Photo by: Myra Combs

May 13, 2021 / Marketing / Staff Management

We’re All in This Together: Garnering Faculty Support for Yearbook Distribution

Written by Jenica Hallman, CJE

Most students get to keep their homework private between themselves and their teacher. It’s a learning experience, and if they miss a step in a math equation or conjugate a Spanish verb incorrectly, no one else has to know.

That’s not the case with yearbook. Criticism can be hurtful to students who worked so hard on this book. That’s why getting the faculty on your side is a good idea!

Other teachers understand that homework is meant to teach students, and it won’t always be perfect. There are going to be mistakes in your yearbook – it’s inevitable. While you can’t control everyone’s response, asking teachers to share concerns with you privately instead of voicing them publicly may help temper some responses and help your students get more positive comments for all their hard work. A few key allies can make a big difference in the public perception of your yearbook.

We’ve created this email template below that you can send to your fellow teachers before distribution to remind them and provide information about remaining yearbooks and distribution times.

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Hello colleagues,

My students and I are so excited for you to see the 2021 yearbook! It’s been a challenging year, as you know, and I’m so proud of the way my staff sought creative solutions to make sure we recorded this unparalleled year, capturing what it means to be a student at [insert school name] this year for our student body. Now it’s time to celebrate as we distribute!

Yearbook is unique in that our students have their homework published for everyone to see. They have shown great growth, but we all make mistakes and there may be some in the yearbook. This leaves my students vulnerable to criticism as they put their work out there for all to see. We are aware of these mistakes, and we cringe every time we see them in print, knowing that it’s too late to change.

If you notice mistakes or think something could have been done better, I would be happy to discuss the matter privately. We are always looking for ways to improve. If you see something you like, it would mean so much for my students to hear you praise them and offer public support. They worked so hard on this yearbook, and it’s a part of them now.

We do have a limited number of yearbooks still available, and I would appreciate you spreading the word to your students and their parents. I also wanted to make sure you are aware that yearbook distribution will be on [insert date] at [insert location and time].

Thank you for everything you are doing and for supporting our journalism program!

Sincerely,

[Insert signature]

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Jenica Hallman, CJE

Jenica Hallman, CJE, is a Copywriter for Walsworth Yearbooks. Yearbooks got into her blood in high school, and she has been pursuing them ever since. She has worked in various capacities as a high school and college yearbook editor, an adviser, sales representative, plant customer service representative and now in marketing, her favorite role to date. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass media communications from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.