We are saddened to announce the passing of one of IJEA’s founding members, Randy Swikle. Swikle was IJEA’s first president serving from 1988 to 1991 and then again from 2000 to 2001.
Swikle taught and advised at Johnsburg High School in Johnsburg, Illinois for 34 years. In addition to teaching and advising, Swikle also worked as a professional journalist, starting at the young age of 11. With a passion for news and the First Amendment, Swikle influenced countless student journalists and advisers through his advocacy and mentorship.
His career was decorated with numerous local and national awards, a few which were JEA Lifetime Achievement Award, JEA Medal of Merit Award, NSPA Pioneer Award, Dow Jones News Fund National High School Journalism Teachers of the Year and IJEA Hall of Fame inductee.
Along with being a dedicated teacher and adviser, Swikle was also a loving husband and father to three children. His daughter, Jennifer Reiser, serves as IJEA Vice President and followed in her father’s footsteps as she is currently a teacher and adviser at Washington Community High School in Washington, Illinois.
Swikle’s obituary and funeral arrangements can be found here.
After finding out about Randy’s passing, his IJEA colleagues were quick to share their recollections of his kindness, his leadership and legacy. Several of their tributes follow below.
KEITH CARLSON
IJEA President, adviser, Naperville Central High School
When I learned of the death of my mentor, friend and professional father figure Randy Swikle, I immediately went to my desk and pulled a copy of the McCormick Foundation’s “Protocol for Free & Responsible Student News Media” and turned to the list of participants printed in the back of the book. New as I was to advising at the time, rereading those names instantly brought back memories of the imposter syndrome I felt while working alongside a who’s who of giants in the world of scholastic journalism to achieve the goal of producing a definitive statement on how to successfully navigate the conflicts that so frequently arise between scholastic journalists, journalism educators and administrators. Chief among these giants, of course, was Randy, but he was also the one who convinced me that I belonged in those meetings and, after seeing something in me, took me under his wing as a mentee. His interest in the continued success of my school’s program and in me as a person never waned over the years, and whenever we could end up in a room together we always took time to check in with each other. I never tired of hearing Randy’s stories, which I often thought could give Studs Terkel a run for his money. Nor will I forget the sly and effusive way in which he could get you to volunteer for something, sometimes before you realized you were doing it. Randy was more than just a master storyteller, he was a believer in people, the root of all of those stories. His sharp mind, warm smile, and goofy neckties will stay with me as reminders to invest in those who follow me just as he did, and to approach the difficulties of life with patience, reason, and a little bit of humor.
LOGAN AIMONE
Adviser, University of Chicago Laboratory High School
I met Randy more than 20 years ago. Back then, Randy was one of the regular contributors to the JEA listserv, which before social media was the only way to get quick responses and advice on the sticky issues of advising from educators around the country. Many people requested help dealing with administrative censorship, and Randy would typically respond with wisdom and techniques to find common ground. I was honored to be able to call him my friend. I was still teaching and advising in Washington state when I hosted Randy as the featured expert at a summer workshop I co-directed, and he brought the same wisdom and advocacy to our students and advisers. Over the years, I listened with admiration at his many tales of creating opportunities for his students to interview elected leaders and celebrities. Randy was a model journalism educator who cherished the First Amendment and fought fiercely to defend students’ rights, even as he emphasized with equal strength the responsible use of those rights through ethical decision making. That’s why in 2008, when I was NSPA executive director, I tapped Randy to write the first-ever code of ethics just for high school student journalists. Randy always had the highest expectations for both students and adults, assuming best intentions from every person and believing in their potential.
SUSAN TANTILLO
Former IJEA Board Member; adviser, Wheeling High School; retired
I am proud to call Randy Swikle my long-time friend and colleague in scholastic journalism in Illinois. He led by example through his exemplary journalism program at Johnsburg High School where he advised a weekly (!) newspaper with students making the content decisions. Student freedom of expression was the core of his and his program’s philosophy.
Perhaps his most endearing and lasting quality was his unselfishness in sharing his time, his experiences and his teaching materials with anyone in the scholastic journalism community.
KATIE FERNANDEZ
IJEA Executive Director; former adviser, Phoenix Military Academy
As a new adviser with very little journalism experience, Randy opened my eyes to the world of possibilities in scholastic journalism when he became my JEA mentor. Our long phone calls and exchange of emails helped me find my footing when advising a yearbook and newly created online news site.
I will never forget when Randy and his wife, Eileen, visited my classroom for the first time. Randy inspired my students with stories from his own reporting as well as of his students. He gave away two dollar bills for correct answers and brought me journalism books for my classroom. His generosity and excitement were contagious and left me and my students filled with hope for what we could accomplish.
Throughout my time on the IJEA Board, Randy continued to check in with me and share articles and lessons he thought I would find helpful. I try to bring his generosity and excitement to each of the mentees that I now mentor.
