The Content Generation

A storyteller by nature, Erin McCann is fascinated with telling the stories of Public Education.  A product of Texas Public Schools, Erin joined the School PR world in 2015 and currently works for Allen ISD in Allen, Texas as the Director of Digital Marketing and Media.  During this episode, we spoke with Erin about her career journey and the current challenges among school PR professionals. You can connect with Erin on Twitter and be sure to check out her podcast, School PR Happy Hour.

During this episode, Ben and Amber discuss some of the Do's and Don'ts of Digital Leadership in the new normal.  For more information, please visit Class Intercom for additional discussion questions. 

During this episode, Amber and Ben discuss why self care is important and how it leads to better creativity and content during the new normal of COVID-19.   

During this episode, Ben and Amber discuss what best practices look like when it comes to digital citizenship and lessons learned during COVID-19. 

During this episode, Amber and Ben discuss the challenges that schools are facing in light of COVID-19 and how being social at a distance is not just a recommendation but a rallying cry.  

Last week our team traveled to Austin and Chicago to attend the TSPRA conference and IDEACON conference. During this episode, we share what we learned while attending these amazing conferences.  One of the largest School PR conferences, the Texas School PR Association conference provided room for great conversations about social media. School districts from across Texas engaged in round tables, sessions and some inspiring keynotes sessions. A highlight was listening to our friends at the School PR Happy Hour Podcast who provided a session about how they are both demonstrating excellent student-led social media, but also were recognized for the "Bright Idea" award for supporting school PR professionals. At IDEA Con, the marquis conference for the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance, we enjoyed great conversations with technology professionals and their role to secure, manage and administrate technology in their districts. We enjoyed conversations with technology professionals seeking to check boxes for solutions like archiving and administrators who are seeking to share the load of creating social media content.

PJ Caposey is a dynamic speaker and a transformational leader and educator. PJ began his career as an award-winning teacher in the inner-city of Chicago and has subsequently led significant change in every administrative post he has held. PJ became a principal at the tender age of 28 and within three years was able to lead a small-town/rural school historically achieving near the bottom of its county to multiple national recognitions. After four years, PJ moved to his current district, Meridian CUSD 223, as superintendent and has led a similar turnaround leading to multiple national recognitions for multiple different efforts. PJ has written 7 books for various publishers and his work has been published online for sites such as ASCD, Edutopia, and the Huffington Post. He works in the Education Department of two universities and in a myriad of capacities with the Illinois Principal's Association including Principal Coach and author of the first complete stack of MicroCredentials offered in Illinois. During this interview, we discussed how PJ's career journey led to building a personal brand, how he would have handled things differently and why he continues to create content as a practitioner. Be sure to follow him on Twitter.

Jen Randall is a 17-year veteran of the high school classroom. She started as a choral and show choir director and now travels the country hosting clinics, consulting and judging competitive show choir. In recent years, she has gone back to her journalistic roots, and now teaches Digital Media and produces KDGN (broadcast channel) for Carroll ISD in Southlake, TX.  Using her background in stage performance and knowledge of social media, Randall and her co-teacher Natalie Brown, are working to create a digital and print media department that prepares their students to be a part of the future of news production on all platforms. During this interview, we spoke with Jennifer about social media, content creation and how she's inspiring the next generation of content creators. You can follow her student's work on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat: @slcdragonmedia  

During this episode, Taylor and Amber breakdown highlights from 2019 and discuss what you can expect from Class Intercom in 2020. Resources Mentioned: Webinar: Five 2020 Trends for Social Media in Education: What Educators are Saying 12 Days of Content Be sure to follow us on Twitter & Instagram @ClassIntercom.

Sydney Jensen, a Georgia native, is a ninth-grade English teacher at Lincoln High School in the epicenter of America's heartland: Lincoln, Nebraska. Lincoln is one of the nation's top cities for refugee resettlement, and students at Lincoln High speak more than 30 languages. Jensen also serves as an instructional coach working with new and veteran teachers to provide instructional support and mentorship. In recognition of her work in the classroom and the school community, Jensen is the 2019 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. She is a passionate advocate for increased mental and emotional wellness supports for both students and the teachers who serve them. She recorded an official TED talkon the impact of secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue on teachers who work with students experiencing trauma. Her talk received over 700,000 views in less than a week. Jensen earned her BsED in English Education from the University of Georgia in 2013, and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Doane University in 2020.  During this interview, we spoke with Sydney about her recent TED talk, student content creation and digital citizenship. If you want to connect with Sydney, you can follow her on Twitter, Instagramor visit her website. You can also view her TED talk here.  

Christopher Aumueller is the CEO and founder of Fanword, a storytelling company for sports teams.  During this interview, we spoke with Chris about his career journey and what led him to creating a company focused on storytelling. As a former Division 1 tennis player, Chris has a unique perspective regarding student athletes and social media use.  Be sure to follow Fanword on Instagram,Twitter, andFacebook.

During this episode, Taylor and Amber discuss why student generated social media is important for schools to consider. Resources Mentioned: Social Media Trends In Education Report Simple Design For Your School's Social Media Webinar  Be sure to follow us on Twitter & Instagram @ClassIntercom.

Whether it involved short films or sports talk radio, Justin Dearing has been telling stories as far back as he can remember. Justin is a former high school Film and Radio Production teacher turned School PR professional. Currently, Justin is the Assistant Director of Communications for Carroll ISD in Southlake, Texas and co-hosting the podcast "School PR Happy Hour”, a podcast geared towards professionals in school communications. When he is not telling the story of Carroll ISD or working on his latest podcast episode, Justin can be found either at his daughter Kinleigh's soccer games, watching Parks and Rec with his wife Caty, or researching player stats for the most over the top fantasy baseball league he has been entrenched in for the past decade. During this interview, we spoke about what led Justin to working in school PR and how he carves out time for content generation. We also spoke about what digital citizenship means to him as a school PR professional. To learn more about Justin, you can follow him on Twitter and check out his podcast, School PR Happy Hour.

During this episode, Taylor and Amber discuss highlights from the previous podcast episode, Taylor shares his takeaways from the Digital 4 Good Conference, and you'll hear about some exciting things happening at Class Intercom this fall!

Mitch Fisher is a student, content creator and social media enthusiast. Mitch is currently a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in advertising and public relations with a minor in theater. In fact, Mitch was first introduced to Class Intercom when he was in high school. During this interview, Mitch and I discussed: 1. How spreading positive messages has been the key to his success on social media.  2. How to deal with negative feedback online.  3. How to find and recruit students for your school's social media team.  You can connect with Mitch on Instagram, Twitter and listen to his music here. Be sure to check out his podcast, The Creatives Podcast.  Be sure to follow us on Twitter & Instagram @ClassIntercom.    

During this episode, Taylor and Amber discuss how to implement a social media content calendar at your school.  Resources from this episode include: I Can Help Digital For Good Conference How To Create A Social Media Content Calendar For Your School Class Intercom Webinar Directory  Be sure to follow us on Twitter & Instagram @ClassIntercom. 

During this episode, we sat down with Heather Callihan, Stephanie Dannehl, and Amanda Dykes to hear what they have been learning at #ISTE19. We also got to hear more about what they are creating and how they are inspiring the next generation of content creators. Special thanks to these educators for taking time out of their busy schedules at ISTE to chat with us!  

During this episode, Taylor and Amber discuss what's new at Class Intercom and how educators are becoming social media influencers.  Takeaways from this episode include: 1. Teachers have always been influencers with or without social media. Social media has made it easier for teachers to connect with each other, their students and parents.  2. Teachers can leverage their personal brand to elevate their school's brand. Teachers who are building personal brands can use their influence to highlight the school in a positive way.  3. If teachers are encouraging their students to be good digital citizens, teachers should model this by creating meaningful content and contributing to the conversation in a positive way. This can help build more trust with students and it gives students a positive role model.

As a content and marketing specialist for Social Assurance, Alexander Lahargoue focuses on creating strategic content to help clients grow and sell online. In his free time, he writes suspense novels, cooks and is currently learning new languages. During this interview, we spoke with Alexander about how he creates meaningful content as a financial marketer and author. You can find Alexander's book here or connect with him on Linkedin.

Micah Yost is the Founder and President of Method Mark, a marketing agency based in Omaha, NE. . During this episode, Micah and I discussed what led him to starting Method Mark and what advice he has for teachers influencing the next generation of content creators. You can connect with Micah on Twitter. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.  

Jill Johnson is in her third year as the Vice Principal at Seward High School.  She holds a bachelor's degree in language arts education (UNK ‘91), master's degrees in instructional technology (PSU ‘00) and educational administration (CUNE ‘17), and she is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership through the University of Nebraska. She spent 17 years in the classroom and three years as a Professional Development Consultant at Educational Service Unit 6 before moving into her current role. She is married to Brady, and they have four children. During this conversation, we spoke with Jill about building a social media team at her schooland why it's important for everybody to build a digital footprint. You can connect with Jill on Twitter and be sure to follow Seward Public Schools here: Facebook: Seward Public Schools Twitter: @SewardBlueJays Instagram: @shsbluejays Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.  

Matt Will is a Software Architect and Dev Lead at Don't Panic Labslocated in Lincoln, Nebraska. During this conversation, we spoke with Matt about his career journey and how digital citizenship applies to software development and content creation.  You can connect with Matt on Twitter or Linkedinand connect with Don't Panic Labs on Twitterand Facebook.  Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Michelle Welch is a Registered Dietitian and the District Wellness Facilitator at Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska. During this episode, we spoke with Michelle about how she creates content for multiple audiences and how she applies digital citizenship when sharing health and wellness information on behalf of her school district. You can connect with Michelle on linkedinand Twitter. You can learn more about LPS Wellnessand follow them on Twitter. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Erik Miller is a Nebraska-born kid who grew up being told he was unique and ‘artsy.' He followed every unique and artsy 18-year-old's dream and went to college to study business. After college, Erik got married and joined the circus. Actually, he and his wife went into full-time college ministry (Although, his parents weren't sure how that was different than the circus). During that time, he learned a lot, grew a lot and designed a lot. After having a bunch of kids, Erik finally settled down and got a "real job" as a creative director. He now operates his own company called StoryHook- a non-traditional marketing and advertising studio in Lincoln, Nebraska. During this interview, we spoke with Erik about his non-traditional career path and what it takes to craft a good story. You can connect with Storyhook on Facebook and Instagram.  Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.  

The new year often brings new content ideas. During this episode, the team at Class Intercom reflects back on 2018 and discusses what you can expect in 2019 when it comes to content strategy and marketing ideas.  Want to learn more about Class Intercom? Click HERE. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Aaron Babcockhas called Nebraska home for nearly 25 years after attending the University of Nebraska-Kearney where he graduated with a degree in journalism and mass communication. Aaron has enjoyed a 20-plus year career in athletics, where he has worked at UNK, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and as Director of Public Relations for the Kansas City Royals. He also served as a consultant for the New York Yankees for seven years. Today Aaron is a senior account executive at Husker IMG Sports Marketing. During this interview, we spoke with Aaron about his love for photography and how teachers can help inspire students to create better images. You can follow Aaron on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin.

Michelle DeRusha is an author, free-lance writer and content creator. She blogs at MichelleDeRusha.com and is the author of four books. During this episode, we spoke with Michelle about the writing process and how she stays organized.  You can connect with Michelle on her blog, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Danielle Chaney is Nebraska-based copywriter and strategist who has helped a variety of small and large companies increase awareness of their brand/product(s), grow target audience(s), and generate sales using traditional and digital channels. She is currently the Content & Client Strategy Manager at Social Assurance, a financial software and marketing company located in Lincoln, Nebraska. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and traveling.   You can find her onTwitterand LinkedIn.   Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

During this episode, I spoke with Taylor Siebert and Ben Pankonin, the founders of Class Intercom about #DigCitWeek and what this week means for Class Intercom. We also highlighted how our heroes in education are celebrating #DigCitWeek and what you can look forward to this fall from Class Intercom.  Resources mentioned:  Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship Week  Josh Allen's episode Heather Callihan's episode #GINWVikings Digital Citizenship Week 2018 Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Heather Callihan has worked in the field of education for over 21 years and today is the Technology Integration Specialist for Northwest Public Schoolsin Grand Island, Nebraska. In addition to serving as the NETABoard president, she is also a Common Sense Certified Educator and Ambassador. Heather believes learning needs to be visible and students need to master skills involving collaboration, creation, communication and critical thinking. Heather has a passion for sharing the importance of contributing to digital communities and the impact of digital leadership with students and adults. During this episode, we spoke with Heather about having a creator vs. consumer mindset and how "digital safety" has evolved into "digital citizenship." Heather shared about how she uses Class Intercom to encourage content creation while safely moderating student generated content. You can connect with Heather on Twitter. Check out what Northwest Public Schools is doing on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Gretchen Garrison is a teacher, blogger and author. Starting her blog, Odyssey Through Nebraska, came about when she realized that not all area families were exploring the Nebraska places that she and her kids tended to frequent. Detour Nebraska is Gretchen's book which inspired by her blog and was published last year. During this conversation, I spoke with Gretchen about her blog, her book deal and what advice she has for creating meaningful content. You can connect with Gretchen on Facebookand Twitter. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Josh Allen is the Technology Integration Specialist for Lewis Central Community Schoolsin Council Bluffs, IA. In addition, he manages the LewisCentralCSD social media profiles for the district. He is a former president of the Nebraska Educational Technology Association (NETA) and co-host of the Dads in Ed podcast. During this episode, I spoke with Josh about his role at Lewis Central Community Schools and how interns at his school are creating meaningful content. You can find Lewis Central Community Schools on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram. Be sure to follow Josh on Twitterand subscribe to his podcast. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Kelly Mosier is the current Head of Programming for in the media division at Hudl, a sports software company that build's coaching and evaluation tools to help teams win. In that role he helps guide the original content and builds the strategy for Hudl to engage with their users and a large community audience on social media as well as inside of the Hudl platform. Prior to Hudl, Mosier was the Assistant Athletic Director for Creative and Emerging Media at the University of Nebraska Athletic Department where he oversaw the development of a staff of creatives to help guide Nebraska's efforts in fan engagement and recruiting across Nebraska's 23 varsity sports. The Creative and Emerging Media Department oversaw video and graphic design elements with a digital first emphasis for engaging the 13-34 demographic. Mosier also served as the Production Coordinator at HuskerVision where he served as a senior producer for Nebraska's football, men's basketball, volleyball and baseball game day and TV show productions. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Mosier also received his Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications where he researched the early days of Twitter as a sports community that fans used to engage with their favorite teams. During this episode, I spoke with Kelly about his career journey, digital citizenship and what advice he has for students about creating meaningful content. You can find Hudl on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter. And you can connect with Kelly on Twitterand Instagram. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Michaella Kumke has a passion for nonprofit communications and human services. In early 2015, she joined the amazing team at the Food Bank of Lincolnwhere she works as the communications director. Through a variety of marketing channels, Ms. Kumke brings attention to food insecurity in Southeast Nebraska. Since graduating from UNL in 2003, Ms. Kumke has worked in the nonprofit sector as a communications and marketing professional. She has previous work experience with some of Lincoln's best-known and beloved nonprofit organizations, including: NET (Nebraska's public radio and television networks), Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, and Lincoln Children's Museum. During this episode, Michaella and I discussed her career journey and how listening helps all of us to create better content. You can connect with the Food Bank of Lincoln on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram. You can connect with Michaella on Twitterand Instagram.

Garrett Hope is a composer, podcaster and teacher. Garrett was born into a family that valued and practiced music daily. His mother was a primary school music teacher and children's choir director. As a result Garrett has been performing on stages of various sizes and in front many different audiences since he was toddler. Garrett studied piano, clarinet, guitar, and bass as he was growing up. Though he tinkered with sequencing and song writing it wasn't until he began studying composition at university that he found his musical passions—composition and teaching. Uncovering these passions led to the completion of graduate degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Garrett has taught composition, music theory, music technology, and ear training as adjunct faculty at several institutions, but after completing his DMA Garrett taught as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Pennsylvania. Returning to Lincoln after teaching in PA has allowed Garrett to focus on composing new music for film, dance, choir, and band; coach and mentor composers building careers in composition; teach as adjunct at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln; and to teach guitar, bass, composition, theory, and piano at Harris Academy of the Arts. He loves working with dancers, artists, scientists, film makers, and music teachers. During this episode, I spoke with Garrett about composing, content creation and how he applies digital citizenship to music.  You can connect with Garrett on Facebook or Twitter. 

Tiffany Verzal is co-founder of V2 Content based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Tiffany is primarily a producer and editor, but is passionate about telling stories. During this episode, we spoke about Tiffany's career journey and the type of content she and her husband produce including a show for Fox Sports.  You can connect with Tiffany on Twitter or Instagram. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitterand Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

During this episode, I spoke with local meteorologist and social media expert, Rusty Dawkins. Rusty is currently the Social Media Manager at the Arbor Day Foundation. We spoke about the early days of social media and how he works with a team to create meaningful content for the Arbor Day Foundation. You can follow Rusty on Twitterand Facebook. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Twitterand Instagram. Subscribe to the Content Generation podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Class Intercom's cofounders share their stories of helping students to become content creators for their school. Taylor Siebert and Ben Pankonin knew they wanted to make an impact by helping educators to get students involved, while improving school communication. Be sure to follow Class Intercom on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.   

Welcome to the Content Generation Podcast. A Podcast focused on inviting, influencing and inspiring a generation of content creators.