Park Elementary's Teach-In made it a career day

With horses, grey hounds, police dogs, a semi-truck, police car, two fire trucks and plenty of guests talking about their careers, Park Elementary School's students were wide-eyed with plenty of questions for Friday's Great American Teach-In.

From the get-go students knew this was not a typical day of learning with News Channel 8 reporter Jeff Patterson stepping before the camera on the school's morning televised newscast.

The student anchor team, fifth-graders Alexis King and Jimmy Frazier, practiced their script and introduction of Peterson a number of times prior to its broadcast at 7:40 a.m.

"Today is the Great American Teach In," Frazier said.

King followed, "Park Panthers want to welcome all of our guests."

They spoke of Patterson's visit last year when he flew in on the Eagle 8 helicopter to kick off the school's teddy bear roundup.

Instructional technology specialist Beverly Kautz encouraged the students to try again.

"One more time to get the speed right," she said. "Every time you are getting better."

After the students completed a practice run, Peterson commented with a smile, "now if I can just do my part right."

On camera during the school's newscast, Patterson spoke of his educational background and how he and other news staff members put a story together for a television newscast and for presentation on the Internet.

"Our business is changing," he told the students. "You may have noticed there's now the Internet and a lot of our stories appear on the Internet before they appear on television.

"So people not only in Tampa and Arcadia and down here in Avon Park can see our stories, but people all over the world can actually see our stories we put together."

For an example of his work, Patterson brought a copy of his story covering President Obama's recent visit to a solar energy facility near Arcadia.

After the school's morning broadcast, Patterson answered student questions in the media center and told the students to study hard in school; go to college; but, be prepared to learn new things so you can adapted to changes.

Park Elementary's Great American Teach-In was a nearly day-long event covering a wide variety of professions.

From cake decorating, an artist, a musician with dozens of instruments, to dental hygiene, a semi-truck and law enforcement including two sheriff's K-9s and more, the school's campus hosted many professionals who brought some big and little examples of the tools of their trade.