Producing a Program that Works!
Developing and administering an effective curriculum is a challenge, even for the most seasoned instructor. The changes in technology, available resources, and accessible funding are a dizzying combination of concerns that must be dealt with by high school teachers and administrators while continuing to provide students with an engaging learning experience. Phil Harris and Janet Kerby have been there!
Phillip L. Harris
Phillip L. Harris taught Television Production for 34 years in Fairfax County, Virginia. Now retired, he serves as a consultant and conference speaker, helps design curricula, and assists in the development of production facilities in Virginia and other states. The students from his classes produce Focal Point, a 30-minute weekly magazine for Cox cable. Phil’s class also operated a television production company as a school-based enterprise, drawing clients from surrounding schools, the local community, corporations, and federal government organizations—earning approx. $50K yearly to purchase new equipment. Students working for the production company received a salary and obtained resume-worthy internships. The motto and philosophy of Phil’s program: “Doing the real thing, With the real thing, Training to be the real thing.” In February, 2006, his high school textbook Television Production was published by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. That same year, his program received an “Exemplary” rating by the National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education. Phil is passionate about sharing his successful curriculum design with fellow TV broadcasting instructors.
Janet Kerby
Janet Kerby is a National Board Certified Teacher in Career and Technical Education specializing in broadcast journalism. Janet’s extensive teaching experience at Roane County High School in West Virginia is the basis for her current work in teacher training. Her students have provided programming, both live and taped, for a community access cable channel that originates 24/7 from the classroom. Janet’s students have won various regional and national awards, including the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the United Nations Foundation’s “Think Globally, Report Locally” competition, and several from the Student Television Network. WSAZ News Channel 3, an NBC affiliate, invited Janet and her students to submit the first student-produced segment to be a regular feature on their web channel. In conjunction with the Radio and Television Digital News Foundation, Janet was a contributing writer for the RTNDF Teacher-to-Teacher Resource Program. She is currently developing online courses as part of Kent State University’s Master of Arts Degree–Journalism Educator Specialization. She will also instruct these online courses, beginning with the Spring 2009 term.
Janet and Phil have worked together for over 10 years and have 54 years of combined experience in teaching television production and broadcast journalism. Their teaching backgrounds range from a large, well-equipped suburban high school academy to a smaller, rural low-budget county high school.
Phil and Janet offer individual presentations but often present as a team allowing the audience to benefit from their combined experiences and knowledge. On many occasions they have served as contest judges as well. Phil and Janet have presented multiple workshops and sessions for the following organizations...
