About
NBC News Learn, the education division of NBC News, hosted a live education broadcast in Detroit in October 2019, convening school administrators, teachers, parents, students, thought leaders, policymakers and community members for an engaging discussion around challenges impacting local students and local solutions. The event was produced in partnership with NBC’s Detroit affiliate WDIV Local 4 and supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. I was the senior producer for this event, leading the editorial developement and producing all four panels, which included original reporting, producing videos for the show, booking panelists, and briefing NBC News Chief Education Correspondent Rehema Ellis, who moderated the event.
Panel 1: Addressing Student Trauma: Children who experience excessive stress or trauma face immediate and lifelong problems with learning, behavior, and physical and mental health. Kids need supportive, nurturing environments to learn, but trauma can deeply impact a child’s brain—and therefore their ability to thrive socially and emotionally, and succeed in school. This discussion examined how educators and schools can use trauma-informed practices to improve academic and social-emotional outcomes.
Panel 2: Here to Stay: Child development research shows that children need routine and stability. This starts in the home, and extends to the classroom. Unfortunately, Michigan students are missing school at alarming rates and frequently changing schools – sometimes multiple times in just one school year. In addition, many students in Detroit are leaving the city to attend schools in districts beyond city lines – schools that are often far from their own communities. This discussion examined how schools and communities can address chronic absenteeism, student mobility, and student exit.
Panel 3: Letting Teachers Lead: Investment in youth, long hours, large class sizes, educating the next generation – all are just part of what is tasked to teachers in any given school day. Without adequate support, mentorship, and professional development, teachers cannot truly thrive in their profession. School districts across Michigan are experiencing difficulty filling teaching jobs, and teacher turnover is a challenge for both traditional and charter schools. This discussion focused on reframing what is needed to truly support the teaching profession.
Panel 4: From Opportunity to Purpose: Ranging from applying learning to real-world contexts and exposure to different career pathways to experiencing diverse cultures, perspectives, and art, children need to know what’s out there, so they understand the opportunities that they can strive for. This discussion focused on how expanding students’ worlds not only enhances their educational experiences, but puts them on a path to purpose and leads them to opportunities they may have never known existed.
Credits
Esta Pratt-Kielley Senior producer
Daria Hirsch Project manager
Gabbi Timmis Assistant producer
Soraya Gage Executive producer
And credit to the whole WDIV station team for their partnership in the broadcast
© Esta Pratt-Kielley 2020