When Dr. Greg Axelson stepped into the role of CHS9 principal, he noticed students were not engaged with the spoken daily announcements blaring from an overhead speaker. Students did not pay attention to the announcements as they were often hard to hear and did not hold their attention spans, causing a disconnect with the rest of the school.
When Dr. Axelson was previously principal at Coppell Middle School North, the Media B class hosted daily broadcasted announcements to better engage students. Dr. Axelson decided to implement a similar practice at CHS9 with the help of Audio and Visual Technology teacher Chad Price.
“It’s just a lot better for the audience to have the video announcements because it’s more interesting, they’re going to pay more attention and they’re more likely to hear,” Dr. Axelson said. “The teachers have said it’s wonderful. They say that it’s been a lot more engaging and they like having it bundled all in one day a week.”
Price’s interest in broadcasting started at a young age through his mentors. He started in Lubbock where he was heavily involved in the media ministry at his church. To this day, Price sees his childhood mentor as a second dad. He hopes to inspire young people about broadcasting in the same way he was.
“When I had the opportunity to go into teaching and I found out that I could be teaching A/V Tech, I was like ‘that’s where I’m going,” Price said. “Now I get to see kids the same age grab onto stuff like cameras, sound and lights and enjoy doing it. I’m giving them what I know and letting them go take care of it.”
The new broadcasts have not only been helpful for students and teachers, but also for the A/V Tech students producing them each week in order to gain experience with cameras, microphones and editing software.
Weekly, Price allows his third and seventh period classes to choose a team of two reporters, four script writers, four graphic designers, two sound technicians and two cameramen to work on the show during class.
Through learning how to use this equipment as a team, the A/V Tech students gain skills for future classes in the media and communications pathway such as The Sidekick newspaper, KCBY-TV and Round-Up yearbook.
“I wanted to be in A/V Tech because my future goal going into Coppell High School is to be in KCBY and do the actual broadcasting,” freshman Claire Nevels said. “This class gives me an overview of all the things in that CTE area so I can apply those in future classes.”
This year, Price renovated the podcast room to become the broadcast room. He added video cameras and sound equipment. The show is mainly weekly news announcements for students, but he plans to expand the program with more features and technology behind the scenes.
“I want the video editing equipment and I want true television grade video cameras,” Price said. “I want basically the set up that KCBY has but only on a smaller scale. We’re in the process of working with CTE director Josh Howard and KCBY adviser Irma Lazos-Kennedy on getting some hand-me-down equipment and purchasing new equipment.”
Price hopes to grow the program by entering students’ short films into the KCBY Film Fest. He plans to teach students to write entertaining scripts.
“I don’t want them just to take a class based on the fact that it’s called A/V Tech,” Price said. “I want them to have hands-on experience. I feel like doing the broadcast, doing the things that they’re doing is giving them that experience.”
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