DALLAS — From pre to post production and everything in between, students at the Marvin E. Robinson School of Business and Management at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center are involved in all aspects of their school’s podcast.
“Sometimes, we’ll take on a production role – controlling the live stream software and editing it afterwards,” said Samantha R. “Other days, I’ll take on a hosting role, where we get in touch with our guests, research them, and generate questions based on their biography. I test and tweak those questions until they’re ready to be asked live. Often, I’ll be on our social media team, creating content to be shared across all platforms.”
Called “The Voice of Townview”, the podcast discusses a wide range of topics, including general and school news, careers, sports, and entertainment. Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde, Ed.D. was even a guest.
Samantha, a senior in the social media marketing pathway, said she wanted to be involved in “The Voice of Townview” after she noticed how much her fellow classmates were learning – and having fun while doing it.
“I’d always see students working as I passed the exclusive radio station upstairs, and they’d always seem like they were enjoying themselves,” she said. “Online, their content was also engaging and I thought it would be so cool to be a part of a team like that.”
Students in the social media marketing pathway start as sophomores. As they progress through the courses, they take lead on all aspects of “The Voice of Townview”, said Rochelle Shipman, marketing and IT teacher.
“Podcasts and social media are powerful platforms of the future. They help students develop essential communication skills, particularly in engaging with adults and professionals,” she said. “These platforms build confidence and make students fearless communicators, a critical skill that will serve them well in their future careers.”
There are about 25 students in the pathway, she said.
“Although they may not be fully immersed in podcasting or social media content creation in the beginning, they start building the foundational skills needed for success,” Shipman said. “Throughout the year, they record podcasts and social media content, but most of it is not posted immediately. As the year progresses, seniors step into leadership roles, becoming the face of the school’s social media presence.”
Senior, Aiden M., said he wanted to join the pathway because he had an interest in the field and wanted to learn more about it.
His main duties are on the social media aspect of the podcast, where he applies what he’s learned in the program to promoting “The Voice of Townview”.
“I am responsible for creating social media content that will be posted on multiple platforms,” Aiden said. “I am also responsible for creating interview questions as well as working on the production side of creating the podcast.”
Jirah J. has been in the social media marketing pathway at Townview for three years. She joined the podcast team last year as a junior, where she is the director of Townview’s radio station, KSBM.
“I oversee the production of podcast episodes, managing social media accounts, and coordinating with team members to ensure content is engaging and informative,” she said.
Jirah said she wanted to be involved in the podcast because it allows her to explore her creativity and interests.
“I am passionate about using digital media to reach a broad audience and engage with people in a meaningful way,” she said. “My favorite part about being involved in the social media marketing pathway is the ability to connect with a wide audience and creatively engage with them through various platforms.”
Sixto Z., a senior in the social media marketing pathway, agreed.
“The idea of running a podcast in school is really cool,” he said. “I’ve been a part of the program for three years and have been making podcast episodes for two years.”
Since his time with the podcast, Sixto has served a variety of roles, and he hopes to join a podcast club in college.
Until then, an upcoming project he’s excited for is the “Day in the Life” series, which features Townview teachers and administrators.
For Shipman, the most rewarding part of being involved in The Voice of Townview is watching her students grow as they progress through the pathway.
“I love seeing them evolve from quiet, reserved individuals into confident and articulate young men and women,” she said. “It’s rewarding to witness their transformation and for them to see their own progress.”
Many in the pathway go on to pursue college degrees and careers in related fields, she added.
Samantha plans to be one of them.
“I have found a love for communications and media because of how much I’ve
been exposed to it,” she said. “I think there is so much value in the work that we do here, and I can’t wait to keep on working hard on this in college. Because of the rigor and pace, I feel prepared to take on marketing coursework in college.”
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