Arlington Middle School students showcase podcasting and poetry-slam projects; principal and teacher describe classroom impact

Arlington Middle School students and staff presented a portfolio of classroom media projects, including permanent student podcast stations and a poetry‑slam program that teachers said increased student engagement and public speaking skills.

Shannon Blackburn, principal of Arlington Middle School, told the board the school installed two permanent podcast stations in the library and made four additional portable stations available for teacher checkout, funded through the district’s legacy grant. "These stations are not just about tech, they're about voice," Blackburn said, explaining that students use podcasting for historical discussions, novel studies and projects on language change.

Teacher Colleen Walker described a month of poetry practice tied to National Poetry Month. Walker’s creative‑writing classes produced a hallway poetry wall, handwritten verses and in‑class poetry slam performances. Students read original poems to the board during the meeting; topics ranged from resilience and autumn to ekphrastic pieces inspired by art.

Teachers said the podcast and poetry activities are tied to curriculum goals: students practice writing, editing, teamwork and public speaking while producing content for wider audiences. Blackburn said the programs are leading the school to expand opportunities to more grades and classes.

Student outcomes highlighted at the meeting included an award for a student poetry submission to a national site and increased classroom engagement, according to administrators. The board thanked students and teachers and said the programs offer a model for combining technology, literacy and student voice.

The district plans to continue supporting campus media stations and creative‑writing programs and to showcase student work in district facilities.