edSocialMedia is the destination for people exploring the role of social media. Our events and digital platforms facilitate discussion about social media amongst contributors, practitioners and explorers.
edSocialMedia organizes professional development events and workshops to help organizations—such as schools, non-profits and associations—discover the power of social media. We strive to be the social media institute that teaches the practical application of social mediums such as Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, Flickr and more. In our bootcamps and workshops, we teach methods and best practices that have been successful in our own personal organizations. To put it fairly, we explore, innovate, fail and succeed so we can confidently tell you how the technologies work best. Come learn from our experiences.
In just three short years, edSocialMedia has trained more than 1,200 participants with our proven tutelage of hands-on social media bootcamps. We now coordinate workshops and seminars all around the country, from California schools to northern New England. edSocialMedia has presented and facilitated training at several regional and national conferences, and continues to be a resource of information for educators, non-profits advisors and entrepreneurs.
The History
edSocialMedia started in the winter of 2008 as the natural evolution of conversations about the direction of social media in schools from four independent school veterans—Ernest Koe and Steve Ritchie of The Proof Group, Peter Baron of AdmissionsQuest and Antonio Viva, now the Head of School at Walnut Hill School for the Arts (at the time, the Assistant Head of School at Worcester Academy). These four education practitioners have evolved into some of education’s best small businesses entrepreneurs, practicing and evolving their craft to help independent schools put their best voice forward. Today, they help schools across the country work through how to best approach social media for their institution.
Who we are:
Peter Baron is the founder and president of AdmissionsQuest (AQ), an online resource for families who are working through the independent school admission process. Peter attended Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, NH. He earned his BA from Skidmore College and MAT from Tufts University. Peter’s teaching experiences include Historic Neighborhoods, Pine Ridge School and Wolfeboro, The Summer Boarding School. Peter blogs at AQ’s Boarding School Blog and edSocialMedia.com, and hosts the regular podcast series, Boarding School Podcast.
Ernest Koe is the President and co-founder of The Proof Group and edSocialMedia.com. Ernest has more than 10 years of experience with database and web technologies. He started his professional career in the classroom at the Loomis Chaffee School as a history and foreign language (Chinese) teacher. Ernest blogs at ProofGroup.com and edSocialMedia.com
Steve Ritchie is the Chairman and co-founder of The Proof Group and edSocialMedia.com. Steve has spent more than 10 years working and consulting with schools on administrative technology. Prior to his role at The Proof Group, Stever was a teacher, coach and dorm parent at two New England independent schools. As a graduate of St. Paul’s School, he brings an independent school alumnus perspective to social media strategy. Steve blogs at ProofGroup.com and edSocialMedia.com
Madeline Senkosky Riley (madeline[at]edsocialmedia.com) is the Community Manager for edSocialMedia as well as The Proof Group. She facilitates and organizes edSocialMedia’s events and presence, including the social media channels. Prior to working for ESM, she worked as the Director of Publications at Stratton Mountain School, a ski and snowboard academy in southern Vermont. At SMS, she guided and managed the school’s communication outreach. Additionally, she designed and instructed a Digital Media curriculum that taught students new media skills, such as creation of a personalized online portfolio. Madeline graduated from the University of Missouri Journalism School.
William Stites is the Blogger in Chief of edSocialMedia.com where he keeps the content fresh and the contributors motivated. Outside of edSocialMedia, Bill is the Director of Technology for The Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) in Montclair, NJ. He has been at MKA since 1994 and has taught Third Grade in addition to working in the Technology Department. He became the Director of Technology in 1999. Bill has also served as an advisor for the New Jersey Educational Computer Cooperative since 2001 and has been a presenter at NAIS conferences throughout the years. He won the Leading Edge Award for Technology in 2004 for MKA’s online faculty development program. Bill blogs at edSocialMedia.com.
Want to advertise with edSocialMedia.com or sponsor our events? Email us here: info@edsocialmedia.com. For inquiries about this site or edSocialMedia Bootcamps, please send us an email or phone (617) 855-5106.
