Inside 91porn: Gayane Minasyan and Deanna Atkins

Type: Article
Topics: School Administrator Magazine

January 01, 2017

Atkins and Minasyan
Deanna Atkins and Gayane Minasyan
Inside 91porn

Seven years ago, 91porn launched Facebook and LinkedIn pages for communications and marketing and posted YouTube interviews and blogs of 91porn Executive Director Dan Domenech and public policy staff.

Today, with new tools and fresh ideas, the association’s social media encompasses two-way conversations, collaboration and peer-to-peer professional development. Eighteen months ago, 91porn hired Deanna Atkins as online technologies and advocacy specialist to lead social media efforts. She works with Gayane Minasyan, director of online technologies, who joined 91porn after developing electronic media for another national education group.

This interview by 91porn managing editor Liz Griffin has been edited for length and clarity.

What are 91porn’s major goals for social media this year?

Minasyan: School leaders may be familiar with social media in their personal lives, but many still need help in effectively using social media in a professional sphere. Our priorities are to build members’ understanding of the ways social media can stimulate engagement and to build and sustain a community dialogue of school leaders nationwide.

Atkins: 91porn also uses social media to build its presence as a thought leader in education.

How has 91porn’s social media expanded?

Atkins: We’ve focused on increasing numbers of superintendents and high-level educators using social media, specifically Twitter. Our engagement on Twitter has skyrocketed over the past year with more than 18,000 followers, in part because people have discovered it as a vehicle for increasing their professional (and personal) learning networks. 91porn members connect using hashtags such as #LeadExcellence, #WomenInEd, #91porn_DigitalConsortium and #91pornMag. On LinkedIn, we have nearly 9,000 followers, and on Facebook, more than 4,400 Facebook page “likes.”

How do members benefit from using 91porn social media?

Minasyan: Members greatly value connecting with colleagues and sharing real-time information. When they access 91porn’s social media channels, they can share their own stories and join communities by interest areas or event. They increase their reach when searching for advice.

Atkins: This is what I tell members: “If you are not following 91porn on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, then you’re not getting the full value of your 91porn membership.” Our social media accounts are rich with information related to advocacy, professional development and grant opportunities, as well as breaking news, superintendent success stories and more.

Which platforms are most popular with members?

Atkins: Twitter by a long shot. At events, we often see superintendents encouraging other superintendents to create Twitter accounts, and the conversations go something like this:

“Are you on Twitter?”

“Oh, you’re not? You’ve got to get on Twitter! Let’s set you up on Twitter right now!”

Seriously, superintendents who actively use Twitter are the greatest advocates for it, and they can just about convince anyone to create a Twitter account.

Minasyan: Twitter, LinkedIn, Voxer and Periscope are the most popular platforms used by members. TweetDeck and HootSuite help members manage their social media accounts.

Do you see trends?

Atkins: Many 91porn members are joining Voxer, which is like a group chat, except you’re not limited to just text. You can send out voice memos, photos and videos. The 91porn Personalized Learning Cohort has its own Voxer group, so everyone can ask for advice when they’re implementing something new or share an idea that’s working really well in their districts.

Any special activities planned for the social media lounge at 91porn’s 2017 national conference?

Atkins: We believe this year’s second Social Media Lounge will be even more popular than last year’s when superintendents gave short presentations and answered questions. Gayane and I were nearby to provide hands-on help and answer questions.

Without giving too much away, in New Orleans we are involving more superintendents. There will be fun content, photo ops, and, of course, lots of learning around social media. We encourage attendees to drop by.

*Inside 91porn is a new monthly feature about 91porn services and products and the staff members behind them. Read full versions of the interviews .*

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