Bennewitz, Brad

Brad Bennewitz will be entering his third year of teaching at Galesburg (Ill.) High School following a 15-year career in broadcast news. Bennewitz teaches required freshman and sophomore literature and writing classes, but also teaches upperclassmen in journalism and other media-related classes. He is one of three advisers for the school newspaper, the GHS Budget, and also is head coach of the school’s girls’ bowling team. Bennewitz earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Kansas; then, earned his Illinois teacher’s certificate at Illinois State University. Bennewitz is married and has two children. He enjoys spending time with his family and occasionally manages to squeeze in a game of golf or a trip to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.

Brizendine, Linda

Linda Brizendine is a first-year journalism instructor at The Charter School of Wilmington, Del., a math and science charter school. She is the adviser for the student newspaper, The Blue Streak. Brizendine earned a bachelor’s degree in management sciences at Duke University. She is married had has three children and two cats. When not teaching, Brizendine enjoys gardening, fiber arts, and medieval research and re-enactment.

Caley, Erinn

Erinn Caley is beginning her second full year at Whitko High School in South Whitley, Ind. After graduating from Huntington University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in history and English, Caley moved to Japan where she taught English to Japanese schoolchildren of all ages. This cross-cultural experience enables her to bring a broader perspective into the classes she now teaches: 9th and 10th grade AP-prep English, 11th grade American literature and the occasional remedial language lab. Caley helped students begin an after-school newspaper club and also co-sponsors the student council. In her free time, what little there is of it, she enjoys writing, practicing photography and baking bread.

Carter, Sheri

Adviser for the Pearl High School newspaper, The Pirate Speaks, Sheri Carter also serves as chair of the PHS business department. In addition to journalism, she teaches a variety of business electives including personal finance, international business, desktop publishing, word processing and business math at Pearl and at Hinds Community College. Carter earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree in business education at Mississippi College and is a National Board Certified teacher. She and her husband have one son. Carter enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Case, Kathleen

Katie Case is currently a high school English teacher at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, Calif. Case relocated to California earlier this year after getting married to her long-time college friend. Before teaching at College Park, Case was a middle school teacher for three years in Portland, Ore. Although Case loved teaching at the middle level, she is greatly enjoying high school kids and her new-found love of journalism. Case's journalism students produce a bi-monthly newspaper called, The Claw (as the mascot is a falcon). Before teaching, Case studied at Azusa Pacific University and Oregon State University. She majored in English and minored in Spanish. Upon earning her bachelor’s degree, Case went straight into her master’s of education program. Her focus was English language arts and she completed an endorsement in ESL. When not grading, lesson planning, and teaching, she loves to waterski, hike, play tennis, hang out with her husband and puppy, read, call her family and friends, and find good coffee shops!

Deshotels, Thomas

Tom Deshotels teaches communication arts at Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wis. He will be advising the student publication The Troubadour. Deshotels earned his bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Wisconsin, and is currently completing a master’s degree in education at the University of Minnesota. Two young boys keep him busy at home while his wife holds everything together. He enjoys reading, coaching track and field, playing “Rock Band” and laughing with his family, friends and students.

Emmons, Donna

Donna Emmons has just completed her second year as an English teacher and journalism adviser at DeKalb County High School in Smithville, Tenn. She earned her bachelor and master’s degrees in mass communication from Middle Tennessee State University. Before becoming a teacher, Emmons worked in various capacities as a free-lance journalist, including a stint in the music business, and as a real estate paralegal. Emmons also served as president of the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband own a media relations firm that specializes in community information and public relations. Emmons is the adviser of the high school newspaper, The Eye of the Tiger. Emmons loves books, music, movies, plays, and especially travel, both in the United States and around the world.

Hostiuk, Vitali

Vitali Hostiuk is a New York City teaching fellow who has worked in the public school system for two years. At his Performing Arts and Technology High School located in Brooklyn, he is teaching in a small learning environment that focuses course work in the performing arts (music, dance, theatre) and technology (music recording, film and video). He has an advisory and teaches English and World literature. Next year Hostiuk will also be teaching and starting a student newspaper. He earned his bachelor and master’s degrees in teaching English and German at Chernivtsi State University, Ukraine, and is currently earning his second master’s degree at Brooklyn College. In his free time, Hostiuk enjoys photography and hiking.

Huxford, Kay

Kay Huxford is an ELL and AVID teacher at Green Bay (Wis.) West High School. After earning an English degree and certifications in both English and ESL from the University of Wisconsin, She went on to earn her master’s degrees in English and Applied Linguistics at Portland State University. Since then, she has worked as a grant writer and developer for education programs, and taught composition and ESL at the university level. Two years ago, she returned to the public schools, and one year ago took on the position of newspaper adviser for The Purple Parrot. With this, she accepted the challenge of reinvigorating the school newspaper after budget cuts and a lack of commitment and focus led to a loss of staff and audience. In her first year, she and her new staff successfully ignited renewed interest through a more school-focused collection of columns and topics, along with a collaborative effort for photography training with her local city newspaper. Still lacking any formal journalism training for students in the school curriculum, Huxford, her new co-adviser, and her growing student staff have set challenging goals for the coming year: a complete change of format, a new production calendar, an established layout and work room, and bi-weekly student-staff trainings. Yet at the end of the day, she still finds time for her two sons. And when not planning her next travel adventure, she enjoys outdoor activities of all sorts, organic gardening, music, reading and writing.

James, Katharine

Katharine “Jimmie” James, a relative newbie to the wild world of journalism, teaches English IV, English II, and journalism at Sullivan (Mo.) High School. There she advises students working on The Talon Tribune, a school publication still in its infancy; coaches Scholar Bowl; and sponsers a book club. Jimmie moved to Missouri three years ago after having lived most of her life in Arkansas where she earned her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Central Arkansas, and went on to teach English at Drew Central High School in Monticello, Ark. She has been teaching for six years and has taught every grade level from 7th to 12th grade. In her nearly nonexistent free time, she writes, reads, and takes classes in photography.

Krohne, Maggie

Maggie Krohne currently advises The Hurricane and teaches journalism, English and creative writing at Wilmington (Ohio) High School. Krohne attended Kent State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in integrated language arts. While at Kent State, she worked in the journalism department, helping coordinate scholastic media events. She was also a proofreader and reporter for the campus newspaper, the Daily Kent Stater for two years. Krohne’s scholastic media experience dates back to her time in middle school when she was editor of the Junior High Journal and later when she became editor of her high school newspaper. In her spare time she likes to read, travel and spend time with her sisters and niece.

Larson, Alice

Alice M. Larson has been a full-time teacher at the Cleveland (Ohio) Early College High School for five years and of John Hay Campus since its inception two years ago. Early College High School is one of the three schools housed in this newly refurbished institution. Larson teaches both French and English. She earned her master’s of education in curriculum and instruction from Cleveland State University. Her bachelor’s degrees in English, secondary education and French were earned at Tennessee Temple College. Larson advises the online school newspaper, The Word Out, which she started this year.

Leahy, Amanda

Amanda Leahy is a fifth-year teacher at Dublin Scioto High School in Dublin Ohio, where she teaches news I and II, argumentation and debate, public speaking, and American literature. The 2008-2009 year will be Amanda’s fifth year advising the Irish Eye newsmagazine and second year advising the
literary magazine, Oracle. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications at Capital University. Leahy is currently pursuing her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on educational technology, from Ohio Dominican University. She enjoys scrapbooking, bird watching, listening to music, and - this one always makes her students laugh - playing video games.

Lewis, Devon

Devon Lewis is a teacher at Spring Valley High School in Huntington, W.Va., where she currently teaches newspaper, theatre, and English. The newspaper’s name is The Timberwolf. Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in teaching at James Madison University. In her free time she loves to read, cook, and play golf.

Leyden, Glen

Glen Leyden has finished his second year of teaching at Homewood Flossmoor High School in south suburban Chicago. He is the adviser for the Voyager, a 20-page student newspaper published every three weeks. A graduate of the University of Iowa’s journalism program, he worked as a newspaper reporter at The Star and Daily Southtown for six years before obtaining his teaching certificate. He earned his master’s degree in teaching at National Louis University. When Leyden is not teaching English and journalism, he enjoys writing, playing soccer and traveling.

Lynch, Meghan

Meghan Lynch will be a second year English language arts, media teacher, and newspaper adviser at Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep High School in Brooklyn.
Lynch earned a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in journalism from Binghamton University. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, she earned her master's degree in secondary English education from Adelphi University and began her teaching career as a New York City teacher. Her passions and hobbies revolve around books, her family, her four dogs, literature, the media, the beach, the sun, running, her students, and anything that makes her laugh or smile! Right, now she enjoys living on the ocean in Long Beach with her two best friends and soaking up the summer sun!

McGee, Teresa

Teresa McGee is a 19-year veteran English teacher with a master’s degree in English. She teaches at Belleville (Ill.) East High School, which is located just south of Chicago. McGee who advised yearbook staffs for many years recently signed on as a sponsor of the East’s newspaper, The Terrace Scroll. She earned her master’s degree in English at Southern Illinois University and her bachelor’s degree in English at McKendree College. In her free time, she travels, reads, hikes, plays golf and maintains a vast flower garden. She is a coffee purist and enjoys a good wine and Guinness. McGee has three children.

Mohr, Becky

Becky Mohr began teaching five years ago after earning her bachelor’s degree in English education at the University of South Dakota. She currently teaches 8th- through 12th-grade English and journalism at Marion School District in South Dakota. In the journalism class, she advises the school’s newspaper, The Bear Banner, which publishes about 12 issues a year. The drama department also lands under Mohr’s responsibility. In the fall or spring, the students usually perform a comedy dinner theater for the local community. She also enjoys spending time with her son and working on her home or other craft project.

Porter, Lindsay

Lindsay Porter serves as the Panther yearbook and Panther’s Tale newspaper adviser at Derby (Kan.) High School. She also teaches a section of introduction to mass media, and serves on the National Honor Society faculty council. The 2007-08 school year was her first year teaching and advising student publications. Originally from Topeka, Kan., Porter earned degrees in journalism and mass communications and secondary education at Kansas State University, where she worked for the Royal Purple yearbook and Kansas State Collegian newspaper. Porter was editor in chief of the Royal Purple in 2004 and 2006. When she is not involved in publication and education responsibilities Porter frequently bakes, reads or learns to navigate through Wichita, Kan.

Roehrle, Erin

Erin S. Roehrle teaches AP and honors-level English at Francis Scott Key Senior High School in Union Bridge, Md. He has been involved in student publications in one form or another for the past 13 of his 15 years of teaching. While all his publications have taken the form of after school or extra-curricular clubs and organizations, he is looking forward to building a strong journalism element. Roehrle’s interests include reading, fishing, golf, skiing, photography, fine cuisine and cats.

Rosen-Solomon, Madelan

Madelon Rosen-Solomon teaches English at Mt. Vernon High School in Westchester County, N.Y. She is the English adviser for the student newspaper, The Knight chronicle, which is the first newspaper the high school has published in almost 10 years. Before turning to education, Rosen-Solomon had a career in theater as an actress and Broadway theatrical publicist. She also worked briefly as a journalist on a staff and freelanced for several New York metro area newspapers. Rosen-Solomon worked as vice president for several Manhattan public relations firms before running her own public relations consultancy. She turned to teaching seeking new challenges and to spend more time with her husband and two children. Rosen-Solomon earned a master’s degree in education at Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in theatre and mass communication from Herbert H. Lehman College.

Roule, Lisa

Lisa Roule’s first job after earning her bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University was as an assistant in a busy Chicago book publishing acquisitions office. After three years of working with authors, photographers and illustrators, Roule found herself leaving the business of making books in order to teach high school students how to read and write about them. Six years and a master’s degree later, she juggles the responsibilities of teaching world literature and college prep reading with the duties of sponsoring two Chicago Discovery Academy publications: the yearbook and the school’s first-ever newspaper, The Phoenix Flame. When she’s not chasing students down to get their finished stories, she co-leads the music ministry at her church and searches the Internet for great summer travel deals.

Sansbury, Jennifer

Jen Sansbury just survived her first year as a journalism teacher at Cypress Creek High School in Houston. She teaches journalism I/desktop publishing, photojournalism, newspaper (Cougar Connection) and yearbook (Cougar Pride). She earned a bachelor of journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Before becoming a teacher, she spent 12 years as a newspaper reporter in Texas and Georgia. She covered education at the Killeen Daily Herald, Waco Tribune-Herald and Atlanta Journal-Constitution and covered a little bit of everything at The (Brazosport) Facts. She got married last October and hopes to see her husband a little more often during her second year of teaching! In her free time she enjoys reading, usually alternating between fiction and nonfiction. This summer she hopes to find time (finally!) to unpack and set up her house.

Skalicky, Sue

Sue Skalicky is a third year English 10 and journalism teacher at Century High School in Bismarck, N.D. She advises both the Century STAR newsmagazine and Century Spirit yearbook as well as teaches an introductory journalism 1 class. Skalicky earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and English and a master’s degree in secondary education. Over the past 21 years, she has worked as a medical photographer, a section ditor/writer/photographer of a weekly newspaper, a leadership conference speaker and a freelance writer. She loves spending time with her husband and their four daughters. As a family, the Skalickys share a love for traveling, having been to over 40 states, and hope to visit the remaining 10 states and other countries in the future. When not actively engaged in raising her four teenage daughters, Skalicky loves to read, write, bike and enjoy time with friends.

Strainic, Jill

Jill Marano Strainic is a native of beautiful Akron, Ohio. After graduating from
Miami University, she taught for three years in a suburb of Cincinnati before moving to the Cleveland area, where she teaches language arts and advises the yearbook at Charles F. Brush High School. She earned a master's degree in journalism from Kent State University, and hopes to use that knowledge to revive the student newspaper at Brush. When she is not coordinating deadline nights and yearbook signing parties, Strainic enjoys traveling, skiing and cooking. She lives in Cleveland Heights with her husband and their dog.

Trick, Sandra

Sandra Trick is the adviser of Montoursville (Pa.) Area High School’s monthly high school newspaper, The Otstonwakin. She also teaches journalism I-IV, college English 9 and English 9. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Penn State University. While she was the county government reporter for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, she earned her teaching certification in communications and English through the Teacher Intern Program at Susquehanna University. She enjoys camping, hiking and canoeing with her husband. She also likes spending time with her family, dancing, reading and photography.

Vickers, Catherine

Catherine Vickers teaches English and advises student publications, including the yearbook and newspaper at West Carrollton (Ohio) High School. In September, The Hook, the student newspaper, will be created in a classroom setting, rather than as an extra-curricular activity. Vickers earned a master’s in education from Georgian Court College and four years ago completed her masters in English from Wright State University. She also earned an elementary education degree at Utah State University. Vickers loves the process of learning, writing, art, photography and considers herself extremely fortunate to embrace a career where she can share her passions with young people.

Wilson, Mitzi

Mitzi Wilson has been teaching English and journalism courses at Elyria High School for two years. She is also the adviser to The Herald, Elyria’s school paper. Prior to that, she taught English and was the journalism adviser at Cleveland Municipal School District’s Early College program. Before going into the teaching field, Wilson worked in business at a technical college and training and development. She also recruited blood donors for American Red Cross and raised funds for several other nonprofit agencies. Wilson earned her bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and communication and a master’s degree in teaching at Kent State University. When she’s not teaching or advising, Wilson likes to spend time with her family. She likes to go to movies, read, and cook.