2009 Dr. Kay Phillips Administrator of the Year

Lucy Beckman, Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)

The Dr. Kay Phillips Administrator of the Year Award is presented to an administrator who supports his/her school publications in both physical needs of the journalism program and in understanding the time and effort put forth by the school’s publication advisers and their staffs.

This administrator should promote the professional growth of the adviser and students by encouraging and aiding in their attendance at seminars, conferences, conventions and workshops as well as support their membership in scholastic press organizations.

Lucy Beckman recognizes that it is crucial to the development of the journalism program that students have freedom to cover controversial issues, while receiving administrative support financially and journalistically. Students at this school say they never have to worry whether they have the full support of the administration; they are free to discover their own voices and explore ideas.

In their own words, students write about their principal’s attitudes and actions. Describing her advice as “calm, motherly wisdom,” students say of her, “She always has time for an interview and is never in a rush or too busy. Some have had to wait, but never have been declined. She supports our attending conventions and state conferences and understands the necessity of student journalists’ free speech.”

Various staff members, including a staff photographer, a reporter, an associate editor and the editor in chief commented:
“She made me feel at home and comfortable; she jokes around with us.”
“When I was nervous writing my first story, she took time with me.”
“She treats student journalists like real people, never intimidating us. With her, an interview is conversation that will help students grow. She trusts students and cares about what they care about. She believes teenagers can make a difference in school and beyond and wants to hear their opinions.”
“She treats students professionally and remembers our names. She’s not an administrative eye looking over our shoulders. Allowing free coverage of controversial issues, she has unwavering confidence in students’ talents and allows them to grow as journalists and individuals. She is unafraid to be a friend.”
“It takes a great deal of courage to relinquish control of something as central to a school’s image as its press. It takes faith to trust students to perform without interference, especially when one’s reputation depends in part on perceived performance.”
“It takes optimism and good humor to face the never-ending stream of student reporters with a welcoming smile and an open door. Without such a principal, our newspaper program would be just a shadow of what it is today.”