Community Bonding through Educational Podcasts: Bridging the Gap Between Teachers and Local Population

Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRFHS) in Illinois has launched a new podcast series to celebrate and honour teachers and staff within the school community. Dr. Laurie Fiorenza, Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning, was the driving force behind this initiative.

Dr. Fiorenza, who recently received the Tech & Learning Innovative Leader Award for Innovative Superintendent, has been working tirelessly to connect teachers and share their stories with the community. She has received a robust roster of volunteers for the podcast, with many teachers eager to share unique things they are doing in the school.

The podcast is recorded in a dedicated media room with a sound booth at OPRFHS. Each session is set up as a 5-minute discussion with three predetermined questions sent to the participant in advance. If subjects are uncomfortable with video during the recording process, audio-only interviews are used.

To ensure no school policies or boundaries are inadvertently crossed, the podcast is reviewed by the Director of Communication before it is posted on various social media platforms. OPRFHS leaders understand the importance of celebrating teachers and staff, and they are encouraging about the podcast.

The media room and sound booth have been enhanced with higher-quality recording equipment, microphones, and technology over the past several years. The studio is used daily by individuals, groups, and classes for podcasts, music creation, and learning about audio and media technology.

The podcast sessions are celebrated on social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube, etc.) and internal employees are notified via email. The podcast allows teachers to share their passion, creativity, and ingenuity, and it highlights the great work of OPRFHS teachers.

In a world where education often faces criticism, it's refreshing to see a school taking steps to celebrate its teachers and staff. Dr. Fiorenza's podcast is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the teachers at OPRFHS, and it serves as an inspiration for others to follow suit.