P03.V53.I01
Massachusetts JEA Director
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SUMMER 2012
Page 22A
Adviser Update
QUILL
Adviser profile
Colleen Gacic, CJE
Publication/School: the Scituation
(newspaper print & online), previously Chimes (yearbook) at Scituate
HS, Scituate, Mass.
Subjects taught: Current assignment Honors Journalistic Writing
(newspaper), AP Language & Composition (using IJWI model), English
I; previously taught Design & Writing
for Publication (yearbook), Public
Speaking & TV Production, Media
Messages, English II
Years advising: Newspaper: 7; Yearbook: 4.
Advising mission: As an adviser, my
goal is to help students to explore
their curiosity about the communities they are a part of and ask the
questions that get at the heart the
stories they cover. I want them to feel
comfortable in self-direction, using
their editors and myself as guides in
the process. When their time on the
Scituation comes to an end, I hope
they leave proud of their production
and continue taking an interest in
issues impacting the public.
Reasons for becoming adviser:
My sophomore English teacher
in high school, Candace Perkins
Bowen, introduced me to the power
of the written word and journalistic
style, so by junior year, I was taking
journalism class with her and hooked
on journalistic style. Her predecessor, Laura Smith, also inspired me
so that by the time I was applying for
colleges, I was looking specifically at
programs that were meant for people
who wanted to teach both English
and a variety of communications
courses. My first teaching assignments had long established advisers
so it took awhile to get a position.
I had never heard of Scituate, but
when I saw in the paper they were
looking for an English and journalism
teacher I jumped at the chance; it
was the best decision I ever made.
Spends most time: Trying to stay
ahead of the kids and looking for
new ways of challenging the students
especially in the spring when they
feel like they’ve done every story.
Administrative support: I am
blessed with an amazingly supportive
administration. The kids feel comfortable to set up interviews with the
principal and assistant principals and
they get real answers to their questions. The district administration is
completely accessible; it helps that
they are in our building. They’ve also
encouraged growth of publications.
I created the Design & Writing for
Publication course for the yearbook,
and they were happy to add it to the
curriculum. Another teacher recently
helped students start a literary
magazine. They really encourage students to be a part of our publication
groups.
Advising allies: I’ve met so many
great advisers since I started. My
closest crew, though, came out of
my experience at the 2006 ASNE
Institute at Kent State where I met
my East Coast “Core” of Kelly Gionti
and Andrew Chistopulos of NYC
Public Schools, Amy Cancel at Brick
Township HS, N.J., and Shawn Landry of Billerica HS, Mass. We see
each other regularly and try as we
might to talk about other things, we
always end up talking shop.
Biggest challenge: My course/staff
is made up primarily of seniors new
to the course and the newspaper
each year, so the beginning of the
year is always hectic getting everyone comfortable with journalistic
style, laws and ethics and just the
operations of the paper. My returning staff each year has been good
about coaching newbies in writing,
but remembering all the little details
each September is challenging. By
the end of the year, we run like a
well-oiled machine.
Biggest headache: Getting advertising revenue. My students get
better each year at attracting new
advertisers from the town and surrounding communities, but Scituate
is a small seaside town and there
just isn’t a big retail base for support.
So as much as we’d love to offer free
newspapers, we continue to sell the
paper for $1 and rely on subscriptions for support.
Greatest success: Hearing about
how journalism helped students
in college and beyond. When students email me to say how much it
improved their writing, or learning to
interview helped them in applying for
a fellowship, I know I’ve done my job.
Actually, when they just send me an
article they thought I’d be interested
in reveals the connection we as
teachers and advisers make.
Most important advising skill:
Organization has always been key for
me and setting procedures with each
new staff and each production helps
efficiency and consistency. If I am
out for a day, my sub notes for journalism are more about making the
sub feel comfortable with the flow of
the class/staff because the kids know
exactly what their job is.
Advising wish: More time. All classes in our school meet five of seven
days in a rotation and we could do so
much more if we met everyday.
Makes me smil N