Yearbook Chat with Jim

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Adviser of Note: Courtney Hanks, University High School, Orange City, Florida Oct 05, 2018

Show notes

Courtney Hanks earned her new nickname through her dedication to helping students understand what makes a great yearbook.
This remarkable young adviser earned a Silver Crown with the second high school book she ever advised (and her third ever). Courtney and the yearbook staff at University High School in Orange City, Florida are taking giant steps to build a great yearbook program.
Courtney was named a 2018 JEA Rising Star, and is this month's Adviser of Note.
She and host Jim Jordan have built a friendship over the past year, and today's discussion reflects that friendship and mutual respect as the discuss what it takes to shape student leaders and build a great program.
This is not the last we'll hear from Courtney. Jim will check back in with her over the course of the school year to follow how her year, her book and her program are progressing. You can read more about Courtney in the Adviser of Note post at walsworthyearbooks.com/blog.

Questions? Comments? Send them to podcasts@walsworth.com.

Riding Out the Storm with David Graves, St. Thomas Episcopal School, Houston, Texas Sep 21, 2018

Show notes

Two days into the 2018 school year, everything changed for yearbook adviser David Graves and the students and staff of St. Thomas' Episcopal School in Houston, Texas. They left school on Thursday, but didn't return to school for more than two weeks and they weren’t back on their campus until after the first of the year. Hurricane Harvey had hit the Houston area, and their school was one of many affected by the record-setting flooding it caused.
Despite living through a life-altering disaster, David and his students still had a yearbook to complete. Their already chosen them, "Not Just Another Day," was oddly prescient for the year.
In this episode, David and host Jim Jordan discuss their yearbook, the events of Hurricane Harvey, and covering a disaster of this magnitude in their yearbook.
The timing of this episode is purely coincidental. Jim first interviewed David before Hurricane Florence ever formed. In light of the damage inflicted on the east coast, Jim went back to David for more advice on schools affected in similar ways. If you have been affected by Hurricane Florence or the flooding it caused, David is offering his support. If you reach out via podcasts@walsworth.com, we'll make sure your message gets to him.

Lori Oglesbee on Yearbooks, Writing and Life Aug 30, 2018

Show notes

Lori Oglesbee is a force of nature.

Born and raised in Louisiana, she knew while still in high school that she wanted to teach yearbook. She recently retired from teaching. During her 34-year career, she served as a yearbook adviser in three different states. In the course of her notable career, she established her place as a "triple-threat" journalism teacher, with the ability to instruct kids well in writing, photography and design.

In this episode, Lori and Jim discuss her life, writing, teaching students how to write, being named the 2009 JEA Adviser of the Year, how a clumsy dance partner led her to yearbook, and how an elderly man's search for his high school yearbook impacted her life. Lori shares it all with her southern flair for storytelling.

We'd love to hear your thoughts or suggestions for future episodes. Send them to podcasts@walsworth.com.

Adviser of Note: Leland Mallett, Legacy High School, Mansfield, Texas Aug 23, 2018

Show notes

Leland Mallett has been doing scholastic journalism since the seventh grade, even though what he really wanted was to build a waterbed.

He is now the yearbook adviser at Legacy High School in Mansfield, Texas. His scholastic journalism has won many awards since it was founded in 2007, and Leland was named a 2017 JEA Distinguished Adviser.

In this episode, Leland and host Jim Jordan discusses how he built his program from the ground up, the importance of going home at a decent time every night, and how he musters the energy for their annual lock-in tradition.

Leland is Walsworth's August Adviser of Note, and you can learn more about him at https://www.walsworthyearbooks.com/yearbook-advisers-of-note-meet-leland-mallett/.

Taking Over an Established Yearbook Program Aug 16, 2018

Show notes

The first year as an adviser will be nerve-wracking for anyone, but if you're coming into a well-established, award-winning program it can be even more intense!

Jim Jordan spoke to three first-year advisers who followed in the footsteps at legendary programs - including the young adviser who took over his program.

Michael Simons, Corning-Painted Post High School, Corning, New York Aug 09, 2018

Show notes

In episode 5 of Yearbook Chat with Jim, Jim Jordan interviews Mike Simons, "the energizer bunny of scholastic journalism."

Mike and Jim discuss their long-standing friendship, the moment Mike realized what he needed to do to make his yearbook program great, and why new(ish) yearbook advisers shouldn't be afraid to critique the yearbooks of other schools.

They also discuss the freedom of the scholastic press, and Mike's role in securing it in New York.

We want to know your thoughts! Send them to podcasts@walsworth.com

Don Walsworth, President of Walsworth Yearbooks Aug 02, 2018

Show notes

Walsworth's president, Don Walsworth, has been around yearbooks all his life. In episode four of Yearbook Chat with Jim, he and Jim Jordan discuss the company's humble beginnings in the Great Depression and the hard work that brought the company to where it is now, as one of the top five yearbook companies in North America.

Don and Jim also talk about family, college, the future of yearbook, and Don's time as a professional golfer.

We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions! Send an email to podcasts@walsworth.com.

Sarah Lerner, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida – part 2 Jul 26, 2018

Show notes

In part two of Jim Jordan's interview with yearbook adviser Sarah Lerner, Jim and Sarah discuss what happened after the tragic Valentine's Day events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Sarah Lerner discusses how the events changed her staff and how they finished the book. She shares her thoughts on the importance of mental health care, mixing journalism and politics, and the national movement started by survivors.

If you haven't listened to part one of Sarah and Jim's interview, we strongly encourage you to find it on your app or at walsworthyearbooks.com/podcasts.

Sarah Lerner, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida – part 1 Jul 19, 2018

Show notes

In this episode of Yearbook Chat with Jim, Jim Jordan interviews Sarah Lerner, the yearbook adviser at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The school was launched into the national spotlight after a school shooting on Feb. 14, 2018, left 17 people dead.

Sarah and her staff were tasked with creating a yearbook that honored those victims, but still showed the rest of the school and school year. It was no easy task, especially for students and staff still grieving the tragedy.

Sarah shared her important story with Jim. This is part one of her interview, part two will be released July 26.

That First Year: New Advisers Reflect Jun 28, 2018

Show notes

The first year as a yearbook adviser can be a challenge. In the inaugural episode of Yearbook Chat with Jim, Jim Jordan hosts three yearbook advisers who just finished their first year. These advisers discuss the challenges, successes and surprises they experienced their first year. They share what they would have done different, what they’re proud of accomplishing, and give advice to fellow advisers preparing to start their first year of yearbook.

2:00 Lori Davis

Lori Davis is the yearbook adviser at Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was a teacher for 20 years before becoming the yearbook adviser. The private pre-K through 12 school, which she fondly refers to as “Latin,” has 1400 students. Their 2018 yearbook was 416 pages.

26:30 Halie Luken

Halie Luken teaches yearbook at Marmaton Valley Junior/Senior High in Moran, Kansas. This was her second year of teaching, but her first at Marmaton Valley and her first teaching yearbook. The public school has 130 students, grades 7-12, including Halie’s younger sister. Their 2018 yearbook was 112 pages.

41:00 Lindsey Valbuena

Lindsey Valbuena is the yearbook adviser at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California. She taught middle school for six years before coming to Mira Costa High School, where she taught for one year before becoming the yearbook adviser. The public high school has 2450 students. Their 2018 yearbook was 448 pages.

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