New Advisers

• Yard Signs- Boost yearbook sales with yard signs placed in your school’s drop-off and pick-up areas — they work! Order here. There’s a small cost, but if you’re one of the first two advisers to email me with the subject line “YARD SIGNS,” I’ll send a set to your campus free of charge.
• Plan Portrait Page Coverage- You need small coverage modules or quick reads on your portrait pages. Get the info for these now.
• Schedule Group Photo Pages- Get team photos from coaches. Schedule a day in November or December for all your club/group photos. (More on the process later.) Ask your photo company to come for a day or an afternoon to take these photos for you.
• Check on Sales and Budget- Refer to your budget worksheet. Make sure you're on track for your sales goals. Your rep can help with this.
• Check on Portraits – Contact your photo company to see when you’ll receive your portrait download. Aim to have portrait pages submitted before Christmas.
• Do Not Print List- You'll be flowing photos soon. Be sure you have the list of students who are NOT to be in the book. Get this list from your administration.

Portrait pages should have quick reads (secondary coverage or mods). Try to avoid a full spread of portraits. Remember, you're creating a history book for 2026, so look for things that say 2026. "67" Have each student interview buyers and obtain quotes for quick reads on portrait pages. Get ideas that don't rely on student photos that are another mug shot.

That said, it’s a good idea to contact Computer Support or your rep the first time. You should be getting your portrait files from your photo company soon.

⚠️ Don’t upload until retakes are complete. Some photo companies send updated links after each photo day.

I’ve also created a short video showing how to flow photos if you’d like to try it yourself. Don't judge- It's a one-take wonder video. :)

Use these graphics on your school's website, print them for students to hand out, post them on social media and hand them out at home games.

A consistent daily classroom will help keep students on task and communicate expectations. Here's a suggested framed day.

Begin with an opener- This could be an activity, game or meeting. Use Walsworth's Class Starts if you need help.
Lesson- Take time out to show a video or teach a skill. I try to add ideas in this newsletter. Focus on a task a week and give a different approach to the skill each day. For example, caption writing- Day 1- demonstrate good captions, Day 2- Open sample books. Find and share good captions. Day 3- Write a caption. Day 4- Peer write captions. Day 5 - Caption quiz. Which caption is better.

Work Time- Yearbook is a lab class. Give students time to work. Guide them. Pull up a chair and help students.

Clean Up/ Wrap Up- Have students return materials, shut down computers and clean up. Check to see what students completed as they walk out the door.

So your rep has scheduled a visit. What do you need to do?

• Before the meeting, email your rep to share what you need help with or any challenges you’re facing.

• Prepare questions in advance.

• Let your students know your rep is visiting—many of us are former teachers and love working directly with students!

• If you’d like help teaching a skill, let your rep know early so they can prepare.

• Alert your front office about your rep’s visit—share their name and arrival time.

• If you need to cancel, do so as soon as possible so they can adjust their travel schedule.

• At the end of the visit, ask what your rep expects from you before their next visit—you might have a deadline or task to complete.

• Set your next appointment before your rep leaves.

• Walk your rep out if possible and stop by the principal’s office together—it’s great for your admin to see your collaboration in action.

A group of first-year (or new) advisers. Your Walsworth rep has added you to this group for new advisers. If you would like to be removed, please email me and let me know. Most Sundays, I’ll send updates to help you in your classroom. Each update will be full of checklists, classroom help and pro tips.

After accidentally joining newspaper class in seventh grade, I’ve been hooked on student journalism ever since. I advised yearbook and newspaper at Legacy High School in Mansfield, Texas for 18 years and in Big Spring, Texas for seven. Legacy’s publications have earned CSPA Crowns, NSPA Pacemakers, and ILPC Stars. I’ve served as Webmaster for the Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE) and received multiple honors, including:

• CSPA Distinguished Adviser (2024)

• JEA Distinguished Adviser (2018)

• JEA Commended Adviser (2025)

• Max Haddick Texas Journalism Adviser of the Year (2015)

• Edith Fox King Award (2010)

• TAJE Trailblazer Award (2013)

In June, I joined the Walsworth family as the Texas Education Specialist. My job is to help you and your students build a stronger yearbook while making your job easier.

Cell- 817.253.7813

leland.mallett@walsworth.com