of the publication. While it wouldn't hurt to take a couple weeks off to celebrate with your team or recuperate from all of the long hours that you and your staff have worked, this is also a crucial time to start planning for the next school year. Here are THREE things you should add to your checklist before the end of this school year.
It is critical that yearbook advisors learn to delegate by assigning leadership positions to students, such as yearbook managers and editors.
1. RECRUITMENT PROCESS: Ask other teachers for recommendations of students who would be a good fit for your team, and encourage those students to submit an application for involvement in the yearbook staff. Key questions should be asked to qualify if the student is a team-player, to gauge his or her willingness to work hard, and to reveal their commitment to excellence. Identify and filter those who are not qualified.
2. YEARBOOK THEME: Once the list of the majority of the yearbook staff is finalized, host an after-school event or a Summer retreat, or schedule a workshop with UYB so you can get the THEME brainstorming process started. That way, your yearbook staff will only need to focus on building solid content and designing eye-popping pages and cover treatments when they return to school in the Fall.
3. DELEGATION: It is critical that yearbook advisors learn to delegate by assigning leadership positions to students, such as yearbook managers and editors. These student leaders can take on some of your workload, and can help you manage your workflow and deadlines by working closely with other staff members over the summer and during the school year. They can also help you with the interviewing process by identifying and eliminating those interviewees who are not a good fit for you team.
Sarah Y. Tse, Founder of United Yearbook
Sarah received her M.A. in Marketing from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and her B.A. in Computer Graphics Design from Biola University. She co-founded TSE Worldwide Press in 2004, and established United Yearbook Printing in 2008. Sarah takes pleasure in mentoring and teaching others the art of self publishing, especially with those who are first-time authors, teenagers, or community leaders such as police officers, school administrators, and school teachers. Sarah is passionate about empowering people to see and activate the God-given potential which resides in each of us. Sarah’s motto is “You can do it!”