Social Media

Nurturing Well-Being in Times of Isolation
By AMANDA J. WHITLOCK/School Administrator, August 2020

I WILL ADMIT THIS: My perspective on the value of social media has changed rather dramatically in recent years. I did not see much benefit at first.

During my time as an assistant principal, I seemed to be dealing every day with disagreements or slights involving students or be-tween students and parents around some aspect of social media. Students would view a passive-aggressive post and immediately feel the comment was directed toward them. Teens would see peers posting plans for a gathering and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) would set in, causing feelings of isolation, fear and sadness. I could not see any good relating to the use of Twitter, Facebook or other platforms.

After becoming a principal and now a superintendent, I have come to see enormous advantages for social media tools in a school system. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google Suite have been tremendous for sharing useful resources and circulating school information.

But the goal for use of social media in our school district extends importantly beyond communicating information.

Sharing Positivity

Last year, our high school principal launched a group for girls called Fierce Females with the aim to build up classmates and learn from accomplished females in our geographic area. I have seen positive posts originating from the leaders of this group and seen girls re-tweet and comment on the bold and affirmative content.

During this extended period of quarantines and self-isolation, I have observed a significant shift in what our administrators and teachers have been sharing — lots of positive affirmations, postings about self-care and ideas for enjoyment during times of remote schooling.

This is a welcome shift, bringing positivity and social connectedness to teens who may feel isolated from peers and mentors in the current environment. Social media can be a vehicle for encouragement to teens struggling with self-identity and decreased morale.

Now more than ever, the opportunity to communicate at a moment’s notice to hundreds or thousands of families is momentous. Their school days, sports, social activities and daily routines have been halted for months. What hasn’t stopped are teens diving deeply into their social media accounts. They remain engaged with friends, they are posting fun and interesting TikTok videos, and they maintain their streaks on Snapchat. This positive use of social media just might be the best thing to help teens stay connected to each other.

Creative Avenues

In Clinton Prairie, Ind., administrators, counselors and teachers have gotten creative through social media to keep students engaged and connected with school. They are using social media to evaluate the needs and mental health of staff and students, to assess needs for food distribution and to spread some fun and humor across our district and beyond.

Here are some examples of how our staff members have used social media for such purposes since the closing of school buildings in mid-March:

»Posting challenges such as STEM activities to students and viewing their results through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook;
»Reading chapter books or picture books, then posting the events to YouTube for families to view;
»Conducting Zoom-based scavenger hunts;
»Examining the emotional needs of our staff and students through a Google survey;
»Using TikTok for humorous videos involving our school mascot, the Gophers (Our high school principal is the queen of this platform);
»Hosting a virtual spirit week; and
»Celebrating teachers and staff.

Inexpensive Options
As a rural school district with a limited budget for advertising and promotion, social media allows us to brag about our school, students and teachers.

Each year, we find better and better ways to use social media, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for those getting their feet wet with social media.
 
AMANDA WHITLOCK is superintendent of the Clinton Prairie School Corporation in Clinton Prairie, Ind. Twitter: @cpsupt