By Jill Chittum, KSPA President After years of kicking around the idea, and multiple meetings where member concerns dealing with the regional contest weather policy were addressed, the KSPA executive board passed a new inclement weather policy following its December meeting in Wichita. The goal of the new policy (which…...
Motivation without conflict, Part I
By Travis Feil KSPA President-Elect After the fall conferences this past week, I’ve been contacted by several students and advisers across the state with some meaningful questions about staff relationships, leadership and dealing with problems that arise during production cycles. We’ve all had to deal with these types of concerns…...
You can lead a student to journalism class, but can you make him like it?
By Travis Feil, KSPA President-Elect A Common Problem My basic journalism course is offered opposite band and choir – both very popular courses in my district. My J1 desks, consequently, have traditionally been populated by students more interested in avoiding music than embracing journalism. They confess it, and I’m fine…...
Yet another reason every student should enroll in journalism
By Travis Feil KSPA President-Elect Last week I was sitting at my desk working on American Literature lesson plans. Exhausted and overwhelmed from moving into a new classroom, I sat staring at my computer, knowing students would be arriving for the first time the next day. My yearbook editors were…...
KSPA President: Membership pays dividends
Dear Kansas journalism advisers, Welcome back for yet another year of scholastic journalism excellence! At this time of year, most of us are just getting our teaching “sea legs” under us again after what I hope was a relaxing and restful summer vacation. That re-acclimation process takes time (which we…...
JEA president’s visit highlights fall conferences
In a tradition that extends all the way back to 1919, the Kansas Scholastic Press Association again this year will host fall conferences for student-journalists and their advisers across this great state. For the 13th consecutive year, advisers will have the choice to attend a conference at a university of…...
Seven Kansas students win national journalism awards from NFPW
Seven Kansas high school journalism students have placed in the National Federation of Press Women High School Communications Competition. Three of those students — Maggie Simmons and Andrew Goble from Shawnee Mission East, and Andy Wickoren from Shawnee Mission Northwest — won first place in their respective categories. The students…...