​It seems as if at every meeting, workshop, or conference I attend lately there is one recurring message: tell your story. The message often continues by reminding us that if we don’t tell our story, someone else will, and it might not be the story we want told. One of the most effective methods we have to tell our story is through the use of social media. While this should not be the only way we connect with families and community members, it is certainly a way to reach many of them.
 
In the OCSU Board’s Strategic Plan, one of the key initiatives is for OCSU to develop a social media presence, and that is something I've been working on this year. The work began last year with the formation of a social media committee. That committee developed a first draft of a social media plan, and a subset of that original committee has finalized the plan and is now in the process of implementing it. The guidelines have been reviewed by our legal counsel and will soon be posted on the OCSU website. Both OCSU and Brownington School have Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, and we have begun to develop a following on both platforms.
 
What are some stories we’ve been sharing on social media? 

LR students learning to do the “Cha-Cha”. Their instructor was Teresa Osborne from Washington. Fun fact: one of Teresa’s instructors is an instructor for Dancing with the Stars.

Many, many students across OCSU reading the book, Wonder, in preparation for seeing the movie. #choosekind

Student voice and choice in Irasburg as students choose animals to research in order to learn about the food chain. And in Orleans where students choose an explorer to research and also choose a way to demonstrate their learning.

​LR students participating in a texting and driving simulation

Albany students working on scripts to teach others about composting

Barton students learning about community service by collecting over 800 food items to donate to the Orleans Food Bank

Brownington students earning a celebration as they make progress towards safe, respectful, and responsible behavior. 

​These are just a few of the stories we have to tell. How are you telling your story?
 
Follow OCSU on Facebook at Orleans Central SU, and on Twitter @ocsuvt.

​As I visit schools and talk with teachers, support staff, administrators, and students what continually strikes me is the level of dedication and commitment I see among our employees, volunteers, and Board members. Some of the things that have stood out to me this month include:

• Custodians working before and after hours to address maintenance issues so that schools can operate safely
• A secretary spending time with a student who needed a little extra support in order to be successful when he returned to the classroom
• A whole host of volunteers (including staff) organizing fall celebrations during evenings and weekends
• Teachers collaborating after-school to plan engaging and differentiated lessons for their students
• Para-educators patiently working to support students with difficult challenges
• Administrators juggling many challenging issues while remaining positive and leading with students in mind
• Board members attending the annual conference to receive professional development and to network with Board members from across the state

 
I have had many opportunities to network with other superintendents over the last few months, and I am constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to be part of the OCSU community.  It is often difficult to find time to be reflective, but as October ends and we enter the season of thanksgiving, I am truly thankful for all of you and your dedication and commitment which makes OCSU such a special place.