2024 ASBA Annual Conference

In this presentation, Beau McCastlain will showcase how De Queen High School’s television program, DQTV, has transformed student engagement through innovative student-led projects and impactful industry partners. The program started amid Covid with just seven students focused on project-based learning. Four years later, the program is 100 percent student-led and features students who have received regional and national recognition, including two who worked as members of the White House Press Corp.
DQTV’s partnerships with KDQN, SWEPCO, and other industry partners throughout Arkansas exemplify how regional collaborations can provide essential community services while enriching student experiences. These partnerships support local needs and offer students real-world exposure and opportunities for professional growth.
McCastlain will share how his journey as a student and early connections in his life built the foundation for his career path, his decision to become an educator, and valuable advice and lessons he learned from his early years as a teacher. His presentation will tell stories about the transformation he has witnessed in his students once they take ownership of their learning. He will explain how his innovative approach to class rosters allows his classroom to replicate an authentic work environment with space for collaboration and leadership growth. McCastlain will also describe how he approaches the unique challenges of his student-led environment and how aspects of student choice can be implemented in any subject area or grade level.
Join us to see how DQTV’s commitment to student-led projects and strategic partnerships has created paid internships for students and a revenue stream for the program, propelled students to new heights, and positively impacted De Queen Public Schools, families, and community stakeholders.