Pete Carney and Brian Felix in the News
“This initiative is part of a new music education curriculum.”
JACKSONVILLE, FL. — Duval County Public Schools are launching a brand new initiative for digital-savvy students this school year. The initiative is part of a new music education curriculum. It’s called ‘Interactive Listening’, and it was developed by former Landon Middle School student Pete Carney and his co-worker, Brian Felix. The county has purchased 2,000 textbooks for students and 100 iBooks for teachers to use as part of this new initiative. “I never thought I would have seen myself creating a book that my hometown would use,” he said. Paula Thornton is the Director of Arts for Duval County Public Schools. She said the new curriculum will be an extremely useful tool for teachers. “This is a new interactive textbook that is going to hopefully revolutionize the way that they’re able to deliver instruction to all music classes, but specifically general music classes,” she said.“Riveting” -Melissa Ross, NPR
Thornton said unlike other counties, Duval County is placing a heavy emphasis on the performing arts and music programs. She said it’s important for kids to tap into their creative side.“Carney and Felix unveiled their masterpiece to middle school and high school teachers at Atlantic Coast High School Wednesday.” -Lisa Robbins, First Coast News
Students will use both the textbook and iBooks to navigate thousands of years worth of music history. Carney said the added technology serves as a tool to keep students interested in what it is they’re learning. Interactive Listening was named by Apple Inc. as the top Editor’s Choice in all categories of textbooks. It was also the first music education method to be featured on Apple’s iTunes website.“Music education quality and arts education of any kind will serve that purpose. It will meet that need as long as we can really support it and make it important,” -Paula Thornton
NPR Interview with Melissa Ross
Below is a transcript of the interview with Melissa Ross on her radio program two days later in Jacksonville. Interview with Melissa Ross on NPR WJCTMelissa Ross
Host/Producer, “First Coast Connect”
First Coast Connect host/producer Melissa Ross joined WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. During her career as a television and radio news anchor and reporter, Melissa has won four regional Emmys for news and feature reporting. As executive producer of The 904: Shadow on the Sunshine State,Melissa and WJCT received an Emmy in the “Documentary” category at the 2011 Suncoast Emmy Awards. The 904 examined Jacksonville’s status as Florida’s murder capital. In June 2011, WJCT’s First Coast Connect received a national award from Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI). The program captured First Place in the “Call-In Program” category. Prior to joining WJCT, Melissa spent three years in the corporate communications field at Jacksonville’s Dalton Agency. During her stint at Dalton, she was cast in the HBO filmRecount, playing – what else – a reporter! Married with two children, Melissa is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism/Communications. She is a featured blogger on the Huffington Post website and a fill-in columnist at Jacksonville’s flagship newspaper, the Florida Times-Union.
