SESSION 1 – Retreat Roadmap: A Kickstart to Your Social Media Journey

Retreat Roadmap: A Kickstart to Your Social Media Journey

Speaker: Andrea Gribble, Founder & CEO, #SocialSchool4EDU

Let’s kick off the retreat together and walk through what you can expect at the retreat. Before we jump into all the ideas, tools, and inspiration coming your way, Andrea will help ground you in one simple truth: social media doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At the end of the day, it’s about celebrating your students and staff - and you already have more great stories than you realize. You’ll also get a little work time to reflect on what you want to learn this week and the small shifts that could make your job easier.

SESSION 2 – AI for School Social Media: What’s Hot, What’s Hype, What’s Actually Helpful

AI for School Social Media: What’s Hot, What’s Hype, What’s Actually Helpful

Speaker: Rebecca Bultsma, AI Ethicist & Practical Adoption Strategist

Maybe you’re already experimenting with AI, you know it can help - but between everything else on your plate, who has time to sort through what’s actually worth using? That’s where I come in! In this delightfully nerdy hands-on session, I’m going to show you exactly where AI works best for school communicators, what’s out there right now, and let you try it for yourself. We’ll explore practical use cases from your actual workflow with live demonstrations and real examples. You’ll walk away with tools you can actually use, answers to your burning questions, and the confidence and momentum to keep going into the new school year! Bring your laptop, bring your curiosity, and get ready to actually DO this - not just talk about it.

SESSION 3 – Building an Accessible Social Media Workflow

Building an Accessible Social Media Workflow

Speaker: Chelsea Janke, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, CEL Marketing PR Design

Accessibility shouldn’t be a last-minute fix or the reason posts get stuck in approval purgatory.

This session helps school communicators and webmasters build a realistic, repeatable social media workflow that supports ADA compliance and engagement. Attendees will examine the full content lifecycle, from idea to measurement, map their current workflows, and identify where accessibility breaks down under real-world pressures.

During work time, participants will design an accessible social media workflow that fits their workload, platforms, and pace; learn how long different types of content should realistically take; and explore how accessibility improves efficiency and engagement. Attendees leave with practical tools, clearer systems, and a renewed sense of confidence in how accessibility fits into everyday social media work.

SESSION 4 – Engaging Gen Z and Younger Millennial Parents: Building Connection Through Today’s Digital Tools and Social Platforms

Engaging Gen Z and Younger Millennial Parents: Building Connection Through Today’s Digital Tools and Social Platforms

Speakers: Mary Ellen Rowe, Education Sales Consultant, Finalsite & Melanie Olson-Cox, Supervisor of Communications and Marketing, Stillwater Area Public Schools

Gen Z and younger millennial parents move fast and can spot inauthenticity a mile away. In this session, Mary Ellen Rowe from Finalsite and Melanie Olson-Cox (Stillwater Area Public Schools) will explore what motivates parents who were raised on screens and how school teams can connect with them in ways that feel natural, clear, and trustworthy. Walk away with actionable strategies, sample content ideas, and a clear playbook for digital engagement that keeps parents informed, connected, and genuinely excited to interact with your schools. This is your chance to future-proof your district’s communication approach and build stronger relationships with the next generation of families.

SESSION 5 – Growing Authentic Voices: The Full-Circle Impact of a Student Intern Storyteller

Growing Authentic Voices: The Full-Circle Impact of a Student Intern Storyteller

Speakers: Jeanise Dimitri, Community Engagement & Public Relations Coordinator & Emma Danilowicz, Student Intern, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology

Discover how one simple idea - inviting a student into your communications world - sparked a full-circle transformation in confidence, belonging, and real-world storytelling skills. Jeanise and Emma share how their internship model not only elevated their district's social media but also opened doors to college and career success for their intern. You'll leave inspired and equipped with a practical framework to build your own student-driven storytelling program, even if you're a department of one.

SESSION 6 – Training the Next Generation of Storytellers Now

Training the Next Generation of Storytellers Now

Speaker: Dr. Jill Johnson, President, Class Intercom

When students create content, they do more than post - they give your school a voice. In this session, Dr. Jill shares practical strategies for training students as storytellers who represent your district with authenticity, creativity, and purpose. You’ll explore classroom-tested workflows, real examples from schools nationwide, and adaptable prompts that make it easy to start a student content team - even if you’re short on time or staff. Walk away with a playbook of student content ideas and a roadmap for integrating student storytelling into your communication strategy.

SESSION 7 – How to Use Instagram for Schools in 2026-2027

How to Use Instagram for Schools in 2026-2027

Speaker: Andrea Gribble, Founder & CEO, #SocialSchool4EDU

Get excited for a crash course on the latest Instagram practices for schools. You’ll learn about maximizing your Instagram profile with a special focus on Instagram Reels. You’ll see TONS of examples from schools that are using Instagram well. Plus, what are the newest Instagram features that you should pay attention to? Instagram veterans and newbies will all learn something in this session.

SESSION 8 – The Triple Threat: Using Authenticity, Algorithms, and AI to Boost Your Videos

The Triple Threat: Using Authenticity, Algorithms, and AI to Boost Your Videos

Speaker: Jake Sturgis, Founder & CEO, Captivate Media + Consulting

You’ve seen it happen: a shaky hallway video of a teacher dancing goes viral while your beautifully produced facility tour gets 27 views. What’s actually working in school video right now? Social media rewards unfiltered, in-the-moment content, but schools also need to project competence and trustworthiness. When does shaky phone footage serve your story, and when does it undermine it? This session helps you make those strategic decisions with confidence.

You’ll learn practical techniques for capturing better footage with just your phone, understand how to optimize content for algorithms without sacrificing authenticity, and discover how AI tools can handle the repetitive work so you can focus human creativity where it matters most. You’ll leave with actionable skills and strategic clarity to cut through the noise and move your community to action.