MEDIA EDUCATOR & MENTOR
As a creative educator and mentor, Rothstein — known to his students as Mr. Josh — is a DOE-approved media educator committed to empowering young voices through purposeful storytelling and community-based learning. He has spent the past several years guiding high school students through real-world content creation experiences that blend storytelling, technology, and community engagement.
At YCD High School in Brooklyn, he leads several after-school programs—including Visions & Voices, where students produce original photography and short films exploring identity and social themes, culminating in a public exhibition that centers their creative voices and lived experiences; and Sports Media Marketing, where students manage the school athletics website, livestream games, photograph events, and develop on-air talent for sports broadcasts, interviews, and podcasts.
Rothstein also co-founded Dinner Roll TV, a media and marketing program that engages students in hands-on content creation for local restaurants, equipping them with practical skills that extend beyond the classroom.
As the capstone to the Vision and Voices after-school program, this end-of-year collaborative video between Mr. Josh and the students encapsulates the spirit of creativity and unity that the program is designed to foster. Blending student-led interviews with archival footage, the video captures the energy, beauty, and diversity of the YCD student body — and highlights the culture of connection and the importance of community at the heart of the school.
Created for Hoods to Woods, this collaborative video by student Lorenzo Morgan and Mr. Josh highlights Lorenzo’s life-changing trip to Oregon last summer. Now being used at fundraisers, the video serves as a powerful illustration of the transformative impact that snowboarding and time in nature can have on a young person’s life.
This video, created by student Jonathan Pascal, is a deeply personal expression of his journey in processing the complex relationship he shared with his recently deceased father. Through close and thoughtful collaboration with Mr. Josh, Jonathan was able to bravely explore a topic that had long been closed off to him — resulting in a heartfelt and courageous portrayal of an emotionally layered experience.
Created for the Sports Media & Analytics program under development at YCD High School, this video highlights math teacher Mr. D’Orazio’s innovative approach to engaging students by incorporating fantasy football into his curriculum
Created as part of the Dinner Roll TV after-school program, this collaborative video by students Jada White, Jonathan Pascal, and Mr. Josh sheds light on the stark statistical realities of food insecurity in New York City
Created as part of the Dinner Roll TV after-school program, this video by Faith Davenport highlights her younger brother Jacob’s deep connection to food and the meaningful role it plays in his life as a young boy on the autism spectrum.
Created as a part of the Dinner Roll TV after school program, this video served as promotional video for the local Flatbush restaurant Island Express. Created by student Simon Salmon.