Step 1: Within PowerTeacher Pro, click on "Apps" on the left-hand side of the screen and then "SchoolMessenger". This will open SchoolMessenger in a new tab within your web browser.

Step 1: Within PowerTeacher Pro, click on "Apps" on the left-hand side of the screen and then "SchoolMessenger". This will open SchoolMessenger in a new tab within your web bro

Step 2: Click on "New Broadcast"

Step 3: Give your broadcast a subject and message type. (In this case, I chose "Test" for my subject). Teachers will only have 1 message type: "Teacher Messaging".

Step 4: Click on "Add Message Recipients" to begin choosing who will receive this message. (You can also click on "Add Me" to add yourself as a recipient easily.

Step 5: Choose your recipients. This can be done in a few different ways.

a) Choosing via Class Section

The easiest way is to choose "Class Sections". You can then choose a school and section that you teach.

b) Choosing via "Custom Rules".

Another method for choosing your recipients is using "Custom Rules". 

Here, you can select various filters to create a list of recipients. You can filter based on name, gender, grade, language, or school.

NOTE: Filtering by School won't allow you to message the whole school (unless you are an administrator). It will just email every one of YOUR students at the school.

c) Choosing via "Quick Pick"

With "Quick Pick" you can "Search by Rules" (Similar to the above "Custom Rules", by Person (name, phone number, student number, or email), you can "Show All Contacts" to show all your students, or you can "Search by Sections". When utilizing "Search by Sections," you just select your school and section, and your students will be available to select.

Step 6: Choose the "Target" of the message. Your options are either "Contacts Only", "Associated Guardians", or "Both".

    Contacts Only = Message will go to any students and staff you have selected ONLY.

    Associated Guardians = Will go to parents/guardians who are associated with the student.

    Both = Will go to both Contacts AND Associated Guardians.

NOTE: It is recommended that you restrict messaging to only certain "Guardian Categories" such as Mother, Father, Legal Guardians, Resource Parents, etc.

Other "Guardian Categories" such as Aunt, Uncle, After School Care Provider, etc. may not want to receive messages.

Step 6: Click "Continue" to move on to creating a message.

Step 7: Choose a Message Format

You can choose from "Phone", "Email" or "SMS" (Text).

a) Choosing "Phone"

If you choose "Text-to-Speech", a "Robo-voice" will read out your message. After typing the message, you can click on the little "Speaker" at the bottom to listen to your message to see how it sounds. Also, click on "Translate" after typing out your "Text-to-Speech" message to have it auto-translated into Spanish.

b) Choosing "Email"

c) Choosing "SMS"

Step 8: Click on "Save" after each type (Phone, Email, SMS) to "Save" it as part of your message.

Click on "Delete" if you decide you don't want it.

Step 9: Click on "Continue" after you finish writing out/recording your message.

Step 10: Click on "Send Now" or "Schedule to Send Later"

Teachers can only send messages during the established messaging window, which is 6PM - 9PM PST.

You also have options to skipping duplicates, receiving an emailed report of the message upon completion, or to save the message content for future use (useful for repeated messaging).