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Project Information

BRANDYWINE SCHOOL DISTRICT - State of Delaware

Director of Communications and Media Technology (Acting in the capacity of)
Full-time
Aug 1996 – Jun 2010
Wilmington, Delaware
• Director: Communications and Media Technology
– Public relations and alumni liaison (press releases, broadcast and online distribution, tour guide, event planner)
– Announcer of student names at commencement ceremonies
• Director: Broadcast Learning Center and 91.7 FM Radio Station
– Founded the Broadcast Learning Center incorporating radio, television, film club, recording studio, puppets, newspaper, and web team at Mount Pleasant High School
– Instructor, technical adviser, alumni liaison, historian, and public information officer (webmaster) at Mount Pleasant High School (mentor, trainer, educator)
– Founder of the Mount Pleasant Historical Society and chairperson for the 175th anniversary celebration Oct 2005, historical marker dedication May 2007, and high school building 50th anniversary ceremony Oct 2008 (historian, curator) and co-founder of Mount Pleasant Hall of Fame (Emcee/DJ for induction ceremonies 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014)

General Manager
Full-time
Jan 1993 – Aug 1996
Wilmington, Delaware
• Vice President / General Manager: WMPH 91.7 FM Radio
– Hired to reinstate the defunct station by ordering and installing new equipment and obtaining FCC license in 1993 (worked with architect and construction company to design new facilities during entire building renovation in 1995)
– Develop curriculum and teach student workshops for communications theory, broadcast technology, and journalism
– Train, supervise and schedule both students and adult community volunteers at WMPH 91.7 FM
– Obtain funding and sponsors, recruit staff, and maintain office records and FCC logs
– Coordinate on-air programming (radio shows, announcements, music) and special events (dances, remote broadcasts, field trips)
– Provide audio/video recording and editing service for school concerts, sporting events, and educational presentations

The radio station was rejuvenated from a once defunct school club to a valuable 24/7 institution by harnessing the power of people (relationships with students, teachers, parents, community at large)

Documentation

Letter of Performance – Brandywine School District (Mount Pleasant High School, Broadcast Learning Center, WMPH Radio)

PDF

Recommendation

Letter of Recommendation – Tom Lapinski, Retired Principal at Mt Pleasant High School

PDF

Recommendation

Letter of Recommendation – Lynn Wright, IB Coordinator at Mt Pleasant High School

PDF
Career Video (2015) on YouTube or Vimeo features much of my work with the Brandywine School District

I worked directly with the school district superintendent on numerous projects and collaborated with principals of all the district schools.

I worked as communications director for the district by sending out press releases, organizing events and overseeing public relations.

I was the Historical Society Chairperson and Event Planner.

I planned many events for the school district including the 175th anniversary celebration, Mount Pleasant High School building 50th anniversary celebration and WMPH radio 40th birthday gala

I was responsible for a State of Delaware historical marker to be erected at the original 1830 schoolhouse.  I also collaborated with the county library for a WMPH 91.7 FM brick to be placed in their honorary walkway.

I researched archives and past yearbooks to create awareness for the school history.
I had been the announcer for all graduating students speaking to very large audiences.
Mount Pleasant High

WMPH 91.7 FM

Broadcast Learning Center
I built the radio studios in 1993. In 1995, I had to move the entire operation to a remote location during building renovations. I met with an architect to design all the new studios which would be complete in 1996. I would again deal with contractors in 2003 for the when the building had all new windows installed.

SLIDESHOW – History of WMPH 91.7 FM

WMPH went ‘dark’ and essentially closed.  I put together a proposal which was accepted by the Brandywine School District Board of Education.

I reinstated the radio station at Mount Pleasant High School and obtained a renewed license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.

I created this slideshow when presenting the history and my contributions of WMPH radio station. Story also available with text description on Facebook.

SLIDESHOW – I founded the Broadcast Learning Center of the Brandywine School District.

I taught Radio Workshops (PDF) each semester to students of Mount Pleasant, Brandywine and Concord High Schools.  WMPH aired educational features (PDF) and public service announcements as scheduled on the daily program log.

WMPH became a respected radio station within the community broadcasting 24/7 to over a half million potential listeners.

SLIDESHOW – Phase two of my Broadcast Learning Center included two closed circuit television stations.

I later instituted a film club, recording studio workshops, puppets in education initiatives and web team.  I was the first webmaster for the high school.  I was also the faculty advisor for the school newspaper.

SLIDESHOW – I was the founder of the Mount Pleasant Historical Society and coordinated as chairperson the 175th anniversary celebration.

As alumni liaison, I assisted with many special events, homecomings, building tours and reunions.

I also co-founded the Mount Pleasant Hall of Fame.  I was the Master of Ceremonies for the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2014 induction ceremonies.

As the school photographer, I took aerial photographs of all the school district high schools from an Army Blackhawk helicopter.

As a photographer, I took many pictures which would be used for the class yearbooks.

I had been the announcer for all graduating students at the commencement ceremonies.

Brandywine School District accepted my plan to resurrect station (re-obtain FCC license, build station, establish learning objectives) Mount Pleasant High School facing Delaware River.
I took these pictures in 2008 from a Blackhawk helicopter courtesy Delaware National Guard.
WMPH in the community – I promoted on local cable TV, billboards, yellow pages and merchandise. WMPH participated in numerous events. Our news team did many interviews. We also aired many live remote broadcasts.
In June of 2009, WMPH was recognized nationally for standing up against a proposed performance tax. We boycotted the artists that unfairly demand radio stations pay them for playing their music. On June 10, this Associated Press story went all over the United States in every major newspaper. Notice the line "A Delaware radio station boycotted all artists affiliated with musicFIRST for an entire month." This refers directly to the WMPH 91.7 FM boycott of 2007. On June 16 of 2009, the News Journal ran a front page story on the WMPH boycott of 2007 and our ongoing stand against a performance tax. Then on June 28, Philadelphia’s channel 6 Action News featured WMPH on their televised news for leading a protest against a music performance tax.
Broadcast Learning Center – Radio (WMPH 91.7 FM and Comcast SAP Ch. 8, WMPH 2 Online), Recording Club, Television (ch. 32 & 37), Film Club, Puppets In Education, Web Sites
WMPH about PEOPLE – Interviews with Governor Miner and Harlem Globetrotters (pictured)
Listenership dramatically increased with dance radio format. The ability to obtain sponsors was much easier.
WMPH Demo (2010)
Clint Dantinne Demo (2010)

WMPH was always in the community.  I did many live remote broadcasts from festivals, sporting events, homecomings, school dances and even local nightlife venues.

We did electronic news gathering from many civic events for our local news broadcast.

While attending the 2000 Presidential Convention in Philadelphia, I got to meet many nationally known newscasters and politicians.

EVENTS

I enjoyed my involvement with community and non-profit organizations (Boy/Girl Scouts, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Delaware Aero Space Education Foundation’s Family Day, Delaware First Lego League competition, ‘Pay It Forward’ day, school career days, Delaware Association for Children of Alcoholics, Friends of Brandywine Hundred Library, Annual Entrepreneurial Women’s Expo, Relay for Life of American Cancer Society, … just to name a few).  I participated in so many community events even all the government politicians knew me.

I was a tour guide for alumni groups visiting the high schools.  I would also give tours to groups including the scouts for our broadcast studios.

I was the DJ for so many school and community events including dances, balls, galas and reunions from most of the schools within the district.  I would be the DJ for each Hall of Fame induction ceremony.  WMPH would do live remotes from homecomings, sporting events, fairs, expos, festivals and carnivals throughout the city of Wilmington.  We even did a weekly live broadcast from downtown Lux Lounge.  I planned many events too!

I would record school concerts and bands too throughout New Castle County.  After professionally recording, the digital master was edited then delivered to the client usually on compact disc.

I have interviewed many people from celebrities, politicians, athletes, pageant winners, community leaders and musicians to people doing something special.

I was directly involved in promotions and marketing for the school district.  I utilized radio, print media, online media, television (often cable) and even billboards to communicate messages.

I have taught in the classroom, conducted seminars and hosted workshops for education.

I have been on broadcast radio and television stations.  I have been featured in newspapers and magazines.

I love boosting morale! Here I brought in the actual Harlem Globetrotters while on tour for a radio interview then to shoot hoops in our school gymnasium with students.

As historian and alumni liaison, I gave many school tours and assisted with reunions. I had been the disc jockey for many reunions and school galas. In the archives, I found audio records of former principals which I played to the crowd amazement. Of course, I always played the school song “All Hail to Thee Mount Pleasant” and fight song.

As chairperson for the Mount Pleasant Historical Society, I coordinated events including the grand 175th anniversary celebration hosted simultaneously at three locations.
Mr. Mount Pleasant

Mr. Mount Pleasant

With all I had done for the school over the years, I was affectionately called Mr. Mount Pleasant.

I enjoy uniting people to celebrate. Here at Stanley's Tavern in 2006, I brought together the high school teachers and staff for a dedication of the Mount Pleasant High School megaphone (that I created!). It is still on display.
As a school photographer, I would often take pictures which would be added to the school yearbook.

FUN FACT

I attended Mount Pleasant High School my junior and senior years. I gave a proposal for phase one of the broadcast initiative while still attending college.

FUN FACT, I actually attended Mount Pleasant High School for only my junior and senior years.
After graduating from the school, I could not have imagined all the accomplishments I would later do for my alma mater.
Date:

2010-06-11

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