How to create an effective social media strategy for a school or district School leaders may be familiar with social media in their own lives, but many still need help in effectively using social media in their professional practice.

Preface vii Introduction 1 1 eNewsletters 9 2 Facebook 19 3 Twitter 39 4 School Website 51 5 Ning 67 6 YouTube 81 7 Online Surveys 95 8 E-Mail 107 9 Classroom Portals 123 10 Student Portfolios 135 11 School Leader’s Blog 145 12 Mobile Devices 165 13 LinkedIn 187 14 Google+ 203 15 Your Online Presence 213 16 Social Media in Practice 223 17 Internet Safety 239 Acknowledgments 249 About the Author 251 Index 253

In this timely new book, Dr. Brian J. Dixon, an expert in social media in education, offers detailed descriptions of the best online tools available for school leaders today and provides step-by-step instructions for using them to move a school community from awareness to advocacy and from feedback to collaboration. Social Media for School Leaders takes readers through an exploration of many of the best online tools available to school leaders. Using examples of best practices from school leaders across the country, Dixon gives leaders everything they need to implement social media throughout their community. Applicable for all educational settings (public and private schools, charter schools, and at the university level), these techniques will help to engage a target audience, communicate the mission and vision of a school, serve as a resource in student and teacher recruitment strategies, and inspire business and community involvement. Advanced praise for Social Media for School Leaders "A welcome guide to navigating the rocky social media shoals and enlisting?the?community stakeholders needed for success in your educational initiatives." —Bernie Trilling, advisor, 21st Century Learning; coauthor, 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times "This is an important book that helps school leaders take advantage of social media." —Erik Bose, president, New Mexico Association of Secondary School Principals "A savvy and practical guide to social media for school leaders. There is no excuse not to use this powerful set of tools in schools." —James Paul Gee, coauthor, Language and Learning in the Digital Age "Dixon's focus on equipping school leaders to use social media hits a hard-to-reach target in education. It's transformative when school leaders embrace new ways to lead in learning." —Bruce Umpstead, state director, Educational Technology, Michigan Department of Education