JEA Advisers Institute
July 14-16, 2025
The JEA Advisers Institute brings journalism teachers from across the country together for three days of adviser-specific training and networking.
Participants learn from other teachers, as well as industry partners and experts, so that advisers return to their schools with enhanced tools that strengthen their CTE programs.
All JEA spaces and events require participants to display professional behavior that is safe and inclusive of everyone. We look forward to your attendance.
Pricing and registration
2025 early bird registration pricing is available through March 14, with regular pricing available after that date. All registration rates include a 2025 Advisers Institute T-shirt.
JEA members
Early bird: $199
Regular: $219
Nonmembers
Early bird: $229
Regular: $249
Event venue
Omni Providence Hotel
The Omni Providence Hotel in Rhode Island is the official hotel of JEA Advisers Institute and features world-class amenities and accommodations. Connected to Providence Place Mall and Rhode Island Convention Center, Omni Providence Hotel is conveniently located near top destinations in downtown Providence including Brown University, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design and the Amica Mutual Pavilion. The charming Rhode Island hotel offers elevated accommodations with sweeping views of the downtown skyline. We encourage all attendees to stay at the Omni Providence Hotel, which will house all conference activities.
2025 room rates are $189 for singles/doubles, $219 for triples and $249 for quads, plus taxes and service fees.
JEA will help make connections for those interested in a roommate to save on lodging costs, but JEA will not make the roommate pairings. Even if you have already made your hotel reservation, it can be modified for a double room, and the Omni is capable of arranging split billing. One roommate would have to put down a credit card for incidentals, but the Omni can split the bill, or one roommate can reimburse the other. Email amber@jea.org if you are open to a roommate.
Schedule
The first conference session starts at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 14 (registration check-in starts at 7:00 p.m.).
Tuesday, July 15 offers breakout sessions all day.
On Wednesday, July 16, all attendees will participate in our team storytelling workshop. This all-day event gets everyone out of the hotel to experience Providence. The conference ends Wednesday evening.
All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Program
Regardless of your experience level or the type of media you advise, Advisers Institute has programming specifically for you:
- differentiated instruction strategies
- technology in the classroom
- subject-specific professional learning community participation
- essential learner outcomes in a 21st-century classroom
- media literacy, ethical journalism
Speakers
Brian Baron
Brian Baron advises the Regulus yearbook, coordinates school publications and chairs the English department at Newton (Massachusetts) South High School. He has previously advised the school's print newspaper, The Lion's Roar, and its online publication, Denebola. He has been active in high school journalism within the state for the last 25 years, and is the current board secretary of the New England Scholastic Press Association.
Justin Daigle, MJE
Justin Daigle, MJE, of Brighton (Colorado) High School is the 2024 H.L. Hall Yearbook Adviser of the Year and vice president of the Journalism Education Association board of directors. Daigle started teaching at Brighton in 2004 and began advising their Reflections yearbook in 2006. Outside the classroom, he teaches at workshops across the nation and has served three terms on the board of the Colorado Student Media Association.
Valerie Kibler, MJE
Valerie Kibler, MJE, teaches at Harrisonburg (Virginia) High School, where she advises the print and online newspaper and the yearbook. She currently serves as president of the Journalism Education Association board of directors. She has been the JEA state director for Virginia, as well as president and treasurer of the Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers and Advisers. She was an NSPA board member for three years. She was named the 2010 Dow Jones News Fund’s National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year and has received NSPA’s Pioneer Award, JEA’s Carl Towley Award and Medal of Merit, CSPA’s Gold Key Award, and SIPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rachel Steil, MJE
Rachel Steil, MJE, is a 27-year veteran newspaper adviser of the award-winning Pony Express newspaper at Stillwater Area High School since 1999. She was awarded the Minnesota Journalism Education Advisor of the Year in 2018 and Minnesota Teacher of the Year Finalist in 2015 and 2020. Rachel is also a Career Pathways Coordinator and passionate about CTE, concurrent enrollment and hands-on learning opportunities. Prior to teaching, Rachel interned at KARE 11, NBC affiliate, and ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel.
Bradley Wilson, MJE
Publications adviser and instructor at Leander (Texas) High School, Bradley Wilson, MJE, received his doctoral degree in public administration with research work in media agenda-setting and local governments. Wilson is the editor of the national magazine, Communication: Journalism Education Today, for the national Journalism Education Association. In 2020, the Scholastic Journalism Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication gave him the David Adams Educator of the Year Award. He has received the Gold Key from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Carl Towley Award from the Journalism Education Association. In 2014, the National Press Photographers Association named him the Robin F. Garland Educator of the Year. Publications he advised, including yearbook, newspaper, literary magazine, radio and video have received numerous awards including Gold Crown awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Pacemaker awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (four for yearbook and five for literary magazine).
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