Together at a Distance: Lessons From Schools' Social Media Use During COVID-19

• In Event: Understandings of Family and Community Connections

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, parent-school partnerships gained new relevance. As schools shut down, educators and families looked for new ways to support each other. This mixed-method content analysis investigates how two central Texas bilingual elementary schools used social media, specifically Facebook and Twitter, to connect with their communities at different stages of the pandemic. Findings demonstrate that schools’ social media use evolved throughout the pandemic to support community needs. Community engagement with schools’ outreach on social media varied by the purpose, author, and language of posts. Insights for how to increase equity and collaboration on social media are discussed.

Author

• Holland Kowalkowski, The University of Texas