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  • The postmark deadline is almost here for the 2024 IJEA Yearbook Contest! Mail your books by Oct. 15 — we want to recognize your students' great work covering the 2023-24 school year!
  • A big thank you to everyone who attended our 2024 Fall Conference, which took place Sept. 20 at Illinois State University. The sessions were amazing! Thank you to all of our presenters! Now let's get ready for contest season!
  • High school seniors! Get your portfolios ready for the 2025 Illinois Journalist of the Year Contest! Entries will be due Feb. 15.
  • Advisers! Join IJEA today! Annual memberships and lifetime memberships are available. Use our online form or fillable PDF to join!
Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

Mentoring Program


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Help for Beginning Advisers


New journalism advisers or those who have less than two years of advising experience are eligible to participate in the Journalism Education Association’s Mentoring Program.

This free program offers many advantages to new advisers and their students. It pairs them with an experienced mentor to discuss all phases of advising a student publication including interviewing tips, classroom management techniques, fundraising, and writing hints. The mentoring program allows new advisers to connect with someone who understands the special requirements of publication advising.

Illinois mentees receive free membership in JEA, Illinois Journalism Education Association and Kettle Moraine Press Association.

The JEA membership gives mentees access to the new JEA curriculum with its lesson plans, PowerPoints, rubrics, handouts, and alignment to the Common Core Standards in all content areas of journalism, an invaluable resource for new advisers.

The IJEA membership gives a network of other advisers within the state to use as resources and sounding boards. It also covers the fees to enter students’ work in one IJEA contest each year.

KEMPA membership allows advisers to attend the workshops this northern Illinois group offers throughout the year.

JEA offers the help at no cost to the adviser’s school except for the occasional copying of materials and allowing new advisers to attend institutes or conventions if possible. Admission forms for the program includes having mentees submit a mentee profile and having their principals sign a principal’s agreement.

 


Current Illinois Mentees


Nichole Folkman
Hartsburg-Emden High School, Hartsburg
Mentor: Carol Smith (IJEA)

Kendall Huffman
Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond, Arthur
Mentor: Carol Smith (IJEA)

Andrew Crivilare
Griggsville-Perry High School, Griggsville
Mentor: Carol Smith (IJEA)

Griffin Muckley
Christ the King School, Chicago
Mentor: Stan Zoller (IJEA)

Kia Sosa
Grayslake Central High School
Mentor: Stan Zoller (IJEA)

Laura Minerva
Barrington High School, Barrington
Mentor: Stan Zoller (IJEA)

Katie Curtin
Pritzker College Prep, Chicago
Mentor: Stan Zoller (IJEA)

Jessie Jacober
Stillman Valley High School, Stillman Valley
Mentor: Stan Zoller (IJEA)

 


Previous Illinois Mentees


Douglas Davis
Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond, Arthur
Mentor: Carol Smith (IJEA)

Tamela Chambers
Chicago Vocational Career Academy, Chicago
Mentor: Carol Smith (IJEA)

Kristen DiGiorgio
Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, Bradley
Mentor: Stan Zoller (IJEA)

Zach Freed
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School, Arthur
Mentor: Carol Smith (IJEA)

Beth Marshall
Richmond-Burton Community High School, Richmond
Mentor: Sandy Jacoby (KEMPA)

Julie Morrissey
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School, Arthur
Mentor: Carol Smith (IJEA)

 


To Learn More


If you’re an IJEA member or prospective member and would like more information on the JEA Mentoring Program, contact Carol Smith at [email protected] or Stan Zoller at [email protected].


 

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Mentoring Program