Journalism adviser receives national award
Photo: Kaylee Freeman
Stephan Green working on his computer working on the Master Templet for the yearbook during 3rd period. Green is one of the five JEA Rising Star award recipients for his dedication to teaching Journalism and has made success for at least five years. “I had to spend a lot of time learning the teaching craft because I knew what I was talking about. But I would go really fast or I would use words that no one understood. So I really had to understand how to take what I knew about the journalism world and apply it to the teaching part. Then setting up an organization where the kids lead and run the organization. Kind of give up some of that control, but I’m a perfectionist. So wanting to give up that controls heart.”
Sep 21, 2022
The Journalism Education Association, JEA, released an announcement on Aug. 25, 2022. Naming Student Media advisor, debate coach and UIL coordinator, Stephen Green, one of the five JEA Rising Star award recipients.
The Rising Star award is given to new teachers that within five years of teaching have shown dedication to journalism and have made a success out of at least one media program.
“It’s weird to be recognized on a national level but nice to know that my peers recognize the hard work that I do,” Green said. “And what the student media team does to make these products at a high level. I also think that it’s also really good for the school.”
The years that Green has taught have increased the amount of attention the media program has ever received prior to the years before.
“It started out with nine kids over newspaper and yearbook was super small and I just worked really hard on growing it.” Green said, “So now up to 60 kids just in the publication side plus kpan and plus commercial photography, the new graphic design program and lots of kids in the level classes .”
Every year, introduction classes continue to grow with more and more kids interested, even a waiting list is made. In addition, Kpan and commercial photography joined the Student Media program this year. Kpan is the school’s broadcasting show run by students who also handle audio, tech and film, while commercial photography teaches students how to advertise through pictures.
“The organization itself has grown to include other departments including Kpan joining us and commercial photography is now part of the student media group,” Green said. “We’re all going to work together to tell really good stories about Caney Creek and let people know what’s going on here.”
Green will be recognized during the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in St. Louis Missouri on Nov. 10-13, 2022.
