Advance watch them learn october 23, 2009 (1) (1)

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Contact: Ron T. Suazo Office of Communications (310) 604-6529 October 23, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CUSD-TV Channel 26 to Introduce Viewers to the District’s Academic Excellence When “Watch Them Learn” Debuts on October 30 The New Program Will Give Viewers an “Inside Look” at Compton Unified’s Most Innovative Teachers and the Secrets Behind Their Educational Methods COMPTON, Calif., — Beginning this month Compton residents and surrounding communities can tune into CUSD-TV Channel 26’s new monthly series, “Watch Them Learn,” for an in-depth look at Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) teachers.

The first episode, which debuts on Friday, October 30 at 4 p.m., will run Monday thru Friday in English from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and in Spanish from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the month of November and will profile Roosevelt Middle School, 1200 E. Alondra Blvd., eighth grade science teacher Olushina Oshinuga. Each program will feature a different elementary, middle and high school teacher teaching in the classroom, and will also include interviews with the instructor, students and administrators.

Known for his hands-on approach to physical science, Oshinuga is shown leading his students through an experiment to test chemicals for their acidity. The instructor and Roosevelt Middle School’s Math Engineering and Science Achievement program coordinator also explains his lesson plan and educational philosophy. Donald Evans, associate superintendent, CUSD Middle Schools, elaborates on the innovation and rigor behind Oshinuga’s methods.

Roger Alcocer, multimedia manager, CUSD-TV Channel 26, explained that the show’s premise is to provide viewers with “an inside look at CUSD’s most innovative teachers.” He added, “This show is meant to show parents and the community precisely what’s going on in the classroom. We also want to showcase some of the district’s (MORE) “Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Channel 26’s “Watch Them Learn” Debuts Friday, October 30

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academic programs and initiatives through our visionary teachers’ lessons.”

For Oshinuga, being the first teacher selected for the new program’s launch is “nothing short of amazing and incredibly humbling.” He also credited his students and colleagues with supporting him as an instructor. “I feel really honored and very grateful to the district for choosing me. I want to thank my colleagues but also my students, who are my heroes. I’m blessed,” he said. Oshinuga explained that motivation is the key ingredient to his success as a teacher. “You have to get the best out of your kids.

Without it, it’s impossible. The teaching profession has changed. You have to know how to sell your product and the product is what you’re teaching.”

Oshinuga added that his hands-on approach to teaching, which includes in-class experiments using scientific instruments, allow his students to grasp concepts. “Science is mostly in the abstract. In order to connect you need students to engage in hands-on activities. It helps connects things to real-world situations,” he noted. “Once you do that, it all starts to make sense.”

For over 20 years, CUSD-TV Channel 26 has been providing student and communityoriented programming for Time Warner Cable's Compton subscribers. In addition to the city of Compton, the station also broadcasts its educational and informative programs 24hours-a-day to surrounding areas such as Lynwood, Carson and Gardena.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting CUSD’s Office of Communications at (310) 604-6525 or by visiting www.compton.k12.ca.us.

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“Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

October 23, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS TO ACCOMPANY:

CUSD-TV Channel 26 to Introduce Viewers to the District’s Academic Excellence When “Watch Them Learn” Debuts on October 30

Unscripted Learning — Compton Unified School District (CUSD) Roosevelt Middle

School science teacher Olushina Oshinuga (right) assists a student with her science experiment while Roger Alcocer (left), multimedia manager, CUSD-TV Channel 26, captures the moment for the district’s new television series, “Watch Them Learn.”

Beginning this month Compton residents and surrounding communities can tune into the new monthly series for an in-depth look at CUSD’s teachers. The first episode, which debuts on Friday, October 30 at 4 p.m., will run Monday thru Friday in English from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and in Spanish from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the month of November. #

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“Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321