Empowering Student Creators: Kim Torrey’s Yearbook Journey

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kim Torrey, an art teacher and dedicated yearbook adviser at St. Anne School, on our Yearbook News podcast. In our conversation, she shared insights into her journey, the challenges of leading a small team, and how her partnership with United Yearbook has elevated the experience for her and her students. Below, we’ve highlighted some key takeaways from her story. For the full conversation, be sure to check out the episode!

Stepping into the Role

Kim took over the yearbook program four years ago when the previous adviser passed the baton. With a background in art, she was excited to take on the challenge, but quickly realized that there was little guidance on how to actually teach yearbook production.

Her first major hurdle? Building a curriculum from the ground up. She had to figure out how to teach everything from page design and layout to writing and photography, all while developing lesson plans that matched her students’ needs and experience levels.

Despite those early challenges, Kim embraced the opportunity and leaned into her creative strengths to shape a yearbook program that reflected her vision and empowered her students.

The Value of Student Ownership

With a small staff—just five students on average—Kim knew that developing a strong team culture was essential. She believes that when students take true ownership of their work, they begin to see the yearbook as more than a school project; it becomes a legacy.

How Kim Builds Student Ownership:

• Gives students creative control over design and content decisions

• Encourages leadership roles within the team

• Instills a sense of purpose by reminding students their work will live on long after graduation

Kim has seen first-hand how giving students space to lead helps them grow in confidence, skill, and accountability.

Creativity Meets Structure

One of the standout strategies Kim discussed was her use of a design checklist to guide students. The checklist includes details on fonts, color schemes, and photo composition—tools that provide consistency while still leaving room for creativity. Through peer reviews and collaborative editing, her students refine their work and learn how to balance artistic vision with technical precision.

Learning from Feedback

One of the most powerful moments in Kim’s journey came after receiving tough but valuable feedback from a parent who felt her child wasn’t featured enough in the yearbook. That moment shaped how Kim and her team approach inclusion going forward.

Now, they focus on:

• Ensuring every student is featured multiple times

• Creating balanced coverage of all groups and activities

• Reviewing page drafts through the lens of visibility and inclusion

Kim openly models this growth mindset with her team, showing that feedback—even the hard kind—can be a catalyst for positive change.

Support from United Yearbook

Throughout the interview, Kim highlighted the impact of her partnership with United Yearbook. From helping brainstorm cover designs to providing hands-on educational experiences like print shop tours, United Yearbook has been a creative and practical ally. One of her team’s most memorable projects—a cassette tape-themed yearbook—came to life thanks to design input from their United rep, who suggested tactile details that made the final product stand out.

Kim also praised United Yearbook’s classroom resources, including curriculum and team-building activities. One such activity challenged her staff to find a shared commonality—an unexpectedly difficult but fun exercise that strengthened the bond among her small group.

Preparing Students for the Future

Kim’s ultimate goal is to equip students with practical and creative skills they can carry with them beyond high school. She hopes her students walk away not just with a finished product, but with confidence in photography, layout design, communication, and collaboration.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, Kim says she’s most proud of the creativity that her students bring year after year. With strong support, a culture of ownership, and an eye for innovation, Kim’s yearbook program continues to thrive and inspire.

Want to hear Kim’s full story? Watch the full episode here: 

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Contributor: Jessica Carrera, Associate Editor at TSE Worldwide Press and Marketing Coordinator at United Yearbook, holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in writing from Biola University. She aspires to touch the lives of others through her words.