Ric Morris
Giant Staff Member of the Month
Our Giant Staff Member of the Month for December 2025 is Ric Morris, Digital Communications Academy Teacher at Stuart Career Tech High School.
With more than 20 years of real-world experience in film, radio, and digital media, he has transformed the Digital Communications Academy into a space where students gain authentic industry exposure and hands-on skills that prepare them for future careers. His strong business connections have opened doors for students to learn directly from professionals across the media landscape, an opportunity that is both rare and invaluable.
From the ground up, Mr. Morris has designed and developed the Digital Communications Academy studio, shaping it into a cutting-edge space where students gain authentic, hands-on experience with professional-level equipment. His vision and leadership have built the program into what it is today: a hub of creativity, technical skill, and career readiness. The interest is so high that student demand now exceeds available space.
Under Mr. Morris’s guidance, students are not only learning, they are excelling. His program has produced state and national award-winning talent, including a student who earned the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Lone Star Chapter Student Production Award for Directing and Cinematography. These achievements reflect his ability to mentor young creators and elevate their work to professional standards.
Mr. Morris also serves as an adjunct professor with Houston Community College allowing him to teach dual credit classes, further expanding his impact on the next generation of media professionals. His expertise bridges high school and college learning, giving students a unique advantage as they pursue postsecondary opportunities.
Mr. Morris’s commitment continues to elevate opportunities for his students. He has established partnerships with local businesses that sponsor student projects, supported commercial production work, and guided short film projects that have premiered at our local movie theater. Each project broadens students’ skills and deepens their understanding of the media industry.
To say that Mr. Morris has exceeded expectations is an understatement. His leadership and passion for student growth have propelled the Digital Communications Academy far beyond its goals and have enriched the district’s career pathways in extraordinary ways.
Thank you to Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital for sponsoring this award.