• Skip to main content
23-24 Budget Workshops
EAGLE HEAD LOGO STROKE

Exeter Township School District

Berks County | 610-779-0700

Search
Close
  • Schools
    • Exeter Township Senior High
    • Exeter Township Junior High
    • Reiffton School
    • Jacksonwald Elementary
    • Lorane Elementary
    • Owatin Creek Elementary
    • Exeter Cyber Academy
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Administration
    • Board of Directors
    • District Planning & Goals
    • Employment
    • Right-to-Know Requests
    • Non-Discrimination & Title IX
  • Departments
    • Business
      • 23-24 Budget
    • Communications
    • Food Services
    • Human Resources
    • Pupil Services
      • Gifted Education
      • Health Services
        • Covid-19
      • Homeless Students
      • Homeschooling Information
      • Special Education
      • Student Assistance Program (SAP)
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Students & Parents
    • Athletics
    • Attendance
    • Cafeteria Menus
    • E-Funds
    • Emergency Closing Information
    • Enroll in Exeter
      • Kindergarten Registration
    • Flexible Instruction Days (FID)
    • Forms
    • Music
    • ParentSquare
    • Request or Change Student Records
    • Safe2Say Tipline
    • Schoology
    • Skyward
  • Community
    • Building & Fields Use
    • Community Bulletin Board
    • Track & Tennis Court Use
    • Exeter Alumni Association
    • Exeter Community Education Foundation (ECEF)
    • Pre-K Counts
    • Volunteer Clearances
  • News & Calendars
    • News
    • Calendars & Events
    • Exeter Grapevine
  • Contact Us
    • School Directory
    • Staff Directory

Home » Exeter Grad Shares his Tales from the Red Carpet

photo of exeter alumnus Mitchell Rissmiller

"This is a full circle moment," said Mitchell Rissmiller, a producer for TODAY.com, the digital and streaming platform of the "Today Show," as he motioned to his former ETSH English teacher, Mrs. Lisa McCoy. "I took this class, and I simply wouldn't be the writer I am today without her."

Rissmiller, a 2015 grad, returned to Exeter today to inspire juniors and seniors (and field a couple of fun questions about celebrities) in Mrs. McCoy's Publications & Media class as they listened to his journey from Exeter, to college, and then to the red carpets of Hollywood as a Production Assistant for the "TODAY Show" and later as an Associate Producer for the "Drew Barrymore Show" before recently returning to NBC to produce segments for TODAY.com. Students soaked up his stories of the behind-the-scenes work that he coordinates to research celebrities and prep on-air talent and acquire the b-roll footage and graphics to accompany interviews. "Three months of work can go into a three-minute segment," he said, as he showed students a YouTube clip of a kitchen makeover he was in charge of producing on "The Drew Barrymore Show."

Although his discussion was mostly lighthearted, Rissmiller kept returning to the more serious theme of perseverance. Rejected twice by the "TODAY Show" for an internship, he finally landed with the network on his third attempt. "Rejection is going to come--and it sucks--but I use it for motivation. When you get rejected, you have to ask for feedback. Between that and a lot of hustle, it's how I got to where I am."

Exeter Township School District

district map

Address & Contact Info

  • 200 Elm Street
    Reading, PA 19606

  • District Phone:
    610-779-0700

  • Fax:
    610-779-7104

Follow us on social media

Our Schools

Exeter Township Senior High

Exeter Township Junior High

Reiffton School

Jacksonwald Elementary

Lorane Elementary

Owatin Creek Elementary