As another school year winds down (YAY!,) things have a habit of just slowing down or stopping. That includes yearbook work, and it really includes doing some preparing for next year's effort and looking to improve. For our final podcast of the 2025-26 school year we talked to Tina Cleavelin, a Creative Accounts Manager for Jostens Yearbooks. A 37-year yearbook veteran, Tina gave us great advice on what to look out for, the value of attending a yearbook camp, and things for any staff to do better next year. We also tackled subjects like dealing with a death at school, what AI can and SHOULDN'T do for yearbook, the real importance of having a theme and more. Enjoy the listening!

What are some concerning topics in the yearbook world today? A lot, right? We had a great chat with yearbooking veteran Jim Jordan, Special Consultant for Walsworth Yearbooks and formerly a 35-year adviser in California. Listen to a terrific back and forth on issues like adviser stress today, why design is so difficult (and how to solve that,) how will AI figure in the yearbook future, and much more.  If you are one of the many advisers considering quitting yearbook for next year, hear Jim's advice on why you are NEEDED and how to handle stresses today. It's an hour of talk, many tips and some laughs among our yearbooking tribe - you are not alone...

Why do so many yearbooks avoid writing? And why is it really needed? We talk with an award winning adviser on the WHY and HOW of yearbook writing...

When we look at good yearbooking we see a 50-50 proposition: 50% creating the book and 50% marketing and sales. Yet for most yearbook advisers it's probably more like 90-10...or less. Yet if you make an awesome yearbook but few people buy one - you've failed. What is good yearbook marketing? Why is it so important? And how can any staff really get attention for their efforts (that's marketing) that leads to sales success? For this episode we went for a company person, in this case Shaun Stapleton - he's the VP of sales and marketing for Entourage Yearbooks. Listen to our wide ranging conversation on the what, why and how for any yearbook adviser working with any company. This one is a bit long but it is filled with insights, inspiration and ideas. Never too late to get started with new efforts to promote your book and boost your sales.

Pictures will always be the #1 element of any yearbook - but what KINDS of pictures? Just random snapshots, or those that tell a story just by looking at them? From our TYR archives we went back to a great interview with Mike McLean, a professional freelance photographer and trainer from Texas who has been helping yearbook staffs for many years.  Listen as Mike goes through some basic steps to improve your photo shooting, along with in-depth information on lens usage, better lighting and more. Get some great advice for rookie photogs and also students/advisers who really want to up their picture taking game.

Covering legal issues and yearbook with Mike Hiestand, Sr. Legal Counsel with the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) in Washington, DC

A review of great student staff organization, getting good student leaders and advice on keeping them working well with top adviser Mike Simons from Corning, NY.

A talk on the state of yearbooking and student journalism today with Gary Lundgren of NSPA. Ideas, suggestions and insights for any adviser.

We discuss the future of yearbooking with one of the best, former award winning adviser Ava Butzu. Now a Jostens education specialist, Ava discusses some top yearbook issues as well as what to do in the final months of the school year. And then we pull out the crystal ball to think about yearbook in the future - no book? Using Social Media. What about AI and how to use it right now and later. We dream some dreams for any level of yearbook, for rookie advisers to veterans. Great listening anytime but especially into summer break...

It's an issue that plagues too many schools today - poor climate and culture, which then leads to problems like low morale, bullying, lack of relationships and poor performance. What is climate and culture anyway? We talked with a Jostens Renaissance legend, Stand Tall Steve Bollar, who has been a leader on climate and culture for over two decades. A Renaissance Hall of Famer, Steve gets clinical in breaking down what school climate and culture really are, how to change them, how the Renaissance 6 R's formula can make that change, and other ideas to improve any school, any level. More from Steve at https://www.standtallsteve.com/. Call this MUST HEAR PODCASTING if your school is struggling with these issues. Stand Tall Steve is one of the best, a great conversation...