Key Communicators Update
June 2018
Recap of the KC Meetings
Thank you to those who attended the PD meetings. It was very nice to meet everyone. I still have the list of questions/concerns generated and will provide feedback as soon as I have answers.
Social Media Management Plan
In order to meet our goal of long-term, consistent communication, we want to make sure that MCSS and our schools have access to existing and established social media accounts. There are several reasons for us to take this management step:
- Once this process is completed, no MCSS or school accounts will be managed by personal accounts. They will only be associated with accounts with an MCSS email address.
- Ensures a school administrator and MCSS Communications department will always have access to accounts. Sometimes people retire or move to other jobs/schools and they don't know who to turn the account management over to.
- Helps identify potential problems with maintaining social media accounts- Too many or too few people with access.
- Posting system-wide information will be easier, especially in the case of an emergency.
- Avoid potential accountability/liability issues.
NOTE: Listing a person's "role" for Twitter is only necessary if you have several contributors who log on with their own password (account would be managed through Tweetdeck). Most of us use the same password to access Twitter, so everyone with the password would be an administrator, not a contributor.
Once this form is completed for your school, I will contact you about the next step.
Building Our Brand on Social Media
Important aspects to making yourself easily identifiable on Social Media!
For instance, school athletic teams and approved school organizations could use the school's name in the title, but individuals should NOT.
- Think SIMPLE: Harvest Elementary School
- Do this: Buckhorn Middle School or Walnut Grove PTO or Walnut Grove Media Center
- Don't do this: Mrs. X's 2nd Grade Class at Walnut Grove. Instead, this account should be titled: Mrs. X's 2nd Grade Class. NOTE: If classroom or school business is posted, then mindfulness should be used in all postings which may reflect on the school or MCSS. Policies regarding privacy and confidentiality still apply if accounts are used for school purposes.
- Do this: Sparkman MS Band or New Hope HS Football
- Don't do this: Mrs. X's Media Center. Instead, this should be titled: Lynn Fanning Media Center
- If you have questions about names on accounts, please let me know.
Account Names on Social Media should resemble the name of your school as much as possible!
- Do this: Hazel Green Elementary School or Hazel Green ES
- Don't Do this: MXR or NMS. Instead, use full name of school or as close as possible.
Facebook and Twitter User Name
- Looks like this: @MadCoSchools or @SHSSenators
- Should resemble your school name as much as possible, not individual's names
- Do this: @MXRComets or @HazelGreenHS or @MooresMillWarriors
- Don't Do this: @XXX1234 or @Homeofthejaguars or @MrsXLibrarian
- The purpose of the user name is to make finding you easier!
- If an account is created for the purpose of promoting or posting on behalf of an MCSS school/organization or Madison County Schools, it is NOT a personal account. It becomes the responsibility of the school and MCSS.
Boosters/parents/teachers who start team/organization social media accounts should make sure that the school's principal is an administrator. Instead of deleting the page when the booster's child leaves the school, the management of the page should remain in control of the school administration. If coaches start an account, the AD and the principal should be listed as administrators on the account. Eventually, MCSS Communications will be added to the list of administrators.
Reminder: Accounts created on behalf of a school/ school organization and named after the school/organization are NOT personal accounts and are subject to the same policies and guidelines that apply to all web-based communication.
NOTE:
If your school does not have a Facebook or Twitter, we highly recommend that you create accounts and utilize these two social media tools for your school. I can help you set these up using a school email.
Month-long Recognition for June 2018
- Fireworks Safety Month
- National Hunger Awareness Month
- National Safety Month
Week-long Recognition for June 2018
- National History Day Contest
Recognition Days for June 2018
- National Doughnut Day- June 1
- World Environment Day- June 5
- Flag Day- June 14
- Father's Day- June 17
System Events- June 2018
- Register and Schedule of Sessions at this link
Summer Communication! Don't Lose That Connection!
Launch a few games on your social media platforms to get your community engaged with fun, lighthearted content. Here are a few to consider:
- Caption Contest: Post a fun behind-the-scenes photo of your school, staff, or campus on Facebook or Instagram and ask your followers to caption it.
- Summer-Themed Fill-in-the-Blank: For example, tweet “My favorite summer vacation spot is ______” or “My favorite summer food is _______” and have your followers join in.
- Guess the Location: Post (compelling!) photos of your various school offices or your staff vacation destinations and ask your community to guess the city.
- Word Scramble: Post scrambled words—ideally, about your school, education or MCSS!—on Facebook or Twitter, and ask your followers to unscramble them.
Hang onto extra photos from the end of year activities and share them throughout June.
Share photos of your campus and what's happening there during the summer.
- Post some beautiful photos of campus – it always looks different in the summer.
- Snap some photos of new tech equipment you’re setting up.
- Is there any construction happening on campus? How about sharing photos and updates on that exciting development?
BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION
- Start promoting those start-of-school activities and events.
- When can parents log into your site and find the new school year’s information? Remind them through Twitter and FB!
- What’s the schedule for orientation? Write a news story and post it on Facebook!
Social Media Scheduling Programs- STAY CONNECTED THIS SUMMER!
Signup using your school email account, allow access to your Twitter and FB(once you do this you can choose your school page to post from).
Test it out. You can always delete trial posts! ;)
PLEASE, feel free to call me if I you need help!