The Mike Taylor Back-To-School Checklist

STEP SEVEN: DEFINE YOUR ROLE

Remember, your title is Adviser. This is not your publication. You are there to advise the students in creating their publication. Here is a list of your duties: • Create an environment conducive to learning and production of the publication. • Track the progress of both the editors and all staff members to maintain an accurate publication that meets deadlines and budget restrictions. • Teach both basic and advanced skills so your publication meets deadlines with accuracy and efficiently. • Establish a system for evaluating both the editors and the staff members on assignments. STEP EIGHT: THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Take a moment to appreciate your official first day of school. As the first bus is pulling up to the school and the first bell is about to ring, you are ready to begin a journey that teachers before you have loved and cherished. The journey is not an easy one. It is a daunting task. However, the outcome is a true love letter to the school. Each book you advise, each student you interact with will fill your heart with joy. You’re going to be amazing. You have people and support systems behind you. Simply reach out to your Walsworth Yearbooks sales representative if you have questions or concerns. You have the Yearbook Suite curriculum at your fingertips and people here at Walsworth are a phone call, email or tweet away.

MIKE TAYLOR, CJE , is a Key Accounts Manager with Walsworth Yearbooks. He taught yearbook, newspaper and television production at Lecanto High School, Lecanto, Florida, for 13 years, where his publications staffs won numerous awards. Taylor has been awarded the JEA Medal of Merit, CSPA Gold Key and Florida Scholastic Press Association Gold Medallion. As a well-known instructor at workshops and conventions across the country, he has consulted with countless yearbook staffs to help them realize their potential in creating journalistic yearbooks.

Photo by Nicolas Caffarena

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