The Content Generation

Join us as we welcome Sydney Jensen, returning guest and 2019 Nebraska Teacher of The Year. Sydney is an esteemed educator from Lincoln High School (located in the heart of the state’s capital city). She first appeared on The Content Generation Podcast in December 2019. Now, after a decade of teaching, Sydney not only imparts her wisdom on ninth-grade English students but also manages the school’s social media presence. At first, Sydney was hesitant when Principal, Mark Larson, suggested she take on this responsibility, but after seeing the pages could use some extra care, she made a video at the eighth-grade open house that went viral. From highlighting new clubs to capturing quirky moments like alien hugs in the cafeteria, Sydney's content has resonated deeply with Lincoln High's community, propelling it to become the most followed high school in the district. Drawing from the vibrant experiences of one of the state's largest and most diverse high schools, Sydney shares her plans for growth and the meaningful impact social media has had on both the school and its community. It’s a tale of authenticity, connection, and the influence of engaging stories.

Join us for a conversation with Chad Stevens, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at ParentSquare, the leading provider of innovative family and community engagement solutions for K-12 education. With a rich 28-year background that spans both public and private sectors in education and technology, Stevens shares his insights into the interplay between teaching and tech. This conversation explores the evolving world of digital education, shining a light on the crucial role of effective school public relations, the art of genuine storytelling, and the strategic use of technology to enhance the educational journey for students and families alike. You’ll also learn how ParentSquare is leading a communication revolution, directly impacting 17 million families nationwide. Stevens opens up about the company’s latest strategic partnerships and acquisitions, highlighting how these developments are reinforcing the company’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and positive impact.

This episode of the Content Generation Podcast features Kyleigh Kumm, a computer science and technology integration teacher at Harlan Community High School in Harlan, Iowa. In response to the need to get social media channels running for the district and buildings, Kumm proposed recruiting student content creators to help. Now, these talented and experienced content creators are chasing after a new goal: Kumm is developing an authentic learning class aimed at building student resumes and portfolios. After a successful rollout of the first iteration of the class, local businesses are getting involved, creating a unique opportunity for student content creators to gain real world experience not only with school social media content, but with content for actual local businesses. Her innovative, hands-on approach to working with students to learn, explore, and apply a range of skills has even led to the first ever live student social media contest at the Nebraska Education Technology Association spring conference. Catch this episode for especially innovative insights on student involvement, championing student voice, real world learning, authentic assessment in practice, and more.

In this episode, hear from Nicole Eimer, digital communications specialist for Valley View Public Schools. Located in a suburb of Chicago, VVSD, proudly serves a diverse community of about 15,000 students and 21 educational facilities. During a recent revamp of the district's strategic plan, focus shifted to building a heightened sense of belonging among students, families, and staff. In response to this initiative, Eimer worked with schools to determine the best way to connect with students and families. Now, with a digital content creator at each school, VVSD social media accounts have blossomed. From compelling campaigns like “Friday Favorites”, to showcasing their reading facility dogs, engagement has skyrocketed with student stories at the forefront. But, with a range of social media experience, from teachers to front office secretaries, how does Eimer ensure her team is creating quality content? And what has their experience been getting students involved in this initiative? The results are a testament to the power social media can have when people see themselves represented in the stories being told.

In this episode, we hear from Caden Block, a senior student athlete at Hastings High School and the winner of the 2023 Content Generation Award. Beyond breaking sports records, Caden discusses his journey into content creation, talking through the experience of creating social media content and telling stories through social channels. Inspired by the Mentoring Works program, Caden recognized the power of storytelling and used it as a driving force in his award-winning video, centered around an important theme: making an impact. Leading up to this endeavor, his passion for sports reached new heights through media classes, content creation, and the willingness to dig deeper when it comes to capturing the essence of the game. Caden’s commitment to immersive storytelling has left a mark on his school and community, in addition to influencing his own life and career aspirations. He is an incredible example of the inspiration and passion that lies within every student, waiting to be empowered with opportunity.

High-school student Drew Colling discusses his journey as a content creator. Drew’s forte is sports broadcasting and announcing, where he brings a captivating and enthusiastic style to play-by-play announcements. As a member of his school’s multimedia team, he creates social media content for his school in a collaborative team environment alongside other students. With the help of Class Intercom’s software, Drew and his team produce a wide range of both live and pre-scheduled content. With aspirations to pursue sports media in college, Drew’s perspective as a content creator has evolved, prompting him to think critically about the messages he conveys and their contribution to each post as well as the way he collaborates with other students to cover the stories most pertinent to his school’s audience. You don’t want to miss Drew’s unique perspective.

In this episode, we're joined by Josh Sauer, seasoned school communications expert and current Director of Solutions Engineering at Finalsite. His experience as a K-12 PR professional, his role in the Oklahoma School PR Association, and his position as a board member of the National School PR Association (NSPRA) all serve as evidence of his deep passion for kids, education, and storytelling. Josh’s approach to storytelling in schools is both heart-driven and data-informed, turning everyday stories into compelling narratives. He derives his content from various sources, including his meaningful relationships, Chat GPT, and thorough keyword research. Don't miss Josh's insights into the evolving landscape of school PR, particularly the role of artificial intelligence and the importance of balancing it with authentic, humanized content.

Marketer Morgan Hobbs and Social Media Manager Nina Sobotka join us to share insights on the fast-paced and exciting world of semi-professional sports. This includes insights from their experiences in building and managing fan bases, navigating the unique challenges of social media, and producing authentic and engaging content about players, teams, leagues, and sports as a whole. They emphasize the importance of finding balance between organic and sales-focus content, as well as avoiding oversaturation. Despite the glamorous image that the social media industry gives off, Hobbs and Sobotka say it’s an industry that requires thick skin and an attentive attitude. You don’t want to miss this discussion pointed discussion about shareable content and the challenges and rewards of an often misunderstood industry.

Attorney Bobby Truhe from KSB School Law discusses the increasingly urgent need for legal expertise in the education sector. Following his first year of law school, Truhe gravitated toward school law, hoping to feel a genuine sense of making a difference. The post-pandemic era has brought about a surge in controversy, difficult conversations, and varying opinions, making his expertise and experience even more critical. In this episode, Bobby emphasizes the significance of gaining public trust, finding effective ways to deliver messages, and defending schools’ decisions. We’ll also talk about proactive strategies, First Amendment considerations, navigating gray areas, and leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT legally and compliantly. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on empowering schools and the important role school attorneys play in ensuring a better educational future.

Running point on social media for a school, business, side hustle, or even personal accounts can feel like a 24/7 job. Andrea Gribbel would know. Her team at #SocialSchoolforEDU works with schools all over the country to help them craft content for their social channels. And over the years, she’s learned a ton about how to not only do school social media, but how to do it well (without losing your sanity)! Her latest book is a collection of tips, tricks, and insights aimed at helping schools share the amazing stories that celebrate their students and staff–without getting burned out! In this episode, she stis down with us to talk about the craft of social media and school communications, and the systems, processes, tools, tips, and ideas schools need to succeed at social.

Communications strategist, podcaster, and friend Justin Dearing offers his unique perspective from transitioning from sports broadcaster to teacher to now working with schools all over the country through CESO (the Center for Effective School Operations) to tell incredible student stories. Justin brings a wealth of experience to the table. Formerly a teacher for seven years, he understands the importance of empowering student voices and telling school stories. Through his diverse experience, one thing remains: The importance of developing genuine relationships centered on trust. Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion from one of the most profound voices in school PR.

Sharing the story of her unique career trajectory, NSPRA President and seasoned school communications leader Cathy Kedjidjian talks about the state of school communications and the school PR community, plus how she approaches serving her peers, team, and community. This includes considerations like accessibility and breaking down barriers, but also collaborating with others in a way that impacts people, lives, and relationships. With an eye toward storytelling, connection and balance, Cathy talks about the importance of mental and physical health and wellness, navigating political landscapes, building meaningful relationships, and connecting diverse communities in this episode of the Content Generation Podcast.

The Content Generation Podcast is back and better than ever! From storytelling and advocacy to representation, digital formats, and new channels, content is everywhere. This season, we’re leaning into collaboration, tapping innovative change-makers from a variety of disciplines to share their unique perspectives on all things content. The Content Generation is a movement powered by passionate people and powerful technology on a mission to make social media a force for good. The community behind this movement includes students, educators, community leaders, innovators, builders, and doers of all types. The Content Generation Podcast is an important avenue for sharing their stories and empowering others to join the conversation. Welcome to season two!

A storyteller by nature, Erin McCann is fascinated with telling the stories of Public Education. A product of Texas Public Schools, Erin joined the School PR world in 2015 and currently works for Allen ISD in Allen, Texas as the Director of Digital Marketing and Media. During this episode, we spoke with Erin about her career journey and the current challenges among school PR professionals. You can connect with Erin on Twitter and be sure to check out her podcast, School PR Happy Hour.

During this episode, Ben and Amber discuss some of the Do's and Don'ts of Digital Leadership in the new normal. For more information, please visit Class Intercom for additional discussion questions.

During this episode, Amber and Ben discuss why self care is important and how it leads to better creativity and content during the new normal of COVID-19.

During this episode, Ben and Amber discuss what best practices look like when it comes to digital citizenship and lessons learned during COVID-19.

During this episode, Amber and Ben discuss the challenges that schools are facing in light of COVID-19 and how being social at a distance is not just a recommendation but a rallying cry.

Last week our team traveled to Austin and Chicago to attend the TSPRA conference and IDEACON conference. During this episode, we share what we learned while attending these amazing conferences. One of the largest School PR conferences, the Texas School PR Association conference provided room for great conversations about social media. School districts from across Texas engaged in round tables, sessions and some inspiring keynotes sessions. A highlight was listening to our friends at the School PR Happy Hour Podcast who provided a session about how they are both demonstrating excellent student-led social media, but also were recognized for the "Bright Idea" award for supporting school PR professionals. At IDEA Con, the marquis conference for the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance, we enjoyed great conversations with technology professionals and their role to secure, manage and administrate technology in their districts. We enjoyed conversations with technology professionals seeking to check boxes for solutions like archiving and administrators who are seeking to share the load of creating social media content.

PJ Caposey is a dynamic speaker and a transformational leader and educator. PJ began his career as an award-winning teacher in the inner-city of Chicago and has subsequently led significant change in every administrative post he has held. PJ became a principal at the tender age of 28 and within three years was able to lead a small-town/rural school historically achieving near the bottom of its county to multiple national recognitions. After four years, PJ moved to his current district, Meridian CUSD 223, as superintendent and has led a similar turnaround leading to multiple national recognitions for multiple different efforts. PJ has written 7 books for various publishers and his work has been published online for sites such as ASCD, Edutopia, and the Huffington Post. He works in the Education Department of two universities and in a myriad of capacities with the Illinois Principal’s Association including Principal Coach and author of the first complete stack of MicroCredentials offered in Illinois. During this interview, we discussed how PJ's career journey led to building a personal brand, how he would have handled things differently and why he continues to create content as a practitioner. Be sure to follow him on Twitter.