Mind the Gutter

Robin Christopher has spent a decade elevating the yearbook program at Del Norte High School, proving to her students that yearbook is mostly about learning life skills. We spend just a little bit of time soaking up her yearbook knowledge during this info-packed episode of Mind the Gutter. We cover her evolution from a first-year adviser to one who knows the ropes, and we learn about Robin’s approach to yearbook bootcamps and production schedules. You might need to take notes on this one!

Hey middle school advisers! This episode of Mind the Gutter is for you. We talk with Jenni Parsons of Greenfield Jr. High in Arizona and learn that you really can put together a journalistic book with seventh and eighth graders. In fact, she prefers it.

This week’s episode of Mind the Gutter takes us into the yearbook classroom (aka leadership incubator) of Arvada High School adviser Sergio Yanes. Sergio was gracious enough to share with us his life story: how he was born into journalism and how his role as yearbook adviser has manifest itself into much more. So much more.

Pete LeBlanc is our guest on this week’s episode. Nelson and Hayley learn about how Pete’s career has evolved from its roots in sports coverage into an 11-year tradition of award-winning yearbooks at Antelope High School in Antelope, California. You’ll also hear his take on the most pressing problems facing students, and the teachers who care for them, in today’s classrooms.

You know those people who always seem to have everything figured out? They may claim to be a hot mess, but you know better. Heather Nagel is one of those people in the yearbook world. As the adviser for Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, she produces the most amazing books and has editors who could run a major corporation with ease. What’s her secret? Well, it’s intentional.

On this week’s episode of Mind the Gutter, we sit down with the adviser and staffers from Classical Academy High School. We speak with first-year adviser Barak Smith about his year and what new advisers should know before they start yearbooking. Then, we chat with four staffers from the Chronicle about their Impact Award-winning spread on mental health.

Annie Gorenstein Falkenberg is our guest on this week’s episode of Mind the Gutter. Annie chats with Nelson and Hayley about saving a program on the brink of collapse, taking the time to create and what constitutes a school tradition. She also gives advice to editors and advisers on how to become better leaders.

Caroline Mattox knows a thing or two about yearbooks. Finishing her eighth book, Mattox has compiled a laundry list of advice for high schoolers that ranges from life advice to working with a new adviser. She also shares how an attitude can help form a yearbook theme. Want to learn more about Caroline? Check out Folio magazine here: https://yearbookdiscoveries.com/more-than-a-pica/

On this episode, Nelson and Hayley chat with Sarah Kirskey, the adviser from Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Sarah shares her staff’s five-week planning, production and design cycle, which we love. She also discusses how to get the best solutions out of tough situations, looking locally for inspiration and why she loves journalism so much. 7:55—Difficult topics students want to cover 8:58—The purpose of what we are covering 10:07—Having intentional conversations about diversity 13:40—Catering stories to your theme 14:20—How Sarah teaches yearbook 16:10—The difficulty of theme 17:45—Looking toward local high schools for inspiration and advice 18:25—Learning moments 20:48—What she loves about journalism 24:55—How to build staff relationships 26:40—Staff structure and production schedule 28:00—Keeping design consistency with the production schedule

Jayna Rumble is our newest #YBKCrush. The sixth-year adviser at Troy High School in Michigan gives her tips for recruitment, what she wants her new students to learn in the first 90 days and the age old question of what comes first: Theme or voice. [6:26 ] Recruitment [10:23] What to do during the first five weeks [15:24 ] News angles for yearbook [19:24] Using students to recruit for your staff [22:31] Which comes first: Theme or voice [25:55] Transferring the theme into content pages [28:15] When Yearbook becomes more [32:03] Doing tough interviews in the iPhone generation [34:00] Learning moments from the first five years

In this conversation, Hayley and Nelson chat with Makena Busch adviser at Mead High School. Makena shares her expertise as a graphic designer and photographer to help staffs focus on getting dominant photography and pulling inspiration from Pinterest.

This week’s guest on Mind the Gutter is Kathy Habiger. In our chat with her, we discuss adviser/rep relationships, creating a book that is student driven and her deadly journalism sins.

Angela St. Clair has the light we all wish we had. With gratitude, we present our newest episode with the adviser from Mater Dei High School. In this conversation, we discuss living in the present, being the light in the world and the importance of writing thank you notes.

On our season two premiere, we chat with the legendary Mary Kay Downes from Chantilly High School. We discuss working past rejection, conducting school-wide surveys and celebrating advisers as superheroes.

More from our conversation with the legend Ann Akers. We talk about working styles, A's favorite things and the lasting impression of one of her mentors.

It's her yearbook world. We're just living in it. Ann Akers. Mind the Gutter. Part one.

Beth Ward and Devon Swale join Steve Kent to talk Square One, Pat Conroy's "A Yearbook is a Love Letter," and the first time Beth's staff made a national list. Plus, Hayley is showered with love from her former adviser.

Meet Morgan Miltner. She knows a thing or two about making and marketing a yearbook. And, she knows a lot about showing tiny-town kids the world.

Get ready for fall convention season with Pat Hinman, who has attended a few herself. We talk about her legacy as a middle school adviser and how her roles have changed in a secondary school. And Ann Akers pops in for a chat about JEA Chicago.

Members of YBKhq share their knowledge about data-driven yearbooks and focus groups. We give tips for finding inspiration and getting buy-in from your customers. Then, we explore the mom/adviser-kid/editor relationship of Carrie and Olivia Honaker.

The Yearbook HQ team gathers to discuss the new curriculum, How to Yearbook: The HJ Way. We also answer your questions about design, photography and book sales.

Want to take your theme to the next level? Mike Simons deconstructs his staff's past two themes and how they used them as a way to tell meaningful stories. He also talks marketing your book and the New Voices movement.

Erinn Harris has loved yearbook forever. She even loves yearbook when it takes over her free time. And when her staff is brand new and she has to start over. Did we mention, she's a teacher because she wanted to teach yearbook?

We sit down with Brenda Gorsuch, the long time adviser at West Henderson High School in North Carolina. We talk teaching creativity, the state of journalism and modeling success for her students.

Justin Daigle & Carrie Hendrix make up one of the funniest adviser duos you will ever meet. If you can hear over the laughter, they talk about distribution, marketing the book and a yearbook reality TV show.

In this episode of Mind the Gutter, we talk to adviser Mitch Ziegler of Redondo Union High School. We discuss photography, his toughest year, student press rights and covering what matters.

In this episode of Mind the Gutter, we are joined by Kara Petersen. We talk theme development, including student voices, Snapchat and covers. Tune in at the end of the episode to learn more about your roving reporters, Nelson & Hayley.

In this episode, we sit down with Carrie Faust of Smoky Hill High School. We discuss empowering students, JV yearbook, and making your staff as diverse as your school.

On this episode of Mind the Gutter, we interview Toby Johnson Middle School adviser Laura Zhu. We talk about owning your mistakes, looking for inspiration in anything and finding your yearbook community.

Introducing Mind the Gutter, a Herff Jones podcast. Every other Thursday, beginning May 4, co-hosts Steve Kent, Nelson Helm and Hayley Behal sit down with members of our international scholastic journalism network to talk all things yearbook.