Athens Teacher Adam Burns Receives State Farm Grant

Troy Athens High School teacher Adam Burns teaches Filmmaking. This year his students have interviewed people from all over the world, met with Youtube sensations, touring artists, staked out a sunrise, gathered B roll for a commercial, and travel for production, all during school hours. These things would have been unimaginable in previous years, but remote learning opened the world for his students thanks to Zoom and a more flexible schedule.

Teachers like Adam across the state were asked to share their innovative teaching ideas in January for an opportunity to be selected for a$2,500 State Farm “Teacher Assist Grant,” and Adam was one of 40 recipients out of 200 submissions.

“I will use the funds to invest in equipment to build Mobile filmmaking accessory kits for students to sign out and use in the field,” said Burns. “These kits will include microphones, lighting equipment, apps, and stabilization devices that can be used with their mobile phones.”

“As a company, we have a long history of working with teachers, educators, and students across Michigan,” said Jim Slaven, State Farm Corporate Responsibility. “It is important to give back and help create safer, stronger, better educated communities.”

Burns can’t wait to begin using the equipment with his students, helping them learn the latest technology to explore their creativity. “It took some time to adapt our regular filmmaking capabilities to remote learning, and I was apprehensive about the quality of mobile filmmaking, but embraced it when it became clear devices like the iPad issued by the district or personal phones were excellent substitutes for our usual filmmaking equipment. Mobile video is great for quick productions and to learn the fundamentals of filmmaking. This grant allows us to purchase a variety of accessories that will enhance our filmmaking this year and ensure mobile production is something that will be a part of our class moving forward.”