The media market in Lee County School District is a student thing

SUBMITTED BY ANGELA CROSSLAND

Lee County School District

BISHOPVILLE - Media pervades every level of the educational system in Lee County School District but not like one might think. Student-led media teams from the elementary schools to the high school are gathering the news to share on the big screen, in printed newsletters and online. From YouTube and television tubes in each classroom, to newsletters and websites, LCSD students are attempting to tell their story everywhere that news can be found.

It began in the mind's eye of LCSD's Media Literacy Specialist Don Patterson five years ago, the onset of which looked quite different than what can be found in the schools now.

"We wanted to develop a program in the district, in all of the schools, where each is responsible for producing their own news and broadcasts," says Patterson. "There is a progression. We start with the third-grade students and work with them to fifth, and then they join the media literacy team at the middle school and the high school."

Coordinators at each school are leveraging the tech-savviness of the students to promote school events and programs; laud student and teacher achievement; and to broaden the scope of the students' knowledge about the media field, says Vanessa Bostic, who advises the media team at Dennis Elementary School Divine News.

"The concept came through Mr. Patterson and evolved last year into a media team. We use it to keep the community and district informed," Bostic says. 'We also use it to ensure they are exploring different types of careers."

Outlined in the S.C. Personal Pathways to Success through the S.C. Education and Economic Development Act is a beckoning for schools to connect business and education, with a goal of boosting economic development, Bostic says. The act proposes to introduce students to career readiness in grades K through 5; job exploration in middle school; and preparation for the job market in high school and beyond.

A student must have high academic achievement, excellent character and be recommended by a teacher to be selected to serve on the media team. Upon selection, they move forward in the process, Bostic says.

"We hold an interview day," she says. "They actually applied for the positions."

Once on the team, members at West Lee Elementary School are responsible for completing all assignments, maintaining at least a "C" average in all subjects and adhering to all school rules. Each of the schools have set a character clause which encourages students to conduct themselves with integrity, respect, teamwork, discipline and responsibility in order to serve.

A fifth-grader at DES, De'Marion Morgan's plan A is to study medicine with a plan B of becoming a professional football player. Morgan says he will operate the video camera at his school in the meantime. His reason for joining the team was far from having a passion for the field.

"I wanted to be a part of something special," Morgan says. "Growing up with my mom, she loved to take pictures, and I would mostly take them for her. I knew I'd probably be a good fit for the media team."

Arnicia Colbert advises the students of WLE and says the wide range of experience at the elementary level prepares them for working on the middle and high school teams.

"The students are exposed to all things media production, including a news show and a school newspaper," Colbert says.

Their positions include director, editor, floor manager, executive producer, camera operator, writer, talent and production assistant. Fully operational, these teams require minimal supervision from Patterson.

"Everybody has to buy into the process (and) the learning that's coming out of it," he says. "So each school has someone who is in charge."

Patterson now undergirds the vision of each school adviser budgetarily and in regard to the purchase of equipment and watches as his 5-year vision unfolds.

LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT MEDIA TEAM

DENNIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

(Vanessa Bostic, adviser)

Lakevia Austin, floor manager/editor

Shaunia Briddell, director of talent

Nasir Jackson, director

Taylor Lewis, executive producer

De'Marion Morgan, camera operator

Allan Rogers, camera operator

Ajani Wynter, production assistant

LOWER LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

(Veronica Bradley, adviser)

Naveah Dickey and Maurice Miles, talent

Breyonna Franklin, director

Nycer Henry, producer

Jahiem Skyers, floor manager

Lavonta Wilson, camera operator

Zaniya Witherspoon, writer

WEST LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Arnicia Colbert, adviser)

Justin Aguilar, editor

Destiny Boyd, producer

Zhaniya McDaniel, production assistant

Maria Quiahua, videographer/photographer

Nevaeh Toney, director

Aaliya Walker, floor manager

Destiny Boyd, Rosaria Brailsford, Ty'Rihanna Mack, Zhaniya McDaniel, Ahyana Simon, Nevaeh Toney, Aaliya Walker, talent

LEE CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL, (Yvonne Brown, adviser)

Emily Amado, Carmen Bates, Shaena Chisholm, Jasmine Hockaday, Jonadrian McDaniel, Hanna Nichols, Tanaisha Stuckey, Desire Williams and Iyana Williams, talent

Anastasia Bradley and Alexis Wilson, producer

Halley Cortez, photographer

Kaitlyn Graham, Taylor Mitchell, Victoria Purvis, floor manager

Tavon McFadden, camera operator

Zy'Kerria McQuillar and Jamyah Williams, director

Olivia Stinney, production assistant

LEE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, (Jacquetta Wilson, adviser)

Travon Cooper and Jah'Kualria Montgomery, camera operator

Vontashia Price, producer/talent

Tyra Sanders, production assistant

Jamiyah Williams, floor manager

Demetrius Wright, camera operator