By Erinn Harris, MJE, JEA awards chair
The best student publications are the ones that not only tell the stories of the year, but do so by highlighting the perspectives of all students. In her letter of support, Adriane Hardin-Davis, English Learners department chair and instructor, told the story that illustrates how her colleague, Wendy Turner, CJE, helps foster a sense of belonging at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky.
JEA recognizes Turner’s efforts toward diversity, equity and inclusion with the 2023 Diversity Award.
“Recently, a student in my classroom who is very quiet, excitedly told me all about his interview with WPLD en Espanol,” Hardin-Davis said. “He then asked if our class could watch it. It’s amazing to witness the joy our English Language Learners feel at being included within our school community.”
Not only are English Language Learners included within the school community, Turner has made sure that they have a voice in that community.
A journalism and broadcast media teacher, Turner has advised the PLD Lamplighter since 2006. Named Kentucky Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2014, Turner is the vice president of the Kentucky Journalism Teacher Association. A champion of scholastic press rights and the First Amendment, Turner also champions the importance of promoting linguistic diversity and inclusion.
As the Spanish-speaking population has increased, so have her efforts. Turner recruits teams of both native and heritage Spanish-speaking students to her programs, and launched the WPLD en Espanol program.
“One particular episode included students who are considered ‘newcomers’ in the English Language Learners program,” Turner said. “The students from Honduras and Guatemala compared their experiences with school in their home countries and in the United States. The interviews included a shared perspective that most students don’t have, and it showcased the bravery that these students have had navigating a new and sometimes intimidating environment.”
In addition to recruiting students for her own programs, Tuner has also partnered with the Youth Service Center and other school resources to provide transportation for students who might not be able to participate otherwise. She has also helped create a team of Spanish-speaking students to enter the state Media Arts competition in Digital Video Production with the Technology Student Association, creating content for the competition in Spanish.
“She is an incomparable advocate for ethical journalism that honors diverse voices,” Hardin-Davis said. “This multimedia production has been a breath of fresh air for our English Language Learners who often feel marginalized because they’re still learning English.”
Lindsay Porter