Empowering Students to Build Community Through Media Creation

In an era where student voice and agency are paramount, this session will focus on innovative strategies to empower students while building community within their schools. By communicating through newsletters, social media posts, and classroom video updates, students will not only enhance their media literacy, but also foster meaningful connections between families and the school community. This session will highlight how students can utilize various platforms, such as podcasts, AI tools, video production, and photography to cover classroom activities and events throughout their school. We will share practical insights into implementing this student-led initiative, including frameworks for project planning, assessment rubrics, and strategies for managing student contributions. Join us to discover how empowering students as content creators can strengthen community ties, amplify their voices, and create a vibrant school culture where every member feels valued and connected.

Heather Baker has been an educator for eleven years and currently teaches 6th grade at Tustumena Elementary School. Heather is a core member of her district’s CHAMPS Leadership Team, where she facilitates and presents professional development focused on elevating teacher leadership. Her work centers around helping educators implement student-driven, project-based learning through cross-content units—particularly those with a strong emphasis on elementary science. She has shared her expertise at both state and local conferences.

Beyond the classroom, Heather has served as a migrant education tutor, led K-Beach’s STEM Club, supported school family nights, and taught coding to underprivileged high school students through Upstream Academy. In her classroom—affectionately known as “PortableLand”—student engagement is tangible. Students have designed and built their own tables, benches, terrariums, plant and animal habitats, and even a weather station as part of their hands-on learning experiences.

Heather’s work has been recognized with several honors, including being named the ACE Teacher of the Year in 2019, Alaska Teacher of the Year Alternate in 2023, and most recently, receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. She holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Washington and a Master of Arts in teaching from the University of Southern California.