The Pine Forest High School New Media Academy provides students with a comprehensive education in the field of digital media, including industry certifications in a wide variety of software. Freshmen learn the foundations of photography and graphic design using industry-standard cameras and software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Sophomores continue their studies into the field of digital video, learning video cameras and using both Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects software. Juniors learn the basics of web programming through HTML and CSS coding languages, and they also work towards the WordPress Certified Editor industry certification. Seniors serve as leaders and gain essential real-world experience as they oversee the Sophomores and Juniors on their team to run a simulated media production company, Eagle Nation News. 

Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors work together to produce a morning news program every day. Eagle Nation News depends on student leadership. Student leaders direct the studio crew during the production of the show, and most importantly, serve as the points of contact for outside clients requesting a media product from ENN. As a student-led operation, ENN gives students the chance to work as a team, developing important soft-skills as they work with a broad variety of clients from our school, district, and community to produce exciting projects and encounter valuable learning experiences.

Hello, I’m David “Bryan” Dawson and I’ve been teaching at Pine Forest since 2015. I teach the Digital Media Multimedia Foundations curriculum in the PFHS New Media Academy. I studied Communications, TV and Film Production, and Philosophy at the University of West Florida, although my strongest passion is teaching. I love working with my students to help them earn industry certifications and prepare them to be successful in the workforce and/or post-secondary education. I like to practice photography, videography, and music production in my free time. I enjoy closely following the media industry so that I can keep my students on the cutting edge of best practices. 

Year 1: Digital Media Multimedia Foundations 1
Year 2: Digital Media Multimedia Motion Graphics Production
Year 3: Digital Media Multimedia Web Production
Year 4: Arts A/V Directed Study

Year 1: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign
Year 2: Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects
Year 3: WordPress Certified Editor
Year 4: Directed Study

The mission of the New Media Academy at Pine Forest High School is to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in the multimedia industry and/or to continue their post-secondary education. Students learn to incorporate graphics, sound, video, animation, text, and still images to produce fine art, marketing presentations, digital design, and Web publishing. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for Gold Seal/Bright Futures scholarships.

Many New Media Academy students are members of FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), where they compete in categories such as Broadcast Journalism.

Competitions:

• 2023-2024 Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year for Escambia County Public Schools (Teacher: David “Bryan” Dawson)
• 2024-2025 Career and Technical Education Student Intern of the Year for Escambia County Public Schools (Student: Bethany Gurley)
• 1st place in FBLA Broadcast Journalism category
• 2nd place in the Escambia County School District Superintendent Search advertising campaign contest
• Escambia County School District Drone Competition participant
• Escambia County School District Film Competition Participant
• The Greatest Save Teen PSA Program competition participant

Service Projects:

School Projects:

• PFHS Blab TV commercial
• PFHS School Spirit Lip Dub music video 
• PFHS/UWF Writing Lab promotional campaign (video and graphic design advertising)
• PFHS Flight Deck Cafe promotional campaign (video and graphic design advertising)
• PFHS promotional campaigns for academies, clubs/organizations, and sports to be displayed during events such as Freshman Welcome Night, Curriculum Night, etc.
• Provided media coverage for PFHS Community Partnership School Health Clinic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
• Provided media services for PFHS Moms Volunteering for Progress initiative
• Provided media services for PFHS Dads on Duty initiative

District Projects:

• Providing media coverage for ECPS Podcastapalooza event.
• Provided School Board meeting photography services for ECPS Coordinator of Communications
• Filmed the first several episodes of the ECPS Voices United in Education Podcast
• Produced multiple ECPS Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year videos for the ECPS LDI Dinner
• Created commercials for George Stone Technical College highlighting their programs
• Escambia County School District Cyber Security Awareness Campaign (instructional video series in collaboration with district I.T. department)
• Escambia County School District ECET² event media coverage
• Escambia County School District Center for Health and Wellness promotional video
• Created Green Dot Challenge literacy video in partnership with PFHS and ECPS ELA Departments
• Provided Cyberthon cybersecurity event media coverage
• Provided Robofest robotics competition media coverage

Community Projects:

• Created series of promotional videos showcasing the Flight Adventure Deck for the National Naval Aviation Museum
• Collaboration with UWF Innovation Institute/Smithsonian (student voice-over recordings for short documentary web exhibit)
• Public safety announcement campaign in collaboration with CDAC (Community Drug and Alcohol Council)
• Collaboration with Blab TV (PFHS student-filmed football games broadcast live on Blab TV)