Mastering Social Media for Schools

Mastering Social Media for Schools

Do you manage social media for a K12 school? Then this podcast is for you! Struggling to find time for social media? Wondering why people won’t engage on your Facebook page? Can’t get content from your staff? Trying to get students to follow your Instagram Stories? These are just some of the big struggles that #SocialSchool4EDU CEO and social media storyteller, Andrea Gribble, digs into on the Mastering Social Media for Schools podcast. In addition to exclusive interviews and step-by-step strategies, each episode is designed to inspire and empower you on your journey to master school social media! This podcast is meant for anyone in K12 education - public schools, private schools, charter schools, online schools, tech/career centers - we serve them all! Grab insight into what’s working in hundreds of schools based on the experience of Andrea and her team. They directly manage more than 90 school districts, and coach/mentor more than 200 other schools. But Andrea didn’t always know what worked. When she started her business in 2014, she wished she had someone helping her answer questions like: What platform should I start with? How important is my school hashtag? Should every school in my district have its own Facebook page? What kind of videos do best? How do I represent everything that is going on in my school when I’m only one person? You’ll discover why thousands of educators follow Andrea’s advice on social media and even have fun while listening. Hit “subscribe” and get ready to master social media for your school!

Episodes

August 18, 2025 49 mins
  1. After hearing Andrea invite guests on a past episode, Meghan Weaver reached out - and now she’s on the show sharing incredible strategies from her school’s social media success!


  2. Meghan walks through her low-budget but high-impact method for capturing student voice using a standing mic and iPhone—plus how it boosts excitement across campus.


  3. Discover how framing social media content requests around fiv...
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  1. Find out how one Nebraska high school made the leap to go completely cell phone free—and why students, staff, and even parents got on board.
  2. Curious how they pulled it off mid-year? Hear the intentional language, rollout strategy, and surprising twist that made it work. Mitchell Roush, M.A., shares all the details!
  3. You won’t believe the results—think better attendance, fewer incidents, and a significant culture shift.
  4. We also spen...
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  1. Kimberly Garcia of the San Antonio ISD Foundation shares her strategic approach to managing social media on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
  2. Discover how the "Circle of Storytelling" (inspired by The Lion King) enables Kimberly to reuse powerful content across multiple platforms.
  3. Learn how AI tools like ChatGPT are saving Kimberly hours—and why she thinks every school communicator should jump in.
  4. Kimberly’s final socia...
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  1. Lisa Losasso Jackson and Veronica V. Sopher bring over 40 years of combined expertise in school marketing—and they answer all my burning questions about lead magnets!

  2. You’ll get a clear, simple breakdown of how to create effective lead magnets and landing pages—without feeling overwhelmed.

  3. Real-life examples and success stories from schools of all sizes show exactly how these strategies boost enrollment and re...
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  1. Melissa Hartley reveals how a 15-year TA program has transformed her one-person comms team.
  2. Discover the simple yet powerful way students are capturing and shaping content daily.
  3. Hear how Melissa’s role evolved from pitching stories to the local newspapers to daily social storytelling.
  4. Thinking of bringing students into your workflow? Melissa’s dos and don’ts are pure gold.



SPECIAL GUEST

Melissa Hartley

Director of Com...

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  1. 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!
  2. Want to avoid session FOMO? Hear Andrea’s top tip for planning your schedule—and the one tool she swears by.
  3. From packing hacks to power snacks, get the inside scoop on how to survive (and thrive) at this year’s seminar.
  4. Not heading to DC? No problem. Discover the trending topics and presen...
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  1. Jenny and Lauren share how combining communications with community education helps build trust, engagement, and referendum support in River Falls, WI.
  2. Hear why the new social media retreat stood out—from hands-on learning to meaningful networking with peers who “get it.”
  3. Discover the team’s big “aha” around AI tools—and why staying authentic is more important than ever.
  4. Learn how River Falls uses character education, school forest...
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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:

  1. What simple shift could i...
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  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Max’s go-to advice: Stop ignoring comments! Learn how engaging with your audience can transform your social media presence.
  4. Do you have a social me...
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  1. Superintendent Dr. Jason Hewitt and communications pro Erin Goad open up about how Shepherd ISD rebuilt community trust using social media.


  1. 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.


  2. Wondering how to celebrate teachers and grow your own staff? Don’t miss Sh...
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  1. Hear how AndreAnna Tate took a big idea—student influencers—and turned it into a game-changing program at Irving ISD.


  2. Want to reach families and community members without children in your schools? AndreAnna’s strategy using Nextdoor might be your next big move.


  3. From planning events to writing scripts, learn how these students do way more than just create social posts.


  4. Curious how she go...
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4 Key Takeaways:

  1. 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.


  2. 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 revers...
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4 Key Takeaways for Listeners:

  1. 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.


  2. Engage Through Challenges – Try summer reading challenges or school spirit days to spark interaction and user-generated content.


  3. Show the Humans Behind the Scenes – Custodial staff, food service worke...
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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 ...
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  1. 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.
  2. How can AI help school communicators get a week of time back each month? Dr. Materre reveals her top tools and strategies.
  3. Want to align your messaging across platforms without doubling your work? Learn how AI can streamline your...
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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:

  1. Why consistent branding builds trust – and how to reflect your scho...
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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 collectio...
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  • 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 – Sa...
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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 wo...
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  1. 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.
  2. Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in School PR - Many communicators feel unqualified due to the wide skill set required, but recognizing strengths helps build c...
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