Giving Back To Our Adviser Community
By Lauren Wagner, IHSPA At-Large Member
What do The Beatles, Mr. Rogers and Scooby Doo have in common?
They all knew when to ask for help.
As the only journalism teacher in my district, I sometimes struggle with knowing who to turn to for help. I had to laugh during the August adviser retreat when Denise Green shared how she submits minutes, often involving heated internal debate, from her PLC meetings of one. Me too. Even when advisers have other media teachers in their building, those teachers often specialize in different areas, leaving them to navigate unique challenges on their own.
That’s why I’m grateful for the community of Indiana advisers I’ve connected with through IHSPA. I’ve adopted and adapted curriculum guides and projects from Mike and Sam at Southport, teambuilding ideas from Robin at NorthWood, convention tips from Casey and Melissa at Center Grove, club plans from Jordan at Fishers, book recommendations from April at Pike, grading and organizational systems from Claire and Jim at Carmel, leadership advice from Tom at North Central, and countless other gems that have shaped my teaching over the past decade.
IHSPA is full of helpers, teachers who are passionate about seeing scholastic journalism thrive in Indiana schools. During my seven years on the IHSPA board, I’ve seen the impact of these helpers firsthand, especially as we've launched new initiatives and events post-COVID. Serving on the board has brought me personal, unexpected benefits— renewed energy towards teaching, fresh ideas, thoughtful challenges to my own practices, and a growing network of people just an email or text away whenever I need to shout, “Help!”
If you are also a little better off because of IHSPA and its members, I encourage you to find a way, big or small, to give back. Here are a few ways you can contribute (many with upcoming deadlines):
- Join the IHSPA board. If you're unsure about committing to the officer track, consider applying as a member at-large. It's a one-year commitment (that's how I found my way in).
- Shine a spotlight on others by nominating an administrator, adviser or friend of scholastic journalism for one of IHSPA’s awards.
- Encourage a motivated sophomore or junior who loves journalism to apply to the student board.
Volunteer to teach a convention session.
Share your connections in the media industry with director Ryan Gunterman so IHSPA can continue to bring in relevant and diverse speakers to workshops and conventions.
Connect with other advisers and students by inviting them to visit your classroom.
Share a resource, lesson or student-created content for IHSPA to highlight in a future newsletter.
And to all of you who generously share your time, insight and resources— thanks. I do appreciate you being ‘round.
IHSPA Apparel
Magpie Immigrant Coverage
When several large media outlets began politicizing news of Haitian immigrant students straining resources at Logansport schools, the Magpie student news staff, advised by Chris Pearcy, started reporting. Their feature story "Business as Usual" and accompanying editorial "Denouncing Racism, Bigotry, and Hate" were recognized on Best of SNO.
