• Congratulations to IJEA member school Edwardsville on winning the 2026 IHSA journalism tournament! IJEA members Huntley and Prospect finished second and third respectively! Congrats to all IHSA state finalists!
  • Congratulations to the 2026 Illinois Journalist of the Year, senior Light Dohrn of the University of Chicago Laboratory High School!
  • Journalism educators! Consider joining IJEA for 2026-27! Annual memberships for 2026-27 will be available in May. Lifetime memberships are always available. Use our online form or fillable PDF to join!
  • We are delighted to announce IJEA's partnership with Northwestern University's Medill School! We are now headquartered at Medill. Thank you, Medill, for your support of high school journalism!
Illinois Journalism Education Association, Medill School, Northwestern University, 1845 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2101

Illinois JEA
Illinois Journalism Education Association, Medill School, Northwestern University, 1845 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2101

Illinois JEA
Illinois Journalism Education Association, Medill School, Northwestern University, 1845 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2101

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 two-year 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

Mentees receive free membership in JEA.

The JEA membership gives mentees access to the 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.

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. During the second year, the mentee and mentor have the opportunity to travel to one convention together. JEA covers the cost of airfare, two nights at the convention hotel, and registration in exchange for participation in judging and presenting a session.

 

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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