Joseph W. Underwood
Encyclopedia
Joseph W. Underwood was born in Indianapolis, IN. and was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame
in 2007. He has won numerous other awards for teaching excellence as a Television and MovieMaking teacher at Miami Senior High School in Miami, FL, as well as for being a Certified Athletic Trainer, and a football official. Underwood has written and produced a number of educational video series featuring his “characters” in places he has visited around the world, including the Galapagos Islands, Japan, and China. In addition, Dr. Underwood has developed other video series to enhance learning.
His creative teaching strategies earned Underwood the recognition of being named a Disney American Teacher Award Honoree in 2004. From 39 Disney teachers nationwide, Joe was selected to be lead author and editor of this group of dedicated educators as they collaborated to write Today I Made a Difference: A Collection of Inspirational Stories from America’s Top Educators [Adams Media]. In 2005, he was named Teacher of the Year at Miami High and also was selected by USA TODAY as a member of their ALL-STAR TEACHER TEAM. In 2006, Underwood joined 20 other teachers from across the country by the Toyota International Teacher Program as they went on an amazing educational adventure to the Galapagos Islands, which was featured in a story in the Miami Herald, Island Adventure. The College Board recognized Dr. Underwood’s creative approach to education in 2007 with the Bob Costas Award for the Teaching of Writing. Underwood’s philosophy of “kaizen,” or continual incremental improvement found him on an educational excursion to Japan in 2008 as a member of the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund teacher program. Creativity in the training room and a love for officiating football landed Underwood two significant awards in 2009, including the Public Relations Award from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association
for the production of an original rap video featuring one of Underwood’s newest characters, J-Diddy, and his J-Diddy Concert for Athletic Trainers. This was also the year that Underwood was inducted into the American Football News Today Hall of Fame for dedicating over 25 years as a game official (Referee, Linesman, and Side Judge) at the semi-pro level. The Florida Education Association named Underwood its Teacher of Excellence in 2010, which led to his invitation to visit China in 2011 with the National Education Association and Pearson Education.
Joseph Underwood has taught for 26 years at Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida. Since 1988, Underwood has been the school’s television production teacher. Dr. Underwood has taken the TV program and over the years and has developed it into an internationally recognized program of excellence for preparing students to enter the entertainment technologies industry. This was made possible by creating an academy called ARTEC (Arts Related Technology for Entertainment Careers) and by expanding the curriculum to include MovieMaking and Entertainment Law, which is the only high school Entertainment Law class in the state of Florida. Entertainment Law is a collaborative effort between the ARTEC Academy and the school’s Legal and Public Affairs magnet program. Dr. Underwood wrote the curriculum with the magnet program providing textbooks and laptops for student success.
Students in Underwood’s classes are immersed in a working production environment while preparing for a daily, live newscast, Stingtown News, seen by over 3,000 students and staff. The Stingtown News crew averages 160 live shows per year. In 2011, Miami High has opened up a new digital studio for the Television Production classes.
Regional and State level:
National Teachers Hall of Fame
The National Teachers Hall of Fame is an American non-profit organization honoring exceptional school teachers. It was founded in 1989 by Emporia State University, the ESU Alumni Association, the City of Emporia, USD 253, and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce...
in 2007. He has won numerous other awards for teaching excellence as a Television and MovieMaking teacher at Miami Senior High School in Miami, FL, as well as for being a Certified Athletic Trainer, and a football official. Underwood has written and produced a number of educational video series featuring his “characters” in places he has visited around the world, including the Galapagos Islands, Japan, and China. In addition, Dr. Underwood has developed other video series to enhance learning.
His creative teaching strategies earned Underwood the recognition of being named a Disney American Teacher Award Honoree in 2004. From 39 Disney teachers nationwide, Joe was selected to be lead author and editor of this group of dedicated educators as they collaborated to write Today I Made a Difference: A Collection of Inspirational Stories from America’s Top Educators [Adams Media]. In 2005, he was named Teacher of the Year at Miami High and also was selected by USA TODAY as a member of their ALL-STAR TEACHER TEAM. In 2006, Underwood joined 20 other teachers from across the country by the Toyota International Teacher Program as they went on an amazing educational adventure to the Galapagos Islands, which was featured in a story in the Miami Herald, Island Adventure. The College Board recognized Dr. Underwood’s creative approach to education in 2007 with the Bob Costas Award for the Teaching of Writing. Underwood’s philosophy of “kaizen,” or continual incremental improvement found him on an educational excursion to Japan in 2008 as a member of the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund teacher program. Creativity in the training room and a love for officiating football landed Underwood two significant awards in 2009, including the Public Relations Award from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association
National Athletic Trainers' Association
The National Athletic Trainers' Association is a professional membership association serving certified athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession in the United States...
for the production of an original rap video featuring one of Underwood’s newest characters, J-Diddy, and his J-Diddy Concert for Athletic Trainers. This was also the year that Underwood was inducted into the American Football News Today Hall of Fame for dedicating over 25 years as a game official (Referee, Linesman, and Side Judge) at the semi-pro level. The Florida Education Association named Underwood its Teacher of Excellence in 2010, which led to his invitation to visit China in 2011 with the National Education Association and Pearson Education.
Joseph Underwood has taught for 26 years at Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida. Since 1988, Underwood has been the school’s television production teacher. Dr. Underwood has taken the TV program and over the years and has developed it into an internationally recognized program of excellence for preparing students to enter the entertainment technologies industry. This was made possible by creating an academy called ARTEC (Arts Related Technology for Entertainment Careers) and by expanding the curriculum to include MovieMaking and Entertainment Law, which is the only high school Entertainment Law class in the state of Florida. Entertainment Law is a collaborative effort between the ARTEC Academy and the school’s Legal and Public Affairs magnet program. Dr. Underwood wrote the curriculum with the magnet program providing textbooks and laptops for student success.
Students in Underwood’s classes are immersed in a working production environment while preparing for a daily, live newscast, Stingtown News, seen by over 3,000 students and staff. The Stingtown News crew averages 160 live shows per year. In 2011, Miami High has opened up a new digital studio for the Television Production classes.
Honors and Recognition
National level:- NEA Excellence in Teaching Award Winner, Washington, DC 2011
- USCG Commandant’s Citation for Meritorious Achievement 2011
- NEA/Pearson/EF Teachers to China participant 2011
- American Football Hall of Fame, semi-pro game official, Inductee 2009
- Japan Fulbright Memorial Foundation Teacher Program 2008
- National Teachers Hall of FameNational Teachers Hall of FameThe National Teachers Hall of Fame is an American non-profit organization honoring exceptional school teachers. It was founded in 1989 by Emporia State University, the ESU Alumni Association, the City of Emporia, USD 253, and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce...
in 2007 - Disney Teacher Of The Year in 2004
- National Board For Professional Teaching StandardsNational Board for Professional Teaching StandardsThe National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in education. Founded in 1987, NBPTS improves teaching and student learning by enhancing overall educator effectiveness and recognizing and rewarding highly...
in 2003
Regional and State level:
Personal
Joseph Underwood is the son of Warren E. and Kay A. [Craft] Underwood. He is married to Nancy, a second grade teacher. They have one daughter, Jolene, who hopes to attend Vanderbilt University. Jolene's community service project goes back to her dad's visit to the Galapagos Islands as she is raising funds and school supplies for children who live there. Galapagos Tools for Schools is a two-year project that will culminate with Jolene personally delivering school supplies to needy children in the Galapagos. Dr. Underwood is a dedicated football official with over 25 years of experience. He has served as the president of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference Football Officials Association since 2004. Underwood is also the TV Liaison/Red Hat (TV timeouts) for the Atlantic Coast Conference's University of Miami football team, and has served as the TV Liaison for the annual Orange Bowl Classic football game since 1999. Underwood has acted in many commercials and was in several episodes of the original Miami Vice, and was Referee #4 in Oliver Stone's football movie, Any Given Sunday. Joe Underwood's video characters (Billy Joe Bob, Gus Galapa, Kenny Kaizen, and J-Diddy...and coming soon, Baxter Bigwahl) can be seen on his YouTube page, DrJoeU.Publications
- Today I Made A Difference. Adams Media, Joseph W. Underwood, editor 2009 ISBN 978-1-59869-834-3
- Producer/Actor, Miami Undercover. Independent feature length film.
- Contributing Author, Faith, Hope, and Joy: The Unexpected Side Effects of Cancer. Bernie Siegel. Currently in production. John Wiley and Sons, publisher.
External links
- National Teachers Hall of FameNational Teachers Hall of FameThe National Teachers Hall of Fame is an American non-profit organization honoring exceptional school teachers. It was founded in 1989 by Emporia State University, the ESU Alumni Association, the City of Emporia, USD 253, and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce...
http://www.nthf.org/inductee/07underwood.htm - Tampa Bay OnLine http://beta2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2009/dec/12/flas-teacher-year-started-miami-vice-ar-66209/
- T.H.E. Journal 2007
- Disney Teacher Award http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/learning/teacherawards/bio/2004/underwood.html
- J-Diddy dmdd video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56tqoHvWdNA
- Galapagos Tools for Schools http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVM4AO0mgfI
- Kenny Kaizen video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjQubYlJq70
- Gus Galapa video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhKVhr4NzYM
- J-Diddy Concert for Athletic Trainers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G289U3fDBeU