The central assertion in Communicating & Connecting With Social Media is that schools cannot continue to overlook the potential benefits that social media spaces hold for reaching out to our communities, preparing our teachers, and connecting with our kids. In this short text, the authors specifically examine how enterprising K–8 schools are using social media tools to provide customized professional development for teachers. They also explore the marketing and communications value of developing a social-networking presence and examine the kinds of school and district practices necessary for supporting successful school-based social media efforts.

Chapter 1 explains several ways that administrators can use social media spaces to communicate with staff, students, parents, alumni, and other stakeholders. Chapter 2 focuses on how administrators can structure practical, meaningful, and engaging professional development sessions on social media. Chapter 3 explores the kinds of core behaviors that can help to ensure the responsible use of social media in schools. The epilogue focuses on the future of social media in education.

It is our hope that educators will use what they learn in Communicating & Connecting With Social Media to transform their communication practices.

Benefits for K–8 principals and administrators:

• Practical solutions for implementing social media tools into their communication and professional development plans
• Straightforward language describing each digital tool
• Helpful examples and reproducibles