2016–2021 | Media Arts Teacher, Middle School | Computer Science Teacher, Grades 1–5 | Las Vegas, Nevada

From 2016–2021, I taught Middle School Media Arts and Elementary Computer Science at Doral Academy. My role combined creative media production, digital literacy, computer science, and technology instruction across a wide range of student ages and ability levels. I developed age-appropriate instruction that moved students from basic technology use toward independent creation, problem-solving, and digital communication.

In 2018, I developed and launched the first school-wide student newscast within the Doral Academy network. Working with students in grades 6–8, I taught the complete broadcast production process—from identifying school stories and preparing scripts through recording, editing, and final publication.

Students learned that producing a newscast required more than appearing on camera. They were responsible for planning content, developing stories, preparing for production, working within assigned roles, recording segments, and completing the post-production process needed to create a finished broadcast for the school community.

The program continued into 2019, allowing students to build on foundational media skills while developing greater independence, teamwork, and responsibility within the production process.

2018 — Launching the Middle School Broadcast

This example represents the first year of our middle school broadcast program. Students were introduced to the full production process, including story development, script preparation, on-camera presentation, camera operation, recording, editing, and final delivery. My focus during this stage was establishing a repeatable workflow and helping students understand that a successful newscast depends on both creative and technical responsibilities working together.

2019 — Building Student Independence

By the second year, students were able to build on the broadcast fundamentals established in the original program. Production became increasingly student-driven as students developed greater confidence in their assigned roles, improved their on-camera delivery and technical skills, and learned to collaborate through the complete production cycle. This progression allowed me to shift from directing each step toward coaching students as they assumed greater responsibility for the finished broadcast.

Student Commercial Production

Media Arts students also applied their production skills by creating original commercials for school events. Students worked through the advertising process from concept and message development to recording, editing, and final presentation, while competing to create an effective finished product. The project introduced students to another practical application of media production: using video intentionally to inform, persuade, and promote.

Elementary Students Behind the News Desk

The broadcast program also created opportunities for elementary students to experience the production environment and participate behind the news desk. Bringing younger students into the studio allowed the middle school production team to share what they had learned while introducing elementary students to broadcasting, presentation, and digital media at an early age. It also helped make the newscast a school-wide program rather than simply a middle school class project.

I developed the instructional process, taught students each stage of production, supervised the broadcasts from pre-production through final edit, and established the workflow used to produce and distribute the finished newscasts.

What Students Learned

Story development and news selection
Scriptwriting and broadcast writing
On-camera presentation and delivery
Interview preparation
Camera operation and basic production techniques
Production roles and teamwork
Recording and organizing footage Video editing and post-production
Titles, graphics, music, and supporting media
Reviewing and finalizing a broadcast for publication
Meeting production deadlines
Producing media for a real school-wide audience

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