In this episode of the SmartSocial.com podcast, host Andrea Allen speaks with Dr. Toni Jones, Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools in Connecticut. They discuss the evolution of social media's impact on young people, the district's strategic planning, and effective ways to engage parents. Dr. Jones highlights the district's accomplishments during the pandemic, their new regulations surrounding social media, and proactive student initiatives. Additionally, the conversation dives into the...

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews David Feliciano, Superintendent, and Deanne Ragsdale, Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services at La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. The discussion centers around increasing parent engagement, supporting students' mental health post-pandemic, and tackling social media issues. They share accomplishments in fostering a culture of belonging, responses to mobile device policies, and leveraging AI tools in...

Join Josh Ochs on the SmartSocial.com podcast as he interviews Yolanda Valdez, Superintendent of Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District in California. They discuss the importance of managing students' digital footprints, bounce back strategies post-pandemic, community school approaches, and effective ways to keep students safe on social media. Ms. Valdez also shares successes and tips for engaging parents, using AI tools, and enforcing phone policies in classrooms to improve focus and...

Join Josh Ochs on the SmartSocial Podcast as he chats with Superintendent Dr. Mark Benigni and Assistant Superintendent Barbara Haeffner from Meriden Public Schools in Connecticut. Discover their strategies for engaging students, leveraging technology for learning, and ensuring safe social media use. Learn about their innovative approaches to handling social media incidents, educating digital citizens from a young age, and fostering positive online behavior. They discuss their thoughts on AI...

Join Josh Ochs on this episode of the SmartSocial.com podcast as he interviews Bill Dolezal, Superintendent of the Cave Creek Unified School District, to discuss effective strategies for keeping students safe on social media. Mr. Dolezal shares insights on the district's achievements, the importance of focusing on students, and how the community has embraced diverse post-graduation pathways. They delve into the challenge of managing social media issues in schools, the necessity of explaining...

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Dr. Michael Portas, Superintendent of Schools for the Pequannock Township School District in North Jersey. They discuss the importance of having a strategic approach when giving kids access to social media. Superintendent Portas shares his district's successes, including how they managed the pandemic and harnessed digital tools to enhance education. They delve into proactive measures for addressing social media issues...

Join host Josh Ochs on the SmartSocial.com Podcast as he interviews Dana Addis, superintendent of Hudson City Schools in Ohio. In this episode, they discuss the district's achievements, social media challenges, and innovative strategies for parental engagement. Learn about Hudson's cutting-edge approach to AI in education. Dana also shares valuable advice on social media use in schools, fostering strong teacher-student relationships, and the benefits of student interactions free from digital...

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Dr. Elizabeth Alvarez, the Superintendent of Forest Park District 91 in Illinois. They explore how small and large school districts can help students become resilient and prepared for the future. Key topics include the prevalence of cell phones among different grade levels, proactive approaches to social media, developing communication strategies with students, and integrating AI into the curriculum. Dr. Alvarez shares...

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, Josh Ochs interviews Dr. Melvin J. Brown, Superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools, about strategies for improving student engagement, addressing social media issues, and promoting responsible use of technology. Dr. Brown shares the district's achievements, including passing a crucial ballot initiative for funding and implementing a cell phone-free policy that reduced disciplinary issues and increased social interaction among students. He...

Pinterest is a social media platform where users can search, save, and shop ideas. With over 10M boards and 1.5B pins per week there is never a shortage of content to spark new ideas. Users can use pins as a creative outlet by sharing their own content or personal website when posting their own pin. Learning how to use the app with a positive intention and safety settings will help students stay safe and Shine Online.

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Dr. Mark Ernst, the Tooele County School District superintendent in Utah, about effective strategies for creating school unity through positive social media use and engaging parents in the digital world. Dr. Ernst shares insights on their strategic model for education, handling social media issues, and the innovative ways their district is leveraging AI to support student learning. Discover actionable advice for...

In this episode of the SmartSocial Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Dr. Bob Nelson, Superintendent of Fresno Unified School District, California's third-largest school district. The discussion highlights Fresno Unified's initiatives to instill a college-going culture through the Bulldog Bound program and its efforts to provide scholarships via a $20M foundation. They also delve into social media safety, emphasizing the importance of managing an online brand and the role of Parent University...

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo of the Tucson Unified School District. They discuss the district's recent accomplishments, including a $485M bond for school renovations, and strategies for handling social media-related student conflicts. The conversation also highlights the positive uses of social media in education and explores the district's approach to emerging AI tools like ChatGPT. Additionally, Superintendent...

Join Josh Ochs of SmartSocial.com as he interviews Dr. Nick Polyak, Superintendent of Leyden Community High School District #212, to discuss the innovative strategies his district employs to foster a sense of belonging, navigate social media challenges, and prepare students for a future with AI tools. Learn about Leyden's four-year advisory program, digital citizenship course, and unique parent engagement initiatives like Parent University. Gain valuable tips on leveraging technology to build...

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, hosted by Josh Ochs, we welcome Dr. Jared Bloom, Superintendent of Franklin Square Union Free School District in New York. Jared discusses the goal of achieving personalized learning for students and what steps his district is taking to reach that goal, including innovative elementary education programs like a district-wide theater initiative and coding classes. He emphasizes education's role in navigating social media challenges and introduces...

In this episode of SmartSocial.com's podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Dr. L. Oliver Robinson, Superintendent of the Shenendehowa Central School District in upstate New York. They discuss the positive impact of technology and social media in classrooms, strategies for handling social media issues, and the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in education. Dr. Robinson emphasizes the importance of viewing technology as a tool for enhancing teaching, learning, collaboration, and student engagement,...

With apps like BAND, team and group communication is easier than ever. The BAND app is a popular way for sports teams, school clubs, and other groups to communicate with each other. This app allows parents and students to stay connected and up to date on events, team announcements, and more. This guide will walk parents through everything they need to know to safely and effectively use BAND.

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Superintendent Bill Runey of the Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District in Massachusetts. They discuss effective strategies to standardize communication across the district through tools like district-wide apps, enhancing parent engagement, and proactively addressing social media issues. They also touch on the positive use of social media by students, advice for parents on keeping kids safe online, and how the...

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, hosted by Josh Ochs, we dive into a forward-thinking approach to education with Dr. Shari Camhi, Superintendent of the Baldwin Union Free School District in Long Island, New York. The discussion centers around the 'Baldwin 2035' initiative, aiming to revolutionize learning by 2035. Dr. Camhi shares accomplishments from the past four years, challenges with social media, and strategies for fostering media literacy among students. The episode...

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Phil Edwards, superintendent of Angleton ISD. They discuss strategies for using students as social media ambassadors to effectively communicate school messages, the importance of educating both students and parents on social media safety, and opportunities to enhance student career pathways. The conversation also covers tactics for increasing parent engagement and the responsible use of AI tools in education. Join us as...

Parents and teens are busier than ever. They are juggling sports schedules, club meetings, homework, and more. TeamSnap is a popular sports management app designed to help parents, coaches, and players navigate the world of team sports with ease. TeamSnap offers schedule and roster management, group chat and direct messaging, and live game score updates.

Screens and phones tend to be our constant companions. These devices and apps keep us connected and make everything more convenient but they can also make it hard for us to unplug. For teens, it can be doubly problematic. Studies have found an underlying biology that makes them prone to staying up late. As a result, teens might not be getting the sleep they need for optimal alertness and concentration during the day.`

In this episode of the SmartSocial.com podcast, host Josh Ochs interviews Dr. George F. Fiore, Executive Director of the Chester County Intermediate Unit in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, about the strategies his district employs to safeguard students on social media and prepare them for the future. Dr. Fiore emphasizes the importance of a systemic approach to education that includes training for students, parents, and staff to ensure consistent messaging and practice in digital literacy and...

The Fizz app was founded by students for students. While it originally launched as an app for college students, it is now moving into high schools nationwide. This student app promotes the idea that students can connect with their community “safely, authentically, & vibrantly.” Parents, however, have concerns as the Fizz app allows users to share content anonymously. Apps that include anonymous posts always come with concerns about potential cyberbullying and inappropriate content, so...