Lakewood High’s media academy earns ‘distinguished’ honors

Aspiring media professionals and their educators at Lakewood High School have earned a prestigious distinction, and additional program funding.

While Pinellas County Schools offer over 70 career academies, only a handful receive an Academy of Distinction designation after meeting strict national criteria. Top performers can also earn “distinguished honors.”

District officials and the Stavros Career Education Board, comprised of local business leaders, agreed that Lakewood’s Center for Journalism and Multimedia (CJAM) deserved both awards. Academies of Distinction program stakeholders announced their decision Wednesday after an early morning review meeting and tour.

Assistant principal Donald Johnson Jr., who helps administer the program, said the recognition highlights the academy’s success and importance. He also believes it also underscores what the school can accomplish, “even if that is with limited resources.”

“I think it shows the hard work and dedication that our teachers, staff and everyone here at the school – especially the students – have put into it,” Johnson said. “It’s showcasing what we actually have to offer here at Lakewood High School and our CJAM program.”

Wednesday’s review meeting included the area superintendent, leadership from the district’s Career, Technical and Adult Education (CTAE) office, school leadership and advisory board members. Industry professionals from the Poynter Institute, Pinellas Education Foundation and the St. Pete Catalyst also participated.

The Academies of Distinction process is rigorous. The Stavros Career Education board evaluates programs according to the National Career Academy Coalition’s 10 National Standards of Practice.

The review committee then verifies district-evaluated data and program-supported verification. William “Mark” Hunt, executive director of CTAE, called Wednesday morning’s meeting an “opportunity for external partners to come in and objectively observe what’s going on,” provide feedback for improvement and ensure “what we are seeing internally is accurate.”

Steve McMullen (left), treasurer of the Pinellas Education Foundation’s board of directors, and Donald Johnson Jr. (second from left), assistant principal of Lakewood High School, at Wednesday morning’s review meeting.

CJAM students receive hands-on training to become reporters, photojournalists, videographers and marketing professionals. Advisory board members from Poynter noted those who choose other career paths are still more engaged and informed citizens due to the media literacy component.

Students can also earn Adobe software certifications and receive several internship and professional mentorship opportunities. St. Petersburg’s The Studio@620 highlights capstone projects.

The academy’s lead teacher, Christopher Mosher, said students won 13 Florida Scholastic Press Association awards in 2023. Over 30 participants have received journalism-focused college scholarships since CJAM launched in 2004.

“I think the Academy of Distinction shows there is a holistic program here that is uplifting students,” Mosher said. “It’s not just a teacher teaching whatever the subject is; it goes beyond the regular curriculum.”

District stakeholders celebrated seven career academies receiving a distinction designation – valid for five years – at a school board meeting in February. The recognition comes with $4,000 in program supply funding.

Six of those academies also earned Ditek Distinguished Honors and an additional $3,000 for any related expenses. Largo-based Ditek Surge Protection is a member of the Stavros Career Education Board.

While CJAM will benefit from the additional funding, Johnson said the recognition would attract new students to the “school within a school.” He believes it will also bolster burgeoning program aspects.

Podcasting and sports broadcasting are increasingly popular and in-demand careers within the media industry. While the academy offers training in both, Johnson announced a new initiative that enables students to produce live broadcasts of school sports.

He hopes the new recognition, community partnerships and professional athletes who have graduated from Lakewood help propel the new programming. “It’s showing the traction we can potentially gain, and that we have, as we move forward into our next few years with bringing on our podcasting and sports broadcasting pieces,” Johnson said.

“Our students are phenomenal in the work that they do – and the work they inspire others to do.”