2019 Communication Fellows
Meet the 2019 cohort of Communication Fellows!
Our nine 2019 Communication Fellows attended a summer residential program on Ohio University's main campus in Athens and spend their fellowship year further developing their projects with the help of mentors from across the Scripps College of Communication. Focusing on curriculum development in communication across PK-12 levels of instruction, the program provides funding and mentorship support. Participants develop and implement a communication-related classroom project over the one-year course of their fellowship.
If the Communication Fellows program has taught us anything, it’s that there is so much creativity and innovation happening at the K-12 level. We’re committed to using the college’s expertise and technology to support those teachers who are improving communication education.
Dean Scott Titsworth
Communication Fellows attend a half-week summer residential experience at Ohio University’s main campus in Athens and receive free tuition for a graduate-level online course, a $1500 stipend and $1000 classroom stipend. Fellows also work with college faculty mentors and college leadership to achieve their project proposals.
Jeff Brooker
Brooker is an Industrial Arts teacher at Waterford High School. He graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology Education. He earned a master’s degree in Education and Computer Technology from Ohio University. He has taught Technology Education and Industrial Arts since 1998.
In 2018, Brooker submitted a proposal to turn his program into a maker space and was awarded a Martha Holden Jennings grant. He used that funding to purchase several pieces of technological equipment. His project for the Communication Fellow program builds on that utilization of educational technology, creating a virtual reality (VR) classroom that would allow students to experience various career options through the use of VR devices.
Brooker will use the classroom stipend toward a VR headset and console; his project uses the new equipment in the classroom. The gaming and VR expertise available from the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab allows him to explore the opportunities for using the technology in an educational setting.
I think this project will have a very positive impact on my students. They will be able to experience many different work scenarios, travel to different countries, and learn about different cultures in the world.
Jeff Brooker
The students are having fun experiencing the VR googles to explore different types of working environments such as welding and plumbing. The 360 camera has been useful to go around the school and shoot videos and take pictures and edit them. The project has helped the students by introducing them to technology they have not had access to before. Almost every period they are using the goggles to explore careers and sometimes play games.
Kelly Congrove
Congrove teaches English, journalism and yearbook at Zane Trace High School in Chillicothe. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction from Ashland University. She started teaching at Zane Trace High School in 2011.
I wish to become a sponge in the program, taking in any information, advice, techniques and/or programs other communication teachers have to offer. I wish to drastically change how my current class is conducted, how they produce media for the school, and to develop an overall understanding of advancements in journalism and be able to properly portray it to my students.
Kelly Congrove
Congrove's project focuses on building a supply of resources for her journalism classroom and expanding the class’s use of social media. She plans to use the networking aspect of the Communication Fellows program as another resource in her project.
I would like to see how other school districts use this kind of media in their classroom, making it educational while showing the impact it can have on sharing their ideals and words.
Kelly Congrove
Kristofer Doran
Doran teachers interactive media at the Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Warren. He graduated from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications and a minor in Multimedia Website Design. He earned three Master of Education degrees from Kent State University: Instructional Technology in 2009; Career and Technical Teacher Education in 2011; and Digital Science in Cognition and Communication in 2013. He has taught Interactive Multimedia for 11 years.
Doran’s proposal for the Communication Fellows program would create multimedia content that can be streamed to students and teachers. Three programs will be produced each month, each geared toward an audience in elementary, middle or high school.
Long before I was a teacher, I was a kid who looked at how shows meant to inspire were made and wanted to be part of creating something from the ground up. I am excited to sit with faculty and look at how we can make this new show into a reality.
Kristofer Doran
Doran’s project, Career Corner, is an educational learning avenue for students in middle school and early high school. The show will air once per month with a focus on the different career pathways. The show intends to be a useful tool for teachers that satisfies Ohio content standards concerning careers. The first show Construction Technology aired on October 16.
This project has created another authentic learning platform for his students to learn while doing. They are creating authentic material to add to their portfolio’s that may and hopefully will create job opportunities for them in the future.
Mark Francioli
Francioli teaches English and journalism at Benedictine High School in Cleveland. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and humanities and a Master of Arts degree in English from Case Western Reserve University, and a Master of Education degree in guidance and counseling from John Carroll University. He began teaching at Benedictine High School in 1978.
Francioli’s project will establish a course of study allowing students to explore the media industry as a possible career path.
This would entail five to six courses that would allow the student to explore the media based upon particular interest, e.g., journalism, film, video production, theater, public speaking and podcasting.
Mark Francioli
Francioli is planning an "Introduction to Communications" course, which would be the entry level course requirement for any student who would like to follow the media program; then they would require "Speech/Debate" and "The Mass Media and Journalism." After that, students would select 4/5 courses from the following: "Introduction to Film," "Film and Video Editing," "Animation," "Introduction to the Theater," "Broadcasting," "Television Production," "Social Media," and, in conjunction with our business program, "Public Relations and Advertising."
For Francioli, the most rewarding part is to see the excitement of the students when they get involved with these media projects. They are highly motivated to get their hands on some equipment, get their voice out and, in the meantime, they learn so much about communications.
Trace Hacquard
Hacquard teaches language arts at Circleville High School. He holds two master’s degrees from Ohio University, in communication and in curriculum and instruction. He is currently seeking a doctorate in educational leadership from Miami University.
Technology has helped me keep an open mind about new ways of instructing students, making meaningful real-world connections, and fostering an environment of critical thinking. I have no doubt that using technology in the classroom with my students has helped them get interested in literature, writing, and communicating effectively.
Trace Hacquard
Hacquard’s project expands on Circleville High School’s designation as a Purple Star School (an award that recognizes schools that show a major commitment to military families). The project will establish a committee tasked with improving communication and accessibility to military families.
An example of one classroom goal would be for CHS to assign groups of technology-driven students to build/improve web pages for military families to access school events and highlights. Each department within the school could have representation, and as the group evolved, we could build upon ideas and maintain open minds for suggestions.
Trace Hacquard
The first step has been getting all of the new curriculum in place and established as a part of the school’s Purple Star Culture. The senior college prep students have finished reading Sunrise Over Fallujah, and they wrote thank you notes to veterans of the Iraq War. The other group of seniors wrote essays about service, and then presented those in a speech format. Both of these have had a social media presence which shows our commitment to support military families and gives appreciation for those who have served. The podcast equipment is ordered and arrived, and we will be creating our first podcast during our Veteran’s Day celebration.
Cierra Jordan
Jordan teaches language arts at Oyler School in Cincinnati. She graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Childhood Education, with an emphasis on Language Arts and Social Studies. After graduating, she worked as an education coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati and went on to teach in the North College Hill City Schools. Jordan started teaching at Oyler four years ago.
I am most looking forward to giving my students the opportunity to create a strong, present voice. I can't wait to see and hear school experiences shared through their eyes and writing. I also can't wait to see the ownership and responsibility the students will take on. I believe these experiences will shape them and introduce them to other professional opportunities in life.
Cierra Jordan
Jordan’s project will create a monthly middle school newspaper with the aim of teaching news literacy and fact-based reporting.
The students have really worked to become familiar with podcasting and interviewing techniques. They have been using Listenwise to evaluate podcasts and how to drive conversations with guests, and have been using recording apps on phones and computers to practice skills and reflect on areas of improvement and revision.
The students are excited to have more responsibility. Students were able to use and travel with the high school camera equipment, which was a huge success and very thrilling for them. Their photos and videos were displayed throughout the school on television screens. The students were proud to say that they were the owners of the published work. Students also emailed administrations and interviewees to schedule appointments. They were very proud of their ability to draft a formal email, schedule an interview time, and have discussions that they were in control of with adults.
I believe this project will create a sense of pride, awareness, and confidence within my students. The exposure to professional mentors will show the students all of the many career opportunities that are available to them, many professions that students are unaware exist. This exposure could provide purpose and make school and graduation more desirable and meaningful.
Cierra Jordan
Laura Moore
Moore is an English teacher at Newark Digital Academy. She graduated from Ohio University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, specializing in Integrated Language Arts. She earned a master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2010. She has taught English for 11 years and took her current position in 2015.
I am passionate about teaching students skills that will be relevant and useful to them in our modern, ever-changing society. I think communication-related instruction is important, useful, and relevant to students’ lives now and in adulthood.
Laura Moore
Moore’s project will create an online news and media literacy class that will focus on education policies and issues. Students will engage with policy such as graduation requirements, testing, curriculum changes and attendance policies, becoming “education activists” in the process. Students in the class will write letters to and potentially meet with state representatives.
This experience is exciting and I am looking forward to working with my faculty mentor to get feedback and assistance on my project. I am also looking forward to meeting the other Communication Fellows and collaborating with them throughout this program.
Laura Moore
Students are currently researching how the government in the state of Ohio works and researching education issues. Moore is really excited for students to start using their voices to share their ideas and opinions with school administrators and state representatives.
It has been really interesting to read student’s first writing assignment about their school experiences so far and ideas about what education is and should be. I don’t think students get asked enough about what they want out of their education, and they seem excited to be able to think about that and share their views.
Laura Moore
Lauren Scotta
Scotta is a second- and third-grade gifted intervention specialist at Gilles-Sweet Elementary School in Fairview Park. She graduated from Ohio University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and earned a Master of Arts degree in Education from Ursuline College in 2011. She has a gifted and talented endorsement from Wright State University, STEM certification from Regent University, and is currently enrolled in an administrative licensure program for curriculum and instruction at Muskingum University.
As an Ohio University Scripps Communication graduate, I was interested in this opportunity as I received an excellent undergraduate education which I feel helped prepare me for where I am today. As social emotional learning and growth mindset are areas that I am interested in better understanding and incorporating in my classroom, I felt that this was an impactful opportunity that would lead to great discussions, guidance, and support in integrating social-emotional methods further into my classroom.
Lauren Scotta
Utilizing an array of communication technology such as audio podcasting, digital video and Virtual Reality, Scotta’s project focuses on helping students identify, communicate and understand their feelings.
Students will design, create, and engineer their own product that will showcase what they have learned, how they have grown, and communicate to others effective ways in helping them socially and emotionally.
Lauren Scotta
Scotta and her students have started to understand what podcasts are through listening and discussion. Additionally, they have used iPads and some programs that are similar to VR for a project to gain greater depth and understanding. Each morning, they work on a social emotional activity, discussion question, and greeting of others. This has prompted and promoted communication and beginning talks about emotional understanding.
Adam Weiss
Weiss is an English teacher at Columbus North International High School. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. He began teaching English in the Columbus City School district in 2006. He has taught at Columbus North International High School since it opened in 2010 and serves as the chair of the English department and the school’s graduation coach.
The Communication Fellows program will improve our school's ability to effectively communicate with our families, who come from 35 different countries speaking 23 different home languages. As a Communication Fellow, I'm looking forward to meeting fellow educators and communication professionals while improving my understanding of effective and creative communication strategies.
Adam Weiss
Weiss’s project focuses on leveraging communication technology to enable students and families to be more engaged in the education process, especially those whose first language is not English.
My project would take advantage of communications technology to provide students and families with the information essential to their success on a media platform and in a language with which they are comfortable.
Adam Weiss
Weiss’ work is being done through a Facebook Page - Columbus North International. They are using students and staff to create short multilingual videos for families who do not speak English. The students are excited to be a part of the translations.