As of next year, the Yearbook class will have a new adviser and will continue to work with the chronological book format it converted to this year.
Although Yearbook is solely student-run, the administration is looking to find a teacher replacement to supervise the class. Science Department Coordinator and current Yearbook adviser Danielle Paige will no longer head the class next year. Paige has decided to “step down” after five years of working as the class adviser. Instead, Paige hopes to focus on the “changing needs in the Science Department.”
According to Principal Wynne Satterwhite, the administration is still having conversations regarding the new Yearbook adviser, and a final decision is still pending.
According to Yearbook Editor-in-Chief senior Jason DeMayo, this decision must be made relatively quickly to ease the transition between staff members; the new adviser must meet the many qualifications of the role, including the ability to work well with deadlines.
“The adviser is always the one that is directly in contact with the plant,” Jason said. “They oversee the production. For example, if there is a wrong page count or something, Ms. Paige will catch it.”
Besides coordinating the more technical aspects of the class, the adviser may offer feedback and suggestions to students regarding layout and content. Students are encouraged to utilize this advice, although it is not required.
Though many students embrace the upcoming changes, some may still find the transition between teachers a bit bumpy.
“While the new adviser will be properly trained, there are tricks to the trade that an experienced adviser like Ms. Paige [brings] to the table,” Jason said.
Under Paige’s supervision Yearbook has received significant recognition for its achievements and hard work. Jostens, Yearbook’s publishing company, has requested that extra 2009 yearbooks be shipped back to the company this year. The company will use these as models to demonstrate the features provided by Josten’s online software publishing tools. In this manner, the yearbook will be showcased across the country.
Yearbook students such as sophomore Kelly Mahncke acknowledge Paige’s leadership and feel as if the efforts put in by the adviser, editors and staff members have been put to good use.
“This year we’ve worked really hard all together to get things right,” Kelly said. “All the hard work is paying back with being chosen as the West Coast model.”
Although one recognition has been given, Yearbook is continuing to fine-tune. Additional changes involve restructuring the entire book format. The 2008-2009 yearbook is in chronological order, a format that many high schools have began using. According to Jason, the club hopes that this format will be the most effective and organized way of covering more content.
“I can’t wait for Yearbook in the future,” Kelly said. “I hope to become an even bigger part of it.”