Pub. 9 2019-2020 Issue 2

19 the broader charter school community as well. We can do so virtually by following and commenting on other charter school’s accounts. Valerie at CPH had a great experience with this: “I am a huge advocate of schools supporting schools. We follow most charter schools and like/comment on their posts. We also do the same thing with district schools. We do get a lot of recruitment interest from the feeder Jr. High Charter Schools that we engage with and that is a bonus. I look at this engagement as part of just being a good team player in the education space. I learn a lot from what other schools are doing, and it helps me build better relationships with other school leaders. I have had some great opportunities to work with Quest Academy this year, and that all began because of how we engage with one another on social media.” Angela at DIA shares, “Our mission is unique to our school and we honor the missions of other schools.” By putting out information about your school and by following other schools, we can build the charter school community. Our theme at UAPCS this year is “Find Your Place.” We celebrate the individuality of each school. Parents are looking for the educational opportunity that will serve their children the best. If we have critical mass on social media platforms, parents will be able to understand what a Utah public charter school looks like and how it can be a great option for their students. We’re not the only ones. “I truly believe that social media can be a wonderful tool in helping parents and the community see the positive aspects of a charter school,” says Kara Finley. Sixty-two percent of registered voters in Utah have a positive opinion of charter schools. With a robust and inclusive social media presence, charter schools can improve that percentage. Crystal Boteju said it best, “We hope to come together for the greater good of every student.” Many thanks to Crystal Boteju (City Academy), SarahMaya (Noah Webster Academy), Valerie Jones (Career Path High), Kristen Barnes (Mountainville Academy), Angela Fanjul (Dual Immersion Academy), and Kara Finley (Academica West) for their insights.