

SPECIAL GUEST

Lanita Nickerson

Communications Coordinator

Lake Country Christian School, Texas

Email: [email protected] 

Twitter: @LanitaN

Website: https://www.lccs.org 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lccseagles 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lccseagles 

Twitter: https://x.com/lccseagles 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/lccseagles 

USEFUL INFORMATION

• LCCS Choir Singing National Anthem in 2020 - over 36,000 views
• 6-Time national cheer champion coach visiting son cheering at college
• Physics egg drop video - over 52,000 views
• Scribe example - how to attach affiliated groups to your school page
• Helpful blog: Empowering Student Voices: Launching a Social Media Internship at Your School
• Order your copy of my book Social Media for Schools: Proven Storytelling Strategies & Ideas to Celebrate Your Students & Staff - While Keeping Your Sanity now!
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com