Episode 45: Interview with Clement Townsend

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations.

I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant.

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Hey listeners! Before we jump into the show I wanted to tell you about The EQuip to Achieve EQ and Remote Learning Summit, which will be held from April 8th through the 11th. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for those seeking strategies, information, and inspiration on everything from parenting and teaching in the digital age, to addressing social isolation through the lenses of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—and you don’t have to leave your house to attend.

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In this episode, I chat with Clement Townsend, a Sports Journalist who has spent close to two decades in front of the camera on local news, cable, and the internet.  His career took him to several markets including San Angelo, Texas; Mobile, Alabama; Lynchburg, Virginia; and Chicago, Illinois.  Clement has covered numerous big events throughout his career such as the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, and multiple college football National Championships.  Clement is the author of “How to Become a Broadcasting Star” and the founder of Broadcasting Career Mentor (BCM).  BCM provides media training for youth across the country and offers in person training and virtual media training through the Video Journalism Pro Online Course.

During our conversation, we discussed ways to use media as a platform in which students can blend various academic skills and apply them in a real world setting. He challenges that such programs should not be considered as extras but instead should be essential. As we push our students to higher order thinking skills, he urges educators to transform students into not just consumers of information but creators. Clement recognizes that teachers may be hesitant to incorporate multimedia into their lessons citing that some lack the skills while others lack the support necessary to take such risks. Despite this, he insists that educators start small and allow students to flourish. As educators, it is not our job to know everything but instead we need to facilitate our students’ learning and sometimes that means growing together.

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Take care.