SPPS Social Media Best Practices for Staff

  • Social media graphic

     

    SPPS recognizes that social media can be a powerful tool for enhancing learning and communication. Using social media also comes with potential pitfalls. With an understanding of district policy, guidelines and common sense, district employees will be better equipped to post, tweet and otherwise use social media vehicles appropriately.

    Definitions and General Statement of Policy

    Social media includes, but is not limited to, online media such as: websites, web logs (blogs) wikis, online forums, podcasts and social networks.

    District employees are advised to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and ethics when engaging with social media. They should not use inappropriate language or behavior when referring to the District, schools, students, colleagues or the SPPS community. And they must maintain appropriate boundaries when interacting on sites that represent students or other SPPS communities.

    Social Media for Schools and Departments

    • The Office of Communications has reserved Facebook pages for all schools that currently do not have one. 
    • Departments should not have their own Facebook page. Departments with districtwide events for families should email kate.ryan@spps.org, to have the events posted on the main SPPS facebook page.
    • The Superintendent, or Superintendent’s designee (principal and department directors), may authorize establishment and use of Twitter and Instagram accounts by schools or departments
      • Use district contact information (email, address, phone, etc.) for creating and maintaining SPPS accounts.
      • Account managers must share their username/passwords with The Office of Communications, email kate.ryan@spps.org.
      • Please follow the District’s apps/website vetting process for any other social media tools not currently authorized.
    • When employees engage in social media sites that represent students, families or groups within the District, they do so as employees of the district. Employees are advised to maintain appropriate boundaries at all times and must follow the requirements for mandated reporting.
    • An employee is responsible for any content communicated by them on social media.
    • Adhere to the user guidelines set by the social media site including account age requirements.

     

    Social Media in the Classroom

    • Social media accounts by teachers and/or classrooms should be managed and monitored at the school level.
    • The Superintendent, or Superintendent’s designee (school principal), may authorize establishment and use of public online social media accounts by teachers for educational uses for their classes. 
      • Use district contact information (email, address, phone, etc.) for creating and maintaining accounts. Make parents aware the account is used for educational purposes only.
      • Employees must share their username/passwords with their Principal. The Principal should manage this information and share the school based account usernames with The Office of Communications, email kate.ryan@spps.org.
    • An employee is responsible for any content communicated by them on social media.
    • Adhere to the user guidelines set by the social media site including account age requirements. 
    • When employees engage in social media sites that represent students, families or groups within the District, they do so as employees of the district. Employees are advised to maintain appropriate boundaries at all times and must follow the requirements for mandated reporting.

     

    Guidelines for Taking Photos and Videos of Students

    Photos have the largest impact for posts on social media. However; due to privacy concerns, the Office of Communications is recommending that teachers and staff do not take photos of students on their personal mobile devices, and instead use a district-issued iPad.

    • Staff must follow the SPPS Guidelines for Acceptable Use of Tech 520:
      • Employees who use personal electronic devices or district-owned electronic devices while at school or school sponsored activities shall respect the privacy of all individuals.
      • The use of an electronic device to take photographs or record audio or video during the school day is limited to instructional and operational use and to activities that are considered to be in the public arena such as sporting events or public performances.
      • Employees and other authorized users shall not email, post to the Internet or otherwise electronically transmit images, videos or audio recordings of other individuals taken at school without their written consent and a signed media release form from a student's parent/guardian.

    If you currently have photos of students on your personal mobile device, please download them onto a district-issued computer or iPad and delete them from your device. This also applies to staff who manage a school or site’s social media page.

    Pictures and Media Permission Forms

    • Be sure to keep student data private, whether it be names, locations or pictures. Check with your office before putting any photos of students to be sure there is a media release form for every student pictured.
    • A best practice for using students names on social media is to use their first name only in the description of the photo. 

     

    Etiquette and Reputation 

    Professional vs. Private

    • At the end of the day, it’s all public. Don’t think someone won’t put all the pieces together. Remember anything you put on social media is a reflection on the school district and your peers.
    • SPPS employees are in positions of public trust. Avoid making comments or post that erode that trust.
    • SPPS respects every employee’s free speech rights. However, we are obligated to act on public comments that are discriminatory, malicious, threatening and that result in a disruption of operations.
    • Maintain professional boundaries between your personal and professional sites and materials. Never misrepresent your position, status or influence within the district.
    • Do not post negative information about students, co-workers or school administrators. If you would not want those parties to read it, then don’t post it.
    • District-issued devices should only be used for instructional purposes and in support of district operation. Do not access inappropriate sites on your school-issued devices.

    Followers and “Likes”

    • Who you choose to follow will publicly and posts you “like” reflect the District and your reputation. Be mindful that as public employees you are setting examples for your students.

     

    SPPS Policies for Social Media

    SPPS does not have a policy specifically addressing social media, but we believe these policies and resources can help with issues that may arise on social media.