Two Texas Journalism Teachers Honored as Distinguished Advisers
By Julianne Coyne | Thursday, October 29, 2009 2:55 PM
Carol Richtsmeier of Midlothian High School and Ray Westbrook of St. Mark’s School of Texas have been named Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Distinguished Advisers for 2009.
Each year, the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund names four Distinguished Advisers nationally.
They will be attending the Awards Luncheon at the National Scholastic Press Association’s annual convention in Washington next month.
Richtsmeier said she was already planning to attend the convention to promote her new book, How to Lose Your Self of Steam and Other Teaching Lessons I Never Learned From Professional Development, and her blog, mybellringers.blogspot.com.
“I was already pretty pumped up about attending the NSPA convention,” Richtmeier said. “This award just makes going even sweeter.”
In addition, they will receive free subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition, their students will have access to webinars through the Poynter Institute’s NewsU training project and one graduating senior who plans to pursue journalism in college from each adviser will be awarded with a $500 scholarship.
Distinguished Advisers also get a chance to write for the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund’s quarterly newsletter “Adviser Update.”
Westbrook said that his approach to teaching journalism is to try and find the right balance between fun and work.
“I truly believe that producing school publications can be one of the most enjoyable experiences one can participate in,” Westbrook said. “You can have fun, work hard and produce amazing publications.”
Westbrook said he’s always preferred to let his students’ work speak for itself and that his staff should receive the awards and recognition.
“This award does please me to know that the work I do with my students has been recognized,” Westbrook said.
Although the “distinguished” title made her feel old, Richtsmeier said she felt honored to receive it.
“It's always a rush when you are honored for the work you love to do,” she said.