Who says watching TV won't make you famous?
Viewers across the state have been enlisted to appear in testimonial television spots declaring their appreciation of Smoky Hills Public Television, the area outlet for the Public Broadcasting Corporation.
There was the day-care provider who used the station's children's programming as a teaching tool for her preschoolers.
There was the 44-year-old woman who watched the station's children's programming to help rehabilitate her language skills following a stroke.
And in Dodge City, there were the parents of Bright Beginnings students who improved their language skills in both Spanish and English, improved the language skills of their children, and learned about a variety of family issues.
Smoky Hills Public Television began a partnership with the local Bright Beginnings agency in 2005. Joint programs were designed to enhance literacy and reading skills for both young students and their parents.
The initial programs were expanded to better serve the Hispanic community, offering workshops in Spanish on parenting skills and early reading literacy for parents of Head Start students.
"We partner with Bright Beginnings in two ways," said Leona Breeden, director of educational services at the station. "We provide three books to each of the 475 Head Start students every year.”
The books belong to the students and they take them home, facilitating learning language skills for both students and parents.
"At some point, these students become the teachers and help their parents learn. Some of our parents are working on learning to read and write in their native language, while learning basic English at the same time," Breeden said.
In addition to the book program, Smoky Hills Public Television organizes classes for families, providing books and other bilingual educational materials on a variety of topics.
When the station asked for families who would be willing to go on camera to talk about how the programs have helped them, there was no shortage of enthusiastic volunteers.
"As we watched one family talk passionately about how the programs have helped them give their children a better life, I didn't understand of word of what they said, but I knew what they were saying," Breeden said. "Part of the station's mission is to make Kansas a better place to live and work, and we don't want to leave out any segment of our viewership."
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting provided resources such as technical assistance and templates for ads, posters, and video elements.
Based on the quality of the spots and the overall impact the total program has on Dodge City's Hispanic community, Smoky Hill Public Television received a national award. The station and Bright Beginnings officials hosted an open house Tuesday at the Bright Beginnings facilities.
All the Head Start classes were invited to visit the center to enjoy a cookie and some cider.
And they got to watch themselves on TV.
Reach Don Steele at (620) 408-9910 or e-mail him at don.steele@dodgeglobe.com.
