Available for the project

2020

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"In Focus" The Python Yearbook

organization:

Pine View School

category:

Publications

role:

Editor-in-Chief

Year:

2024-

2025

live website

Overview

i led 40 middle schoolers to create 144-pages centered on the theme In Focus, highlighting the full scope of student life. I wrote theme copy, contributed reporting, taught journalism, implemented systems, and guided design and photography. The finished book earned Pine View’s first All-Florida distinction in our 56-year yearbook history.

Reporting and Writing

As Editor-in-Chief, wrote theme copy centered on “In Focus,” highlighting the full scope of middle school life, and contributed other editor pieces. Ensured cohesive storytelling across 144 pages.

Editing, Leadership
and Team Building

Led a 40 middle and 25 high (~3 high per cycle) school staff, transitioned assignments to Canvas, strengthening organization and collaboration. inspired team building THROUGH FSPA, CSPA, baked treats, and other bonding events.

design

Guided layout development across 144 pages, reinforcing principles like alignment, balance, and eye flow. Maintained a unified visual identity aligned with the “In Focus” theme.

photojournalism

Shot and edited photos while mentoring students on composition and caption writing to capture authentic middle school moments.

Law, Ethics and News
Literacy

Emphasized accurate reporting, name verification, and responsible storytelling practices while training younger journalists. dealt with administrative censorship and pivoting (rejected cover draft as shown).

Marketing and
Audience Engagement

Fostered strong staff culture and visibility within the school community including flyers, pine view fair booths, and more outreach.

Commitment to
Diversity

Ensured broad representation of grades, activities, and student experiences, reflecting the full middle school community in coverage and 25 year anniversary of The Python. implemented name chart to track coverage.

I built team culture through small traditions, including baking before major deadlines and creating a reward system tied to progress. These efforts strengthened morale and consistency.
I led our transition from Google Classroom to Canvas to better deadlines, feedback, and file organization. The new system improved directions, reduced missed submissions, and made collaboration more efficient.
I led our transition from Google Classroom to Canvas to better deadlines, feedback, and file organization. The new system improved directions, reduced missed submissions, and made collaboration more efficient.
I developed and enforced a detailed style guide outlining fonts, color palettes, spacing rules, and quick InDesign hacks. This ensured consistency across spreads and trained staffers in efficient and professional design habits.
I developed and enforced a detailed style guide outlining fonts, color palettes, spacing rules, and quick InDesign hacks. This ensured consistency across spreads and trained staffers in efficient and professional design habits.
In this spread, oversized score graphics overwhelmed the page and limited flexibility, overall making a bad layout. Re-evaluating it now, I would reduce the scale by half and reposition the scores to create stronger balance and hierarchy.
While the reporting was strong, this spread includes dense text that limits readability. With more layout experience, I now prioritize tighter copy, stronger subheads, and visual breaks to improve spreads.
This spread left excessive white space and underutilized layout opportunities. In this year’s high school book, I redesigned a similar concept using stronger modular structure and intentional placement to create cohesive layout.
While this is not my friend, I do think it is evident a lot of editors have problems with dominant elements. I would like to stress this more this year and improve on it as a group. Looking for spread inspiration is a good solution to this.
I built team culture through small traditions, including baking before major deadlines and creating a reward system tied to progress. These efforts strengthened morale and consistency.
I led our transition from Google Classroom to Canvas to better deadlines, feedback, and file organization. The new system improved directions, reduced missed submissions, and made collaboration more efficient.
I led our transition from Google Classroom to Canvas to better deadlines, feedback, and file organization. The new system improved directions, reduced missed submissions, and made collaboration more efficient.
I developed and enforced a detailed style guide outlining fonts, color palettes, spacing rules, and quick InDesign hacks. This ensured consistency across spreads and trained staffers in efficient and professional design habits.
I developed and enforced a detailed style guide outlining fonts, color palettes, spacing rules, and quick InDesign hacks. This ensured consistency across spreads and trained staffers in efficient and professional design habits.
In this spread, oversized score graphics overwhelmed the page and limited flexibility, overall making a bad layout. Re-evaluating it now, I would reduce the scale by half and reposition the scores to create stronger balance and hierarchy.
While the reporting was strong, this spread includes dense text that limits readability. With more layout experience, I now prioritize tighter copy, stronger subheads, and visual breaks to improve spreads.
This spread left excessive white space and underutilized layout opportunities. In this year’s high school book, I redesigned a similar concept using stronger modular structure and intentional placement to create cohesive layout.
While this is not my friend, I do think it is evident a lot of editors have problems with dominant elements. I would like to stress this more this year and improve on it as a group. Looking for spread inspiration is a good solution to this.
I built team culture through small traditions, including baking before major deadlines and creating a reward system tied to progress. These efforts strengthened morale and consistency.
I led our transition from Google Classroom to Canvas to better deadlines, feedback, and file organization. The new system improved directions, reduced missed submissions, and made collaboration more efficient.
I led our transition from Google Classroom to Canvas to better deadlines, feedback, and file organization. The new system improved directions, reduced missed submissions, and made collaboration more efficient.
I developed and enforced a detailed style guide outlining fonts, color palettes, spacing rules, and quick InDesign hacks. This ensured consistency across spreads and trained staffers in efficient and professional design habits.
I developed and enforced a detailed style guide outlining fonts, color palettes, spacing rules, and quick InDesign hacks. This ensured consistency across spreads and trained staffers in efficient and professional design habits.
In this spread, oversized score graphics overwhelmed the page and limited flexibility, overall making a bad layout. Re-evaluating it now, I would reduce the scale by half and reposition the scores to create stronger balance and hierarchy.
While the reporting was strong, this spread includes dense text that limits readability. With more layout experience, I now prioritize tighter copy, stronger subheads, and visual breaks to improve spreads.
This spread left excessive white space and underutilized layout opportunities. In this year’s high school book, I redesigned a similar concept using stronger modular structure and intentional placement to create cohesive layout.
While this is not my friend, I do think it is evident a lot of editors have problems with dominant elements. I would like to stress this more this year and improve on it as a group. Looking for spread inspiration is a good solution to this.
I built team culture through small traditions, including baking before major deadlines and creating a reward system tied to progress. These efforts strengthened morale and consistency.
I led our transition from Google Classroom to Canvas to better deadlines, feedback, and file organization. The new system improved directions, reduced missed submissions, and made collaboration more efficient.
I led our transition from Google Classroom to Canvas to better deadlines, feedback, and file organization. The new system improved directions, reduced missed submissions, and made collaboration more efficient.
I developed and enforced a detailed style guide outlining fonts, color palettes, spacing rules, and quick InDesign hacks. This ensured consistency across spreads and trained staffers in efficient and professional design habits.
I developed and enforced a detailed style guide outlining fonts, color palettes, spacing rules, and quick InDesign hacks. This ensured consistency across spreads and trained staffers in efficient and professional design habits.
In this spread, oversized score graphics overwhelmed the page and limited flexibility, overall making a bad layout. Re-evaluating it now, I would reduce the scale by half and reposition the scores to create stronger balance and hierarchy.
While the reporting was strong, this spread includes dense text that limits readability. With more layout experience, I now prioritize tighter copy, stronger subheads, and visual breaks to improve spreads.
This spread left excessive white space and underutilized layout opportunities. In this year’s high school book, I redesigned a similar concept using stronger modular structure and intentional placement to create cohesive layout.
While this is not my friend, I do think it is evident a lot of editors have problems with dominant elements. I would like to stress this more this year and improve on it as a group. Looking for spread inspiration is a good solution to this.

Trey Wilkinson's (7) backflip during the annual Variety Show wasn't the only 'wicked' talent to see. The middle school "Wicked" Act, orchestrated by second grade teacher Misty Tucak, was showered in applause when taking their stage leave. The act portrayed the popular book and Broadway show "Wicked," an alternate perspective and adaptation of the "Wizard of Oz" classic tale.
(Literary Magazine Piece) "Within the dark, we cannot see. But not just yet-don't begin to flee. A clear path isn't always within sight. Don't listen to your fight or flight… Keep your eye on the light, because in this world, it does not exist without night."
On Thursday, September 26, hurricane Helene made landfall near Florida's Big Bend region. The hurricane, categorized as a level 4 with winds as high as 140 MPH, tore through the Siesta Key area. Only a few weeks later on October 9, another hurricane, Milton, landed in Sarasota leaving thousands of families without power and with severe property damage.
Downtown Sarasota, post Hurricane Milton - Thursday, October 10
Trey Wilkinson's (7) backflip during the annual Variety Show wasn't the only 'wicked' talent to see. The middle school "Wicked" Act, orchestrated by second grade teacher Misty Tucak, was showered in applause when taking their stage leave. The act portrayed the popular book and Broadway show "Wicked," an alternate perspective and adaptation of the "Wizard of Oz" classic tale.
(Literary Magazine Piece) "Within the dark, we cannot see. But not just yet-don't begin to flee. A clear path isn't always within sight. Don't listen to your fight or flight… Keep your eye on the light, because in this world, it does not exist without night."
On Thursday, September 26, hurricane Helene made landfall near Florida's Big Bend region. The hurricane, categorized as a level 4 with winds as high as 140 MPH, tore through the Siesta Key area. Only a few weeks later on October 9, another hurricane, Milton, landed in Sarasota leaving thousands of families without power and with severe property damage.
Downtown Sarasota, post Hurricane Milton - Thursday, October 10
Trey Wilkinson's (7) backflip during the annual Variety Show wasn't the only 'wicked' talent to see. The middle school "Wicked" Act, orchestrated by second grade teacher Misty Tucak, was showered in applause when taking their stage leave. The act portrayed the popular book and Broadway show "Wicked," an alternate perspective and adaptation of the "Wizard of Oz" classic tale.
(Literary Magazine Piece) "Within the dark, we cannot see. But not just yet-don't begin to flee. A clear path isn't always within sight. Don't listen to your fight or flight… Keep your eye on the light, because in this world, it does not exist without night."
On Thursday, September 26, hurricane Helene made landfall near Florida's Big Bend region. The hurricane, categorized as a level 4 with winds as high as 140 MPH, tore through the Siesta Key area. Only a few weeks later on October 9, another hurricane, Milton, landed in Sarasota leaving thousands of families without power and with severe property damage.
Downtown Sarasota, post Hurricane Milton - Thursday, October 10
Trey Wilkinson's (7) backflip during the annual Variety Show wasn't the only 'wicked' talent to see. The middle school "Wicked" Act, orchestrated by second grade teacher Misty Tucak, was showered in applause when taking their stage leave. The act portrayed the popular book and Broadway show "Wicked," an alternate perspective and adaptation of the "Wizard of Oz" classic tale.
(Literary Magazine Piece) "Within the dark, we cannot see. But not just yet-don't begin to flee. A clear path isn't always within sight. Don't listen to your fight or flight… Keep your eye on the light, because in this world, it does not exist without night."
On Thursday, September 26, hurricane Helene made landfall near Florida's Big Bend region. The hurricane, categorized as a level 4 with winds as high as 140 MPH, tore through the Siesta Key area. Only a few weeks later on October 9, another hurricane, Milton, landed in Sarasota leaving thousands of families without power and with severe property damage.
Downtown Sarasota, post Hurricane Milton - Thursday, October 10

personal growth

Leading In Focus taught me how to build structure without limiting creativity. Working with younger staff pushed me to become a clearer communicator and more patient mentor. Watching students grow in confidence and skill mattered just as much as the awards. This book marked the moment I understood leadership not as control, but as creating systems and support that help others succeed.