Dive Brief:
- In a District Administration article, educator and author Michael Niehoff shares reasons why an increasing number of school superintendents are using blogging as a tool to communicate with stakeholders.
- Blogging provides a forum in which superintendents can transparently share their school district's story and articulate their vision of the future in a thoughtful, articulate way that can model reflective practices and lifelong learning for students and staff members alike.
- Blogging also allows superintendents to build support in their own communities and connect with other school leaders as a way to expand their own professional development network.
Dive Insight:
With the growing demand for transparency in school districts, the ability of superintendents to communicate the challenges districts face and their own vision for the future is more important than ever. Blogging is a relatively easy, cost-effective way for superintendents to use the advantages of social media to build support and understanding in the community, to demonstrate the heart of a leader, and to network with peers looking for solutions to the same challenges.
While some superintendents tend to communicate with the public only in times of trouble or crisis, consistent blogging efforts demonstrate the desire of the superintendent to share thoughts and information with the public as an act of quality leadership, not as a desperate measure. Consistent blogging provides the public and school employees with a sense of reflective practice, of growth and development of ideas, and of the superintendent's responsiveness to the changing needs of the community.
Some superintendents are also using Twitter accounts in ways that keep the public informed and connect back to their blog and other aspects of the school district’s website. While social media sometimes has a negative impact on school districts when rumors fly at the speed of the Internet, superintendents can borrow a lesson in leadership from the business community and use the power of blogging to help control the narrative and work toward better solutions