Pocomoke Middle School To Be On 'Today Show'

Congratulations Principal Caroline Bloxom, PMS Teachers, Staff and PMS Students! You should be very proud!!!

POCOMOKE CITY -- Pocomoke Middle will be one of a handful of schools in the nation featured in next week's "Education Nation" series on NBC's "Today Show."

NBC News film crews and the "Today Show's" Ann Curry visited the school Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday to gather footage for the feature.

"Our entire school felt an enormous amount of pride to have the 'Today Show' visit," Principal Caroline Bloxom said.

The school gained the notice of producers working on the series after being named one of the country's 10 NASSP Breakthrough Schools for its improvements in student achievement in 2008, and then being profiled on the U.S. Department of Education's website in 2009.

On the "Today Show" piece, Pocomoke Middle will be featured as an example of a successful public middle school in spite of the challenges it faces as a rural school with a high population of poverty. Curry interviewed Bloxom, while teachers and students were filmed sharing their thoughts on programs and initiatives -- such as its literacy program and Arts Immersion initiative -- that they thought made the school unique.

Bloxom, who is beginning her 11th year as the school's principal, said it was an exciting experience for her as well as the school's students and staff to have film crews at Pocomoke Middle.

"It's not every day that a national news network rolls into our school," she said.

She said students and staff were looking forward to seeing what producers chose to use for the three- to four-minute piece that would be aired on "Education Nation."

"They have an amazing amount to choose from," Bloxom said.

Although it's not known what time the piece will air on Wednesday, Bloxom said if it was during school hours the school would be tuned in. Otherwise, students will get to view the piece on DVD after it is broadcast.

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