Joshua Phillips honored for video projects to boost Kittery schools
KITTERY, Maine — The Maine School Boards Association honored Joshua Phillips with the prestigious 2023 Distinguished Service Award during the 50th annual MSBA Fall Conference in Augusta. Phillips is a 2022 graduate of Traip Academy nominated by the Kittery School District.
Phillips established his own video production company, Startistic Video Production. Despite his professional success, he remained committed to giving back to the schools that supported him. Since graduating from Traip Academy, Phillips generously volunteered his time and talent to create numerous video productions for the Kittery School District.
Phillips transferred to Kittery from a public school in New Hampshire as a seventh-grader. Both Shapleigh School and Traip Academy provided support as Phillips developed his passion for video production. As a junior and senior, he further honed his skills under the guidance of his video productions mentor, James Harmon, at the Sanford Regional Technical Center.
One of his remarkable contributions was the 'You Matter' campaign, which featured one-minute autobiographical videos of district employees. These videos, part of the "Now Just One Minute" project, provide insight into the district's staff for families and make staff feel valued and recognized by the community.
Phillips also collaborated with the superintendent of schools to create a promotional video in 2023, showcasing Kittery's three schools and its community. This video serves as a valuable resource for military families and other newcomers to Kittery.
He also produced a tour video the human resources department uses in recruiting prospective employees. He also partnered with the superintendent to create a welcome video for all staff and families.
His dedication extended to collaborations with the local PTA and the new high school principal to produce engaging videos like "Teachers as Learners" and others to engage with alumni. These videos allowed families, even those deployed around the world, to experience concerts and talent shows.
Phillips' volunteer work aligns perfectly with the recent 'Maine Loves Public Schools' campaign. During the MSBA Fall Conference, Phillips interviewed attendees and created a video montage in support of the 'Maine Loves Public Schools' project.
Phillips' contributions have all been voluntary. He accepted no payment. His selflessness and dedication embody the spirit of "distinguished service' to the schools, staff, students, and families of the Kittery School District.