Written by: Craig Steenstra, Remote Learning and Instructional Technology Director for Hudsonville Public Schools

In a world where seemingly endless sources compete for the attention of the masses, engaging with the families of a school district is no easy matter. Identifying ways to address the needs and interests of our community is challenging. Between academics, sports, fine arts, general building operations, and various programming, there’s a lot to cover. And how should it be delivered? Hudsonville Public Schools is no exception.

Last year Melissa Bernard, our Student Services Director, and I started talking about how we could share information about technology and well-being. We saw some negative effects of online behavior impacting our students (as well as our own children), and we were aware of the dangers out there. So what could we do?

In the past, we have hosted parent nights and we have a newsletter, but it did not seem like those were the right fit. Parent nights are a lot of work, and attendance has dwindled. Newsletters are still useful; however, people are busy and need something they can do on the go. This led us to a podcast.

Neither of us had any experience doing such a thing, but we narrowed down some topics, identified community members to interview, and set up interview times. We thought it would be beneficial to our school and community to invite local people as guests (some of them parents) so that people could relate to them more. It helped to have both a community perspective along with the broader insight they provided.

We recorded Zoom meetings and did little to no editing before posting them to a hosting site. We used SoundCloud first but later switched to Anchor. It was not difficult or very time-consuming. It was also free. The podcasts we produced are posted on the district website, and parents and community members can listen when it is convenient for them. To spread the word, we posted on our social media accounts and shared details with our PTA and other existing networks. You can listen to the ProTECHting Your Kids Podcast Series on our website.

Though we have not had a record-breaking number of listeners, the episodes remain relevant, and the numbers continue to grow. We intend to do another series with shorter recordings this year. We think it will provide our families with an accessible and interesting way to engage with us in the support of our students.

Want to Learn More?

Learn more about The HPS SOARce: ProTECHting Your Kids Podcast Series in a recent interview on Kent ISDs Podcast “For the Purpose of…” episode 9 ProTECHting Our Students with Craig Steenstra.

#FamilyEngagement #Innovation #Relationships #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd