SEVA Teacher of the Week

Oak Hill Elementary School Media Teachers

This week’s SEVA Teacher of the Week features a dynamic group of teachers who who work together to make their SEVA program a success. Susan Erickson, Katie Edwards, Patrick Muldoon, and Marci Phillips work closely as a team to help Oak Hill’s media students create incredible videos. Between organizing their school’s newscast, “The Otter Outlook,” and inspiring their students to create imaginative and enlightening videos, each teacher has their own important and unique role that allows them to serve a large group of students and help each one succeed in media. Ms. Erickson is credited with starting the media program at the school, Mr. Muldoon is the technology expert of the group, Ms. Phillips takes the lead on the newscast, and Ms. Edwards is there to help in any way the students need. The collaboration and teamwork that happens at this school is unlike any other! The team spirit doesn’t end there, but is spread throughout the entire Center Joint Unified School District where students can take media skills they learn in elementary school and use them in middle school, high school, and beyond!

Melissa May of Inderkum High School

This week’s SEVA Teacher of the Week is Melissa May from Inderkum High School in the Natomas Unified School District. Mrs. May has sparked the love of journalism in her students in a very special way for over five years. Since transitioning from a long and successful career in journalism to the classroom, she has no doubt altered the course of her students’ lives. Mrs. May works to bring real-world applications into her curriculum through guest speakers and field trips, not to mention her own extensive experience. She goes above and beyond in her broadcast media CTE program to ensure that students transition to successful careers post-graduation. Mrs. May’s students truly light up when they talk about her, and after just one conversation with Mrs. May you can see why. She also spreads her knowledge and positive attitude in her participation in the SEVA teacher group. Always quick to share what she knows and help wherever she can, the entire SEVA community would not be the same without her. Thank you, Mrs. May for sharing your passion with your students, your school, and the entire community.

Dana La Chapelle of Toby Johnson Middle School

Great teachers can ignite a spark in their student that will alter the course of their life, and such is the case with this week’s SEVA Teacher of the Week. Dana La Chapelle of Toby Johnson Middle School in the Elk Grove Unified School District gives many students their first glimpse of broadcast media.  Students enter her classroom in awe of the technology they are able to use and quickly learn that they don’t just get to use the studio, but the studio is truly theirs. Students take on leadership roles in the class and become experts while sharing what they know with fellow students. In this way, Mrs. La Chapelle truly empowers her students to be content creators, not just consumers. Her students light up in a very special way when they talk about her, and are always quick to count her among their favorite teachers even after moving on from her program. She is truly a trailblazer in the world of media education and the SEVA program would not be the same without her. Thank you, Mrs. La Chapelle, for creating a program where students can find their voice and truly thrive.

Joann Darrow of Del Paso Manor Elementary School

Joann Darrow of Del Paso Manor Elementary School in the San Juan Unified School District is this week’s SEVA Teacher of the Week. Mrs. Darrow has a unique media program in that she incorporates video production right in to her normal 5th grade classroom. She has a special way of working with students that encourages them to share their authentic voices. She can find just the right push to give her students in order to get their best work, then truly celebrates their successes. Videos made by her students consistently take home top honors at the SEVA awards and students always give credit to their teacher for her support. As a past Allan Hinderstein Award Recipient, she has a commitment and passion for media education that is very special. She doesn’t rest on past successes, but continuously looks to improve her craft and learn about how incorporating media can help her students in all their educational pursuits. Thank you, Mrs. Darrow, for being a shining example of what incredible things can happen when you welcome media education in to your normal school day.

Josh Weeks of Bell Avenue Elementary School

Joshua Weeks from Bell Avenue School in the Robla School District is this week’s SEVA Teacher of the Week. Mr. Weeks is known for being the teacher who can help with anything in the technology realm, and students as well as fellow teachers look to him for guidance! Mr. Weeks takes the interest his students have in media and uses it as a jumping off point to become content creators instead of just consumers. He knows just how important giving his students the outlet to share their vision can be to their overall academic success. Students say his sense of humor helps them get through challenging projects, and their perseverance pays off when students watch their finished videos. Their creativity with media under Mr. Weeks has really flourished, and students from his program took home the SEVA Award in the Creative Expression 4-6 grade category at the 2020 SEVAs! Thank you, Mr. Weeks, for showing how you can use technology in education to allow students to share their creativity.

Nick Maltbie of James McKee Elementary School

This week’s SEVA Teacher of the Week is Nick Maltbie of James McKee Elementary School in the Elk Grove Unified School District. Mr. Maltbie is a computer teacher who was adventurous enough to take on the challenge of starting a media broadcasting group for the school. He jumped in with two feet and started learning all there is to know about elementary school media education. Mr. Malbie quickly became a staple of the SEVA teacher group, never missing a meeting or training. In this way he hit the ground running and his students were able to start working very quickly. His students credit him with helping them take on this new challenge and teaching them all that they know. McKee students quickly found their stride with great news segments like “Book Talk” that developed a following across the school. Mr. Maltbie has the great ability to see the uniqueness in each student and let them share that through media. It’s obvious that he truly cherishes the role he gets to play in the lives of his students. He continues to find ways to let them connect through media, even while at home. Thank you, Mr. Malbie, for showing what doors you can open for students by introducing them to media education.

Kaitlin Taylor of Sylvan Middle School

Kaitlin Taylor of Sylvan Middle School in the San Juan Unified School District is this week’s SEVA Teacher of the Week! Mrs. Taylor looks at media education from the lens of history, a subject she has taught for many years. She sees media as a way to help shape future leaders, and gives them responsibilities within Sylvan’s IYFN broadcast to help them reach that goal. It’s no surprise that plain, old-fashioned news is her favorite category. Her students say she has a special talent of getting them organized and motivated to do better and take on new challenges. Although she is new to media, her enthusiasm and love of teaching shine through and create a special spark that helps students achieve greatness.

On creating broadcasts from home, Mrs. Taylor and her students have continued to inspire each other with their positivity. Despite challenging circumstances, Mrs. Taylor has decided to focus on all the “Good News” happening in their school community, creating a class website that focuses on positivity and creating a sense of connectedness for all students. The website also allows students the opportunity to practice the written style of journalism even more and take pride in being leaders in the school. Thank you, Mrs. Taylor, for spreading positivity in your school, and beyond.

Trevor Harding of Sunrise Elementary School

This week’s SEVA Teacher of the Week is the 2020 Allan Hinderstein Award Recipient Trevor Harding of Sunrise Elementary School in the Elk Grove Unified School District. Mr. Harding is one of the most energetic teachers you will ever meet. He is always moving and has a magical ability to brighten up a room whether it’s filled with adults or students. Mr. Harding understands how important it is for his students to feel empowered and have independence in the classroom. He lets the students create what they are passionate about, and encourages them to make it the best it can be. A life-long student himself, Mr. Harding takes time to learn how to be a better media teacher. He takes what he learns and works to share it not just with his students, but with fellow SEVA teachers as well. In this way, he constantly comes up with new ways for students to share their ideas and have their voices be heard. He has the incredible talent of finding a way to make any situation fun. There is no doubt that the SEVA Teacher Community would not be the same without him.