Student Engagement Through a Different Lens | Candy Suiso | TEDxFargo

Summary

The script tells the inspiring story of a community in Waianae, Hawaii, facing challenges such as poverty, high unemployment, and low academic scores. Despite these odds, a dedicated teacher transforms a struggling high school by introducing a video production program, which not only boosts engagement and graduation rates but also empowers students with real-life skills. The program's success, marked by increased enrollment, awards, and a comprehensive educational pipeline, demonstrates the power of perseverance, teamwork, and community support in creating opportunities for a brighter future.

Takeaways

• 🏖️ Waianae community in Hawaii has a beautiful coastline but faces significant social and economic challenges.
• 📚 Waianae High School, despite its challenges, is home to the Searider Productions program.
• 🎥 A teacher initiated a video production program to engage students and make learning relevant.
• 🚀 The program started with limited resources but grew to become highly successful.
• 🏆 The media program has won numerous awards and increased the high school graduation rate.
• 🔄 The program was reevaluated and revamped to ensure students were prepared for life beyond high school.
• 🤝 Community partnerships and a comprehensive pipeline were developed to support student success.
• 📈 The program now includes journalism, video, photography, graphic arts, and animation.
• 👩‍🏫 The success of the program is attributed to teamwork, passion, and the willingness to learn from failures.
• 🙏 Gratitude is emphasized for the support and belief in the program's potential.
• 🌟 The goal is to create a new cycle of expectation for students to achieve greatness.

Q & A

What is the Waianae community known for?

The Waianae community is known for its 16-mile stretch of beautiful coastline on Oahu, Hawaii, and its population that is more than half Native Hawaiian ancestry.

What challenges does the Waianae community face?

The community faces challenges such as high unemployment, a large homeless population, and low academic scores, with nine schools in the district all ranked at the bottom of social and economic measures.

How did the speaker's experience at Waianae High School influence their decision to return?

The speaker was pushed away by the negative aspects of the community when they graduated, but the saying 'you can take the girl out of Waianae but you can't take Waianae out of the girl' compelled them to return and teach.

What was the initial reaction to the video production program idea?

The initial reaction was skepticism, with people doubting the idea due to the students being teenagers from Waianae High School, their perceived lack of intelligence, and the expectation that they would not take the program seriously.

How did the video production program start?

The program started in 1993 with 85 students, two classrooms, two teachers, one edit bay, and six cameras, despite the lack of funding and air-conditioning.

What was the turning point that led to the program's success?

The turning point was the realization that the program's initial success was empty, as students were graduating without much direction. This led to the decision to rebuild the program with a more comprehensive pipeline of learning.

What does the comprehensive pipeline of learning involve?

It involves preparing students with both skill-based and life skills learning, engaging them in real-life projects, and creating a seamless educational path from elementary to higher education and the workforce.

How has the program grown since its inception?

The program has grown to include 250 students, six teachers, and six classrooms, offering multimedia disciplines such as journalism, video, photography, graphic arts, and animation.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of teamwork and humility?

The speaker emphasizes that success is not achieved alone and that teamwork and cooperation are crucial. They also stress the importance of being humble and thankful, especially for those who believed in the program's potential.

What is the speaker's vision for the future of the program and the students?

The speaker envisions the program continuing to graduate students who will become professionals in various industries, creating a new cycle of expectation and achievement in the community.