Zac Rantz breaks down why accessibility is top of mind for schools and how upcoming regulations are pushing needed change.He simplifies the five key areas—images, colors, links, PDFs, and videos—with easy-to-follow, practical tips.Discover how accessibility isn’t just compliance—it’s about making school communications better for everyone.Zac also shares how his district of 6,700 students manages social media with a smart, centralized approach that works. SPECIAL GUEST Zac Rantz Chief Communi...
All content for Mastering Social Media for Schools is the property of Andrea Gribble and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Zac Rantz breaks down why accessibility is top of mind for schools and how upcoming regulations are pushing needed change.He simplifies the five key areas—images, colors, links, PDFs, and videos—with easy-to-follow, practical tips.Discover how accessibility isn’t just compliance—it’s about making school communications better for everyone.Zac also shares how his district of 6,700 students manages social media with a smart, centralized approach that works. SPECIAL GUEST Zac Rantz Chief Communi...
Zac Rantz breaks down why accessibility is top of mind for schools and how upcoming regulations are pushing needed change.He simplifies the five key areas—images, colors, links, PDFs, and videos—with easy-to-follow, practical tips.Discover how accessibility isn’t just compliance—it’s about making school communications better for everyone.Zac also shares how his district of 6,700 students manages social media with a smart, centralized approach that works. SPECIAL GUEST Zac Rantz Chief Communi...
What happens when a strategic communications expert from higher ed takes on K-12 social media? Chanda Gilmore drops fresh, practical advice your school can start using right away.Before you post, are you really listening? Discover why tuning in to your community first could be the biggest game-changer for your engagement strategy.Think there’s a magic formula for engagement? Think again. Chanda breaks down why what works in one district might totally flop in another—and how to figure out what...
Shain Bergan shares the incredible story of how Kansas City Public Schools rewrote their narrative. From declining enrollment and 60-year-old buildings to renewed community pride and growing numbers, all through the power of consistent, strategic storytelling.Get the inside scoop on how a $474 million bond passed with 85% voter approval - the first successful bond in nearly six decades! Discover how social media, media access, and bold transparency helped the community believe in the district...
Andrea shares her firsthand experience navigating Facebook page suspensions and restrictions for schools - and why this issue is hitting closer to home than ever before. Find out which seemingly harmless words (like “raffle” or “donation”) may now trigger Facebook’s AI to flag or shut down your page. Learn how Andrea and her team have responded - from creating support tickets to starting temporary Facebook groups - and what actually worked. Get Andrea’s practical tips, including green/y...
Michelle Karpinski from Portage Public Schools in Michigan shares how embracing a communications audit unlocked major growth for her district. Learn how improvements were made with both internal and external communication and how they tracked their progress. Discover how a data-driven audit led to a full rebrand, website overhaul, and better parent engagement. Michelle’s “be brave” mindset shows how audits can be a catalyst - not a critique - for school PR success. SPECIAL GUEST Michelle ...
Jason Lewis shares how a parent’s social media praise turned into a powerful story of school choice—and proof that our storytelling work truly makes a difference. Learn how Jason’s student-led Instagram takeovers not only boost engagement but also help build leadership skills and résumé-worthy experiences for students. Discover how Jason’s summer scavenger hunt turned quiet months into a community-building social media win. Feeling stuck? Jason’s journey from TV to school PR shows the valu...
Today, you’ll meet Tyler Moberg, a former teacher turned trainer in the powerful world of AI! He shares six leading AI platforms and when to use each for maximum school communication impact.Still think AI is here to take your job? Hear the powerful mindset shift that could change everything.Spot the “AI giveaway” in emails and posts, and learn how to polish AI content into your own authentic voice.What if just 10 minutes a day with AI could totally elevate your school comms game? It’s possibl...
Sara Schneider from CSCOE spills the secrets behind her "Marketing Minute" video series—and how it’s inspiring 151 Catholic schools to show up online with confidence. You’ll love the exact tools Sara uses to make school videos pop—think mic, light, and magic for under $100! Worried about being on camera? Sara shares real-talk advice on ditching perfection and just showing up. Get ready to steal some seriously smart ideas for launching your own series—even if you’ve never hit ‘record’ befor...
Tricia didn’t plan to lead social media—she just raised her hand. Now she’s making a huge impact! Her story proves that passion and heart can take you far, even when you’re figuring things out as you go. No formal training? No problem. Hear how Tricia self-taught her way to success—with lots of sticky notes. If you’ve ever felt unqualified, her journey will remind you that curiosity and commitment go a long way. From overwhelm to confidence, Tricia shares how trial and error, along with a f...
My friend Brian Bridges is back—and this time, he’s sharing a solution that will seriously save your sanity when it comes to registrations. Camp Simple is the answer we’ve all been waiting for! Whether it's a cheer clinic, science camp, or t-shirt sale, this platform takes care of it all—forms, payments, waivers—so your staff can focus on the fun, not the forms. Say goodbye to messy Google Forms and Venmo links. Camp Simple creates a polished, easy-to-share registration page that makes yo...
Hear how Jordan Ziemer and Kaitlin Paonessa made bold career pivots into school PR — and discover what finally made their work feel truly meaningful. Their paths are different, but their purpose is shared. Feeling overwhelmed or unsure in your role? You’re not alone. This honest convo dives into burnout, impostor syndrome, and how to find support (even if you’re a team of one). Packed with real talk and ready-to-use advice: Learn how to be coachable, set boundaries, and ask the right questi...
Scott Gordon, a 25-year veteran in education, shares how diving into social media transformed his role—and reignited his passion for leadership. Learn how Scott, with zero prior social media experience, became a consistent and confident storyteller for his school. Discover the impact of splitting athletic and school pages—and how it spotlighted more than just sports. Hear how one small-town principal uses everyday moments, history, and humor to authentically connect with his community. ...
From educator and parent to PR pro - Sandy Sutty shares how her personal connection to the school fuels her storytelling. Showing up for students is Sandy’s not-so-secret weapon to building authentic, engaging social content. Want to grow your followers fast? Sandy breaks down her 14K+ follower jump with a simple, strategic content plan. Discover how she taps into student interns, QR codes, and the addition of Class Intercom to make content collection fun and sustainable. SPECIAL GUEST...
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! 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. Discover how framing social media content requests around five clear messaging pillars has transformed staff engagement at St. Martin’s. Learn why Me...
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.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!You won’t believe the results—think better attendance, fewer incidents, and a significant culture shift.We also spend time exploring how Grand Island Public Schools organized their s...
Kimberly Garcia of the San Antonio ISD Foundation shares her strategic approach to managing social media on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Discover how the "Circle of Storytelling" (inspired by The Lion King) enables Kimberly to reuse powerful content across multiple platforms.Learn how AI tools like ChatGPT are saving Kimberly hours—and why she thinks every school communicator should jump in.Kimberly’s final social media tip will change how you approach engagement: It’s time to take a loo...
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! You’ll get a clear, simple breakdown of how to create effective lead magnets and landing pages—without feeling overwhelmed. Real-life examples and success stories from schools of all sizes show exactly how these strategies boost enrollment and recruitment. Don’t miss the final moments! The social media tips they share—especia...
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...
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. E...
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...
Zac Rantz breaks down why accessibility is top of mind for schools and how upcoming regulations are pushing needed change.He simplifies the five key areas—images, colors, links, PDFs, and videos—with easy-to-follow, practical tips.Discover how accessibility isn’t just compliance—it’s about making school communications better for everyone.Zac also shares how his district of 6,700 students manages social media with a smart, centralized approach that works. SPECIAL GUEST Zac Rantz Chief Communi...
