Award-winning Program’s Ninth Season Produced
in Collaboration with Webster University
St. Louis, MO—September 10, 2024—Nine PBS continues to transform the early education landscape with a new season of locally produced Teaching in Room 9. Premiering September 16, the new season of the award-winning program, designed specifically for pre-k through fourth grade learners, features a new set, new segments, and a new collaboration with Webster University.
Each 30-minute episode features familiar host Dr. Sanders, a pre-k educator at Adams Elementary in the Saint Louis Public School District, along with lessons from local classroom teachers, special guests, and fun field trips throughout St. Louis. Every episode focuses on literacy and includes segments on school readiness, social-emotional learning, STEM, movement, and more.
“This new season of Teaching in Room 9 continues our commitment to ensuring quality educational programming to the children and families throughout St. Louis,” said Amy Shaw, President and CEO, Nine PBS. “For 70 years, Nine PBS has been dedicated to serving people across our region, including our youngest learners and their families. We’re proud that this program is being used by educators and parents alike to support their students.”
The fall 2024 season of Teaching in Room 9—the show’s ninth in five years—was created in close collaboration with Webster University. Students from its School of Education helped develop the program curriculum with instruction from Nine PBS Curriculum Design Manager Dr. Arionna Ralleigh and Webster University Associate Professor and Interim Dean of the School of Education Stephanie Mahfood. Episodes were filmed at the School of Communication’s new state-of-the-art studio and virtual production stage – the only one of its kind at a college in the region – with production assistance from Webster students.
“Working with Nine PBS on this new season of Teaching in Room 9 helps us provide our students with real-world, experiential learning,” said Eric Rothenbuhler, Dean, Webster University School of Communications. “We have collaborated on several projects in the past, and this one may be the best. You cannot beat a television production schedule, real-dollars budget, and sharing a crew with industry professionals as a learning experience. And our students will leave with professional broadcast production credits.”
Each episode of Teaching in Room 9 continues to incorporate lessons aligned to Missouri and Illinois state standards in reading, math, science, and social skills, with a strong emphasis on literacy. Teaching in Room 9 takes learning beyond the classroom as viewers discover the region's resources. Children will explore the train system at the Saint Louis Zoo, learn about letterpress techniques at Central Print, get a behind-the-scenes look at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and more.
These field trips not only enhance educational content but also promote social-emotional development. Together, the lessons and field trips create a comprehensive curriculum, providing early learners with essential education as they prepare for school.
The new season of Teaching in Room 9 premieres September 16 at 9:30 am on Nine PBS. All episodes are available to stream on ninepbs.org, the PBS app, or on YouTube.
Teaching in Room 9 is supported by Bank of America, Berges Family Foundation, Boeing, The Cigna Group Foundation, Dana Brown Charitable Trust, Emerson Charitable Trust, and Pershing Charitable Trust.
About Nine PBS
As an essential community institution, Nine PBS magnifies and deepens understanding of our community to help our region flourish. We tell stories that move us. We meet people where they are the most comfortable consuming content. Nine PBS’s platforms include four distinct broadcast channels (Nine PBS, Nine PBS KIDS®, Nine PBS World, and Nine PBS Create), ninepbs.org, social media, the free PBS App, streaming services, live and virtual events, and the Public Media Commons. Since 1954, Nine PBS has accepted the community’s invitation into their homes, schools, and businesses. Follow Nine PBS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
About Webster University
With its main campus in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Webster University (www.webster.edu) comprises an action-oriented global network of faculty, staff, students and alumni who forge powerful bonds with each other and with their communities around the globe. Founded in 1915, Webster is an independent nonprofit university with students studying at campus locations in North America, Europe, and Asia and in a robust learning environment online. The University is committed to ensuring high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Brandt
Director of Communications
(314) 512-9034
sbrandt@ninepbs.org