Someone recently asked me: “Andrea, what is ONE thing that schools could start doing on social media to make a big difference?”
While I wasn’t prepared to answer the question, my response was ready at the tip of my tongue: “Celebrate your staff!!”
Your colleagues in education work tirelessly every day to create a positive learning environment for students. They are the backbone of the school and deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication!
Celebrating staff members on social media is an easy way to show appreciation, demonstrate to the community how much you value them, and even improve internal morale. We know they’re doing great things every single day… but how can you recognize that hard work on social media?
I’ve often talked about “staff features” as a great way to celebrate your staff. You can learn more about staff features in this blog or in this free PDF. But that’s not what I’m talking about today…
Today, I want to inspire you to intentionally celebrate your staff in fun and meaningful ways! Keep reading for a ton of examples that schools across the country have shared.
Recognize Personal Connections
Share stories of staff members who go above and beyond to connect with their students on a personal level, such as an administrative assistant comforting a student or a superintendent getting to know some high schoolers. Here are some great examples:
Highlight Staff Working Together
Share stories of staff members who work together as a team, such as a group of teachers collaborating on a project/committee, engaging in professional development activities, or just being supportive of one another.
Share Examples of Staff Going Above & Beyond
Budgets are tight and staff shortages are rampant. Many of your colleagues are taking on extra responsibilities to help out – or they have just been doing those extra duties, quietly, for years – so show them that the school is appreciative by sharing their stories!
Celebrate Staff Achievements
Use social media to highlight staff members who have achieved something special, such as receiving an award or earning a certification.
Showcase Staff Talents & Community Involvement
Many of your colleagues have unique talents and community interests, such as a teacher who volunteers at the animal shelter or a custodian who creates art in their spare time. Putting those stories out onto social media helps humanize your staff and create fun conversations in the post comments.
Highlight Special Appreciation Events
Share photos from events held to show appreciation for staff members, such as a teacher appreciation night. As you’ll see in this first example about a bus driver, not all appreciation is planned in advance – check out all those amazing comments!
Mention Teachers When You Share Student Stories
Why not shout out the teacher who planned that neat science experiment or took those students on that cool field trip? This first example garnered tons of fun comments about the phy-ed teacher being “the best”!
Just Say “Thank You”
When is the last time you thanked your substitute teachers, food service workers, or classroom aides on social media? Don’t wait for “so-and-so appreciation day” – do it today! Here are some easy examples (note that photos are MUCH better than graphics, for these posts):
Are you feeling inspired to start intentionally celebrating your school staff on social media?
When staff members feel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated in their work. By sharing their stories on social media, you can generate more positive buzz about your school, show the community how much you value your staff, and (most importantly) help your staff feel appreciated and loved.
