Guest blogging this week are members of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY). Today we're hearing from Joseph Fatheree, an instructor of technology for the nationally recognized multimedia program at Effingham High School. He was the recipient of the NEA's National Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009 and the Illinois Teacher of the Year in 2007.

I can still hear the screeching sounds of the wheels on the freight train right before the 150-ton engine tore through a small passenger car like a hot knife through butter. I had only one thought in mind as the scene unfolded. Please tell me we got that on film. Sound strange? Well, it doesn't to the students in my multimedia program. On that day, my students were in charge of coordinating a massive film shoot for a piece that would be used by Operation Life Saver. The students spent weeks planning the event with the police, emergency services, fire department, air ambulance, drama club, school administration, and railroad safety officials. There was no question as to who was in charge on the day of the film shoot. It was the students.

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