Meet the Mentoring Committee
Linda Barrington, MJE
Mentoring Program co-founder and JEA mentor in Wisconsin since 2011
“An adviser at a KEMPA Workshop said the Mentoring Program was a great example of what her father had taught her. His words of advice: ‘You learn, you earn, and then you return.’ That’s why I do this.”
Jane Blystone, MJE
JEA mentor in Pennsylvania since 2017
“Collaboration is key in mentoring. I love to assist new advisers with curriculum development, material review, assessment strategies, staff management and provide resources teachers may not have available to them.”
Vicki McCash Brennan, CJE
JEA mentor in Florida since 2015
“No one has all the skills it takes to be a journalism adviser. I’m pleased to be there to help new advisers figure out the content that’s new to them and help in whatever way I can. This is one of the hardest jobs in teaching, and I am so impressed with all my mentees. I learn as much from them as they do from me.”
Peggy Gregory, CJE
Mentor Program co-founder and JEA mentor in Arizona since 2013
“Trained JEA mentors are there to not only give advice and share resources but to collaborate with their mentees with the eventual goal of facilitating this new journalism teacher’s transition to become an independent, confident adviser.”
Sheila Jones, CJE
JEA mentor in Colorado since 2013
“Advisers wear many hats, including journalist, counselor or press law expert. I most enjoy assisting new advisers in getting the right fit for each role. My greatest satisfaction is when a mentee looks at me with confidence and says, ‘I’ve got this now!’”
Mark Webber
JEA mentor in Texas since 2019
“I started as a journalism adviser in 1993 when my high school opened for classes. I started the program from scratch and had to learn everything the hard way. When I retired from teaching in 2019 after 40 years, I wanted to help others getting started or in their early years of advising.”