The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA

The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA

The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA

Journalism Teacher of the Year

MIJA continues to recognize outstanding journalism teachers with the state Journalism Teacher of the Year program. MIJA wishes to honor outstanding high school advisers and their exemplary work throughout their careers.

In the past, high school editors and other journalism students initiated the nomination process, and if they would like to continue to do so, they may certainly bring this recognition to their teacher’s attention. However, in an effort to align with the national awards, MIJA will now encourage teachers to nominate themselves and include at least one letter of recommendation from current or former student(s).

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Nominees must be teaching at a MIJA member school.
  • Teacher must have at least three years of experience.

The components of the Missouri JTOY process closely align with those of several national Teacher of the Year programs, including:

The Missouri Journalism Teacher of the Year will be encouraged to submit materials to the national competition, should s/he wish to do so.

TO APPLY:

The nominee should submit an application, proof of publication(s) and supporting materials to the judge and the MIJA office using our online submission form:

  • Application: Journalism Teacher of the Year
    • After the general application questions, there are different portions based on what publication(s) you advise. Please complete each section matching the type of media or publication(s) you advise. If you advise multiple publications, please complete all applicable portions.
    • Complete the online submission form.
  • Proof of publications:
    • Broadcast teachers: Inside the application, please provide links to six videos/shows your students produced in the last year.
    • Yearbook teachers: When submitting supporting materials, please provide a single PDF file with the following pages/spreads from your most recently published yearbook: cover, front endsheet or table of contents, title page, opening spread(s), one divider, one index spread, one people spread, colophon, closing, up to five spreads of inside coverage of your choosing.
    • Newspaper/Newsmagazine teachers: When submitting supporting materials, please include three issues of the publication from the last year in PDF form or in a list of weblinks to the publication stored online (on a site similar to Issuu.com).
    • Online teachers: Inside the application, please provide web links to at least six stories and/or packages produced by your students in the past year, as well as the main URL for your site.
    • If you advise more than one publication, please include the examples requested above for each publication.
  • Required support:
    • Current headshot
    • A one-page resume of the nominee
    • A one-page letter of recommendation from a current or former student
    • Students: Please address how this teacher contributed to journalism excellence in your school and raised the level of your journalism program. Consider points such as: What this teacher has done to increase your desire to continue in journalism, how s/he increased respect for your publication, how s/he supports and promotes journalism education on a local and state level and how s/he continues to increase his/her professional competence.
    • Upload each to the online submission form with your application
  • You may choose to add optional* supporting documents, which would help the judge make a decision:
    • Candid photo of the teacher instructing or working with students
    • Up to four additional one-page letters of recommendation from colleagues, administrators and/or students/former students. Please merge all letters into a single .PDF.
    • Copies of articles or links to articles about or by the nominee (limit four)
    • Please scan and upload as PDF or JPG files to the online submission form

* The optional supporting materials are required at the national level but not for the state level.

SUBMIT MATERIALS using our Online Submission Form

DEADLINE: Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024

The honoree and/or the nominator will be invited to prepare a 30-second acceptance video to run at the spring Journalism Day.

If you can think of anyone who would be willing to sponsor our Teacher of the Year, please email [email protected], so we can reach out to them.

Criteria will include each teacher’s service in journalism organizations, personal and publication awards, quality of the student work, their philosophy and approach to student press rights and ethics, among other aspects.

QUESTIONS:  If you have questions about the process, please contact the MIJA office at [email protected].

Past state honorees include:

  • 1970 – Ron Clemons, Truman High School, Independence
  • 1971 – Charlotte Bell Conley, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood
  • 1972 – Mar’Lyn Cowan, Parkview High School, Springfield
  • 1973 – H.L. Hall, Kirkwood North Junior High School, Kirkwood
  • 1974 – Helen Brakke-Buel, Jefferson City Senior High School, Jefferson City
  • 1975 – Linda Smith Puntney, William Chrisman High School, Independence
  • 1976 – Elizabeth Ray, Adrian High School, Adrian
  • 1977 – Opal Heatherly, Westport High School, Kansas City
  • 1978 – Howard Emerson, Hazelwood Central High School, Florissant
  • 1979 – Elizabeth Lockhart, Central High School, Cape Girardeau
  • 1980 – Deanna Armstrong, Park Hill High School, Kansas City
  • 1981 – Al Hoffmeyer, Carrollton High School, Carrollton, MO
  • 1982 – W. Michael Brown, William Chrisman High School, Independence
  • 1983 – Carole Wall, Grandview High School, Grandview
  • 1984 – Mary Lu Foreman, Center Senior High School, Kansas City
  • 1985 – Diane Boyle, Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield
  • 1986 – Kathy Craghead, Mexico High School, Mexico
  • 1987 – Marcia Johnson, Park Hill High School, Kansas City
  • 1988 – Sandy Newcomer, Mount Vernon High School, Mt. Vernon
  • 1989 – Chris McMenemy, Liberty High School, Liberty
  • 1990 – Anita Campbell, Warsaw High School, Warsaw
  • 1991 – Debbie Von Behren, Mansfield High School, Mansfield
  • 1992 – Jan Morgan, Advance High School, Advance
  • 1993 – Mark Bubalo, Rockhurst High School, Kansas City
  • 1994 – Jan Hensel, Liberty High School, Liberty
  • 1995 – Karen Black, Hickman Mills High School, Kansas City
  • 1996 – Bill Hankins, Oak Park High School, Kansas City
  • 1997 – Robin Fuemmeler Stover, Rock Bridge High School, Columbia
  • 1998 – Karen Ray, Glendale High School, Springfield
  • 1999 – Lisa Scroggs, Jefferson City Senior High School, Jefferson City
  • 2000 – Marci Pieper, Clayton High School, St. Louis
  • 2001 – Bruce Schneider, Parkway South High School, St. Louis
  • 2002 – Beth Ann Brady, Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis
  • 2003 – Marc Russell, Lee’s Summit High School, Lee’s Summit
  • 2004 – Terry Durnell, Lee’s Summit North High School, Lee’s Summit
  • 2005 – Nancy Freeman, Clayton High School, St. Louis
  • 2006 – Karla Thompson, Lee’s Summit High School, Lee’s Summit
  • 2007 – Stephanie Carey (Green), Boonville High School, Booneville
  • 2008 – Eric Thomas, St. Teresa’s Academy, Kansas City
  • 2009 – Christina Geabhart, Oak Park High School, Kansas City
  • 2010 – Matthew Schott, Francis Howell Central High School, St. Charles
  • 2011 – Ben Merithew, Truman High School, Independence
  • 2012 – Michele Dunaway, Francis Howell High School, St. Charles
  • 2013 – Megan Hughes (Palmer), Park Hill South High School, Riverside
  • 2015 – Michelle Turner, Washington High School, Washington
  • 2016 – Cherié Burgett, Staley High School, Kansas City
  • 2017 – Jane Bannester, Ritenour High School, St. Louis
  • 2018 – Clay Zigler, Rockwood Summit High School, Fenton
  • 2019 – —-
  • 2020 – Justin Ford, Park Hill High School, Kansas City, and Park Hill South High School, Riverside
  • 2021 – —-
  • 2022 – Mary Prichard, North Kansas City High School, Kansas City
  • 2023 – Karen Johnson, Lawson High School, Lawson
  • 2024 – Laura Greenley, Knox Country R-1 High School, Edina

Past national honorees include:

Dow Jones News Fund’s National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year (If you know of others, please email):

  • 1963 – Opal Eckert, Maryville High School, Maryville
  • 1969 – Virginia Woodring*, School District of Springfield
  • 1977 – Ron Clemons, Truman High School, Independence
  • 1982 – Homer L. Hall, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood
  • 2003 – Distinguished Adviser Marc Russell, Lee’s Summit High School
  • 2004 – Special Recognition Adviser Clay Zigler, Rockwood Summit High School, Fenton
  • 2009  – Distinguished Adviser Christina Geabhart, Oak Park High School, Kansas City
  • 2011  – Aaron Manfull, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles
  • 2013 – Special Recognition Adviser Michele Dunaway, Francis Howell High School, St. Charles
  • 2015 – Mitch Eden, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood
  • 2016 – Special Recognition Adviser Cherié Burgett, Staley High School, Kansas City
  • 2019 – Distinguished Adviser Debra Klevens, Parkway West High School, St. Louis

JEA’s Broadcast Adviser of the Year:

  • 2014 – Distinguished Broadcast Adviser Don Goble, LHS-TV and Films, Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis
  • 2014 – Special Recognition Broadcast Adviser Michelle Turner, Blue Jay Journal TV, Washington High School, Washington
  • 2015  – Don Goble, Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis
  • 2015  – Distinguished Broadcast Adviser Dave Davis, Hillcrest High School, Springfield
  • 2016 – Michelle Turner, Washington High School, Washington
  • 2017  – Distinguished Broadcast Adviser Christina Geabhart, Oak Park High School, Kansas City
  • 2017 – Special Recognition Broadcast Adviser Jane Bannester, Ritenour High School, St. Louis
  • 2017  – Distinguished Broadcast Adviser Jane Bannester, Ritenour High School, St. Louis
  • 2017 – Special Recognition Broadcast Adviser Clay Zigler, Rockwood Summit High School, Fenton
  • 2019 – Christina Geabhart, Oak Park High School, Kansas City
  • 2021 – Special Recognition Broadcast Adviser Justin Ford, Park Hill and Park Hill South high schools, Kansas City
  • 2023 – Distinguished Broadcast Adviser Emily Jorgensen, Marquette High School, Chesterfield

JEA’s Yearbook Adviser of the Year:

  • 1995  – H.L. Hall, Kirkwood North Junior High School, Kirkwood
  • 1997  – Special Recognition Adviser Jan Hensel
  • 2000 –  Special Recognition Adviser Mary Ann Barton and Marci Pieper
  • 2002  – Distinguished Adviser Kathy Craghead, Mexico High School, Mexico
  • 2003 – Kathy Craghead, Mexico High School, Mexico
  • 2005  – Special Recognition Adviser Aaron Manfull, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles
  • 2007 –  Special Recognition Adviser Nancy Y. Smith, Lafayette High School, Wildwood
  • 2009 –  Distinguished Adviser Nancy Y. Smith, Lafayette High School, Wildwood
  • 2010 –  Special Recognition Adviser Michele M. Dunaway, MJE, Francis Howell High School, St. Charles
  • 2011  – Special Recognition Adviser Eric Thomas, MJE, St. Teresa’s Academy, Kansas City
  • 2012  – Distinguished Adviser Michele Dunaway, MJE, Francis Howell High School, Saint Charles
  • 2016 – Nancy Y. Smith, MJE, Lafayette High School – Wildwood 
  • 2018 –  Special Recognition Adviser Debra Klevens, CJE, Parkway West High School – St. Louis
  • 2021 – Distinguished Adviser Debra Klevens, CJE, Parkway West High School – St. Louis
  • 2023 – Special Recognition Adviser Christina Manolis, MJE, Oakville High School – St. Louis
 CSPA’s Gold Key:
  • 1954 – Henrietta M. Crotty, Webb City High School, Webb City 
  • 1958 – Mary Still, Normandy High School, St. Louis 
  • 1965  – Major Charles R. Stripling III, Missouri Military Academy, Mexico
  • 1972  – Sarah Ellen Campbell, William Chrisman High School, Independence
  • 1975 –  Elizabeth Barnes, Stephens College, Columbia
  • 1980 –  Robert P. Knight, University of Missouri, Columbia
  • 1982  – Ron Clemons, Truman High School, Independence; and Homer L. Hall—Kirkwood High School
  • 1983  – Minerva Spalding Howard, Hickman High School, Columbia
  • 1990 – Laura Beth Widmer, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville
  • 1996  – Roger Carlson, Florissant Valley Community College, St. Louis
  • 2000  – Mary Ann Barton, Eureka High School, St. Louis
  • 2001  – Clay Zigler, Rockwood Summit High School, Fenton
  • 2003  – Ken Rosenauer, Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph
  • 2009  – Marcella A. Pieper, Clayton High School
  • 2011 –  Michele Dunaway, Francis Howell High School, St. Charles
  • 2021 – Debra Klevens, Parkway West High School – St. Louis

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