New Advisers

• Check sales and business reports- Are you on track from your budget meeting with your rep? Is it time to increase your price?
• Teach Marketing- Use the Cola Wars video and worksheet to start a discussion on how to sell your yearbook to your buyers.
• Send Thank You Cards- Have your students hand write thank you cards to business ad buyers and get them in the mail. Email parents who purchased a senior ad and thank them for supporting the yearbook program. Ask students to write a thank you card to a teacher or staff member who has helped them with a yearbook task.
• Proof Portrait Pages- Before you finalize portrait pages, print out the pages and place them in the cafeteria to allow students to proofread their name and grade.

• Schedule Group Photo Pages- Get team photos from coaches. Schedule a day in 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.

Show the video below. (There are shorter versions on YouTube if you don't want to commit the time.) Have your students discuss what Coke and Pepsi did to promote their product. Have students discuss how each company targeted their customers. Then create a list of ways you can market your book to your buyers. Remember, your buyer is usually not the student, but their moms!

Here's a quick video on how to cut out a person or object from a photo. Share with your students. Then have them practice in online design.

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 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