Teacher Feature April 2025: David Diianni
David Diianni is a former producer and director with a background in working for major European traditional broadcasters. Seventeen years ago, he transitioned into education and now serves as the Program Director of FilmAcademy360, an innovative program designed for young adults on the autism spectrum. The program is part of Spectrum360, a New Jersey-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children, young adults, and adults with autism.
Discover David’s favorite tools, pro tips, and some of the incredible locations where his students have had the opportunity to film in the Q&A below.
What’s your favorite StoryMaker lesson? My favorite lesson is What Makes a Good Video Story? It highlights the importance of thinking about storytelling in visual terms. In our classes, we spend a lot of time reinforcing story elements with our students and helping them focus on making sure that each element complements the others. We examine how B-roll, narration, and especially heartfelt interviews can increase the interest and emotional impact of a topic.
What’s a media-making tool or resource you can’t live without? Adobe Premiere
What’s your advice for teachers and educators just getting started on StoryMaker? Check out the Curriculum Roadmap: Broadcasting. This is a quick start guide to a new video production/broadcast program. Take your time getting familiar with the lessons and tools. There is so much there. You can create your own teaching path by using the content on Storymaker.
Recently, one of your students had their work featured on SRL’s social media, and another won an award at the Garden State Film Festival — what’s it like to witness those moments of success? And how do you cultivate confidence and creative expression in your classroom?
As educators, our students’ successes are a direct reflection of our own. At the heart of educational leadership is the commitment to fostering success in others. For my students, who face unique challenges as individuals on the autism spectrum, feeling empowered and capable is the key to thriving. Too often, they’ve experienced failure, especially in traditional educational settings. That’s why, for me and my team, witnessing their growth and achievement in those same settings is deeply rewarding. It’s the reason we do what we do: to create meaningful experiences that not only help our students grow as individuals but also help them feel more understood and accepted within their communities.
As part of my educational philosophy, I hold firm to the belief that my students deserve high expectations. I make it clear that while my staff and I provide thoughtful modifications and accommodations to support their learning, we never lower the bar. To me, holding high expectations is one of the greatest forms of respect—we’re telling our students, “I believe in you.” And hopefully, that belief becomes contagious. I want my students to think, “If he thinks I can do it… maybe I can!”
Our students require specialized teaching and compassionate, empathetic support—but they are capable of so much. Our classroom culture is built around that truth, reinforcing it every day through our words, our actions, and our unwavering belief in their potential.
Links to student work: Unrealistic, that recent award-winning short art film at the Garden State Film Festival by our student Leila G, and Barnel Paul’s piece about Angelina that was just featured on SRL’s Instagram.
What’s a dream story you’d like to report on or a person you’d like to interview? The opportunity for my students to interview Tim Burton because they love his movies and his style of creativity. He has spoken about some of his struggles with socialization that is often associated with autism. For my students to see someone who has overcome struggles similar to their own would be inspiring.
Fun facts? My students have filmed on location at our partner organizations, including The Guggenheim Museum, NYC, Bayer HQ NYC, The Montclair Art Museum, and The Children’s Specialized Hospital of St. Barnabas. They also participate annually in New Jersey’s largest film festival, The Garden State Film Festival.
You can reach out to David directly to learn more about how he’s adapted StoryMaker into his classes. Email him at ddiianni@spectrum360.org
April is National Autism Acceptance Month — a time to promote understanding, inclusion, and true acceptance of individuals with autism. This month marks a shift from simply raising awareness to actively celebrating neurodiversity and embracing the full spectrum of how people think, communicate, and experience the world. Want to learn more and find ways to support? Visit the Autism Society’s campaign page.