West Boca is welcoming a new face to the TV Production program this year: Mr. Haywood. After teaching at Loggers Run Middle School for nine years, he felt it was time for a change. He believes you should never stay in the same position for too long; change is good. “Life isn’t stagnant,” he said.
Before coming to West Boca, he taught IT classes, general software classes, and ran a TV Production club for grades 6-8. He didn’t start out planning to be a teacher, but with years of experience working with kids around school and as a summer camp counselor, Mr. Haywood was a school tech before realizing, with some encouragement from the former principal of Loggers Run Community Middle School, Dr.Rogers, that he had the skills and passion for teaching.
Now at West Boca, Mr. Haywood’s goal is to make TV Production at West Boca feel as close to the real industry as possible. From hands-on projects to group collaboration, he wants his students to experience what it’s like to work in professional broadcasting. He believes in keeping energy high in the classroom whether through music, teamwork, or group projects, so students stay engaged. One of his biggest goals this year is bringing WBTV back to life and giving students real responsibilities, like covering sports, theater, and school events. His vision for the future is big: he hopes to grow the program into a full academy, something South Palm Beach has yet to see. His biggest advice for students interested in media or broadcasting? become a good writer. “Whether you want to be in production or on camera, you start as a reporter, and that means a lot of writing and research.” And when asked what he hopes students will take away from his class, his answer was simple: life skills. “This class is about more than just TV production, it’s about skills you can use in the real world,” he said. With his energy and vision, Mr. Haywood is ready to take West Boca’s TV Production program to the next level.
