About Me
About James Brauer
I think of myself as a passionate educator and social media enthusiast. My current focus is toward helping educators harness the power of technology and social media to create their own blogs and websites, connect with others via social networking tools, and launch their own education-related businesses.
I believe educators are experts and should share their expertise with others, to help improve education
al outcomes.
Thanks to the power of technology and social media, one can amplify their expertise and sphere of influence to others around the world!
Professional Background
I’m currently a virtual school principal at Iowa Connections Academy, Iowa’s first public K-12 virtual school school. Other administrative experience included serving as an assistant principal at an alternative school for students with special needs. Prior to my career in school administration, I was a special education teacher for four years. I have also worked as a special education paraprofessional/instructional assistant, substitute teacher, and have coached a few middle school level sports. All in all, I have a rather comprehensive professional background for someone in their early 30s.
Academic Credentials
I’m currently pursuing a doctorate in Education Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In addition to being an Ed.D. Education Administration candidate, I also earned a:
- Ed.S. Education Administration.
Educationally, I’m a die-hard Kansas Jayhawk, having earned three degrees from KU:
- MS.Ed. Adaptive Special Education;
- MS.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction, and
- B.S.Ed. Social Studies Education.
Personal Background
I was born in Chicago and eventually moved to Schiller Park, IL (about a “stone’s throw” from O’Hare Airport) at the start of 1st grade. Though I’ve lived in Kansas and Missouri the past decade, my heart seemed to have stayed in Chicago.
I’m married to a family and consumer sciences teacher.
And, we’re the proud parents of a son who is a little over one year old, but seems to think he’s four or five.
How did I get interested in digital marketing?
I have great disdain for shady internet marketing websites. Basically, like you, I’ve perused the internet looking for information on various topics only to consistently find crap sites created by shameless internet marketers looking to make a quick buck. These same marketers don’t care to put genuine, fresh content on their websites that actually help their readers, instead, they want to make easy cash.
So, I decided to learn as much about the industry as possible and begin using these internet marketing “secrets” to create education-related websites, full of high-quality content, that dominate the search engines and go viral using social media.
I’m entrepreneurial-minded. I like my job, trust me. But, there is something powerful about being able to be your own boss, being innovative, creating your own products, and setting your own schedule. Sure, it takes a person with special characteristics to truly be a successful entrepreneur…not everybody will be successful quitting their day-job and working successfully on their own. And that’s ok. Many of the internet marketing skills you can learn enable you to maintain a successful full-time gig, while creating IM products and websites on your off-time.
It’s the best of both worlds!
I’m still a teacher, ya know?!!? Since entering the path of school administration, I often get asked, “so…do you miss teaching at all?” Heck yeah I do. I consider myself a life-long learner, but not so I can possess knowledge and information for my own good. Instead, I love sharing knowledge and teaching others how to successfully achieve their independent goals and desires.
This blog is intended to share the knowledge I’ve acquired along my journey in education, social media, and information marketing, while also giving first-hand glimpses of my current struggles and pursuits. As I develop new websites and projects, I hope to be as transparent as possible, giving you an inner look at my work. Ultimately, I’m hoping you will acquire new IM knowledge and skills so you can begin building your own high-ranking education blogs, websites, and social media links.
I strive for digital collaboration.
Sure, I think I’m a smart guy. But, I also know I’m so much smarter by aligning myself with others who are brilliant and geniuses. As such, I know my professional and personal goals can be better achieved by collaborating and working directly with talented educational professionals and experts.
Here’s to a new-found friendship!
James Brauer
