Reflections, gratitude and BTS VIDEOS as the more U.S. schools start a new academic year

Discover outtakes, extended interviews, and personal reflections as we prepare for the upcoming academic year.

Some mornings feel bigger than the alarm clock.

Monday, Aug. 24, is one of them.

At 6 a.m., KOMU 8 News will debut our Mid-Missouri Back to School Live special. Thousands of families across the heart of Missouri will find new rhythms, roadblocks, readjustments and renewed senses of clarity.

Little nugget me (left) and my older brother Nicholas living our best 90's fashion life.

As someone who attended multiple K-12 schools across the U.S. and who decided to earn my degree in a different state than my high school alma mater (shoutout to Avon, Ind.), I remember the rollercoastering internal surprises as I considered the possibilities of a new cast of teachers, course content, connections, and physical, emotional and mental

This is a first.

My first new blog post.... and...

I'm trying something new.

Why not, right?

If you're still reading, you'll find extra videos from my most recent news story. Many of the angles are shaky and there's video we did not use in the story this time around.

It's a perspective informed Americans almost never see. Thinking over my career, I don't think I've shared many deep glimpses into the many cherished projects I get to work on -- especially not the day beforehand, but:

1. Monday also marks the debut of my first KOMU 8 News feature story I've produced from the field since arriving on April 27, a date many Missouri families weathered severe storms and tornados.

   1. That said, I've hit the ground running with the talented KOMU 8 News crew and I'm truly relieved to share my multimedia story telling, engage with longtime community members, and see things for myself.

   2. I got to work with KOMU 8 Chief Photographer Dom L., an MU School of Journalism professor and well-deserving recipient of countless Emmy, state awards. (And...I may or may not have comandeered his absolutely precious daughter's room for a bit until I found housing... great guy all around, but I digress--)

2. I love interacting with engaged members of any community

   1. Thank you for the emails, social media messages/comments, and -- as I'm finding out -- notes to my KOMU 8 News managers. The immediate engagement and the community's commitment to hold changemakers, journalists and everyday community members accountable is telling, for me, that I've made the right choice in moving to the "5-7-3" (no one calls this area by it's area code, butttt maybe it'll stick? Be nice.)

3. I'm not perfect

   1. Time is never on your side when you work in a teaching lab that's also a 24/7 news affiliate of NBC. Continuing the next step of my career adjacent to higher education was intentional, In these weeks of gathering local content for Monday's on-location KOMU 8 News special, the the energy keeps building. It's building in our thriving newsroom; it's building inside me.

   2. Suffice it to say that sometimes Marvis' sleep schedule does not obey commands. After landing a one-on-one tour with the leader of the area's newest school, opening this Tuesday, Dom agreed to meet me at the school at 2:30p.m. I took an infamous Marvis micronap and brainstormed quick ideas with Dominick. Mindful of a principal's time ahead of the first day of school for the first time EVER, we moved with a flexible plan and got everything we needed within a short time.

Marvis N. Herring is NOT above a pre-show mirror selfie. (2026)

Then, Dom shared a creative idea... a creative vision, perhaps?

With confirmation and clearance that the cafeteria would not be used for another few minutes Dom ran to the car and fired up the mini-drone cam to shoot my "bridge." That is a storytelling technique where you, the viewer, sees the reporter on the screen showing or explaining something to better connect the next idea to follow. Sometimes, a bridge may come before a sound bite or a loud sound that gives the viewer a deeper sense of the scene. The reporter's narration of the TV or digital story may also simply continue. (This is not a peer-reviewed definition. Be NICE!!!)

Yikes! This is already far longer than expected.

Here is the new video, friends:

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/5162d2_e12c8d23227c478697724851abc45586/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Marvis shares some TV magic after making up his lines on the spot. (Video: Dominick M. Lee)

The early call time.

The live shots.

The moving pieces.

The quick questions.

The last-minute details, surprises.

The people behind the scenes who make this whole crazy TV/mobile app/website/police scanners/viewer feedback/revenue/promotions all work -- and in a communicative atmosphere that fosters growth? Pinch me! Could I be dreaming?

This is what I prayed for. In busy or unfamiliar seasons, I choose to see that answered prayer.

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GIVEN KOMU 8 NEWS TODAY A WATCH

Since this is getting to be more of a diary, I'll try to make the rest to the point. In my tour at Eagle Bluffs, Principal Sicht told me her highest priority was the wellbeing of the kids they serve.

You should count on KOMU 8 News TODAY because community wellbeing through ethical, balanced journalism is consensually our priority.

Part of what makes the multiple 1am(ish) alarms no problem for me is knowing producers, editors, directors, managers and everyone else are narrowl focused on using the best resources we can to share relevant, informative and accurate live reports + a few laughs along the way.

Education matters to me.

I'm not writing a blog on a weekend to promote one-hour of live television (though lotsssss of work from countless people went into that 60 minutes).

My mom teaches preschoolers. My brother and his husband = both experienced educators, including kindergarten through early professionals -- in multiple states.

Zadie Mae, my beloved 86-years WISE Granny, spent more than a decade serving student with special needs at Shriner's in the Mid-South (Memphis area).

It was the discovery of my family's lack of access in recent years, however, that cemented my appreciation and realization of my own blessings of access.

Families are stepping into a new school year. Students are finding their strides again. Let's not forget teachers, staff and administrators are likely buying teaching materials on their own dime, answering questions, solving problems, and maybe even putting personal needs on hold a time or two (NOTE: I believe self-care also matters) as they honor a commitment to grow the minds of tomorrow's leaders.

Anway, the whole team at channel 8 dug in to contribute new content ahead of most of Mid-Missouri schools' first day of classes. Covering education is year-round, but it doesn't hurt to brush up on some reminders about nutrition, anxiety, state and local policy changes, and what may impact your wallet.

Plus, a few exciting feature stories!

And yes, I wanted to bring you along for the parts you do not always get to see. (keep scrolling)