The Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School’s new broadcast center and its students. Photo credit: Allison M. Slocum, APS ©
Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School recently marked a milestone with the grand opening of its state-of-the-art broadcasting center, which was made possible through a partnership with the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, AT&T, Extra Yard for Teachers, Compudopt, School Specialty, and Donors Choose.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held during the CFP National Championship game week and in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, celebrated a transformative investment in student media and technology.
The total investment exceeded $200,000, including a $175,000 donation from AT&T, CFP Foundation, and Compudopt to supply devices to King Middle School and other schools districtwide.
School Specialty and the CFP Foundation worked closely with King Middle School principal Kimberly Gibbs to determine the best way to impact students, ultimately selecting a broadcasting and audiovisual space—a natural choice for Gibbs, widely known as the “social media principal.”
“There is no gift, no price that can be placed on the experience my students are about to receive through this generosity,” Gibbs said. “Educators are the most important people in the world, and what better place to amplify that message than right here at King Middle School?”
The broadcasting center will serve as both a production studio and a classroom, offering 12 classes annually under the direction of Sherman McKie, King Middle School’s broadcast teacher. McKie, who pioneered the school’s broadcast program from the ground up, shared his enthusiasm for the enhanced resources.
“Instead of my students being just consumers of social media, I want them to know how to create social media that is fundamental to positive images,” McKie said. “Before this, we had to piece things together. I had to rely on students to use their personal laptops and devices, which frequently malfunctioned. Having this equipment and the extra storage, I can now house the files in one space so that when students need to access something, they can.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School sixth-grader Ashtyn C. Bynum interviewing APS Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson and an ESPN representative. Photo credit: Allison M. Slocum, APS ©
The newly launched “King TV” will produce content, including academic excellence stories, sports coverage, debate team victories, and spotlights on extracurricular clubs and student interests. Sixth-grader Ashtyn C. Bynum was honored to serve as the first host, conducting an on-air interview with Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson and corporate sponsors about their involvement in the initiative.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School’s $1,000 Donors Choose donation recipients Ashtyn C. Bynum and Tarana Ramey. Photo credit: Allison M. Slocum
Bynum also received a $1,000 scholarship from Donors Choose and ESPN to support her future education. Additionally, Tarana Ramey, a seventh-grade Language and Literature teacher and sports coach, was awarded a $1,000 grant from Donors Choose, Extra Yard for Teachers, and the Georgia Teachers Initiative for her dedication to students.
Cara Fields, Vice President of AT&T Southeast States, shared the company’s commitment to giving back and the significance of closing the digital divide in education.
“At AT&T, we believe that connecting changes everything, and believe it or not, not everyone is connected,” Fields said. “There are still millions without internet access, and even those who have access may not be able to afford or fully utilize it. Providing technology and ensuring digital literacy are crucial steps toward equitable opportunities.”
For McKie, the broadcasting center is more than just an educational tool—it is a pathway to future career possibilities for students. Recognizing that many of his students already engage with social media, he has structured his curriculum to teach them how to create impactful and monetizable content.
“The students will be highlighting academic and sports news within the school,” McKie said. “One student even suggested featuring a ‘player of the game’ segment for different sports.”
With the unveiling of the broadcasting center, King Middle School students are now equipped to share their own stories and benefit from cutting-edge media education that will prepare them for a future in digital storytelling, journalism, and audiovisual production.
Enjoy the photo recap of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School Broadcast Center Ribbon-cutting Ceremony. Photo credit: Adrian Williams, APS ©
