Students, teachers should be focus of public school social media strategy

educationdive | April 02, 2019

When developing their social media strategies, public school districts should consider the integral role students and teachers can play in branding and marketing on that front, Baruch College marketing instructor Trish Rubin writes for District Administration. When developing their brand, schools and districts should observe what top companies are doing and tweak it for their own purposes — and many, like Apple and Disney, engage their audiences by having those on the inside demonstrate what they're doing and how much they enjoy it.Students have an advantage in leading this charge, since they're social media natives and the target audience, and teachers and administrators can guide them in the process of developing brand voice and messaging, providing another layer of learning opportunities. In the past, schools didn’t have to advertise. Students just moved into a district, registered and showed up on the first day. Times have changed, however, and public schools are recognizing that. In an era of school choice, where traditional public schools compete with competition from charters and private school vouchers, students are being siphoned away. In North Carolina, for example, Durham Public Schools has lost 1,000 students in four years, while enrollment in area charter schools grew by 1,700. Today, more than ever, schools need to create a brand that draws in students and their families. Social media use is key. Florida’s Collier County Schools uses social media to reach out to families and the community at large. It was a tough transition at first, mostly because both teachers and administrators didn’t want to embrace it.

Spotlight

Sabrina and her mom both say that teachers at her Stride K12-powered school offer more help and support than they had at their old school.

Spotlight

Sabrina and her mom both say that teachers at her Stride K12-powered school offer more help and support than they had at their old school.

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