Teacher of the Year
April 2007

SFBJA member Karla Kennedy named top journalism teacher in Florida

By Stephanie Williams
Editor of THOR
Miami Norland Senior High

She did it! "Oh, my goodness, I just wanted to cry."

Karla Kennedy, a journalism teacher from Miami Norland Senior High has been named the Morty Schaap Journalism Teacher of the year for the state of Florida. Kennedy is the first African-American to achieve this honor.

"I was stunned, elated, and just overjoyed when I heard my name called. There are just so many emotions that go through your body in a matter of seconds. This is a great achievement for me, my family, and my students," said Kennedy.

Kennedy, a strong advocate for the freedoms and rights of the student journalist, received the top honor at the Florida Scholastic Press Association's (FSPA) annual state conference held in Tampa this April. FSPA established this award to showcase journalism teachers across the state for their work with student publications, First Amendment education, and upholding the importance of the student press.

With the American Society of Newspaper Editors' initiative to promote more diversity in the nations newsrooms, Kennedy's recognition comes at a crucial time. "In order to achieve newsroom diversity, African-American students have to believe that they are needed to tell the story, they have to believe that their perspective is important and that they have a voice that needs to be heard," said Kennedy.

"Morty Schaap was also a strong advocate for the student press and I am just honored to be held in such high esteem by my colleagues," she said. Kennedy competed with 5 candidates from the other FSPA districts in Florida. This was the first time that Kennedy has attended the conference with her students. She has been advising and inspiring student media for the past 12 years.

"I never envisioned myself becoming a journalist, but I recently discovered my passion for journalism," said Michael Allen, junior. Allen is slated to become editor for the school's newspaper, THOR, next school year. "Ms. Kennedy has helped me discover how important the job of a journalist really is."

It has been a year of honors for Kennedy. She is a 2007-2008 Francisco R. Walker Region 2 Finalist for Miami-Dade's Teacher of the Year.

"I believe the key to being a good educator is to be honest and respect your students. It is our job to open doors for children and be proud of them when they boldly walk through," Kennedy said.

She has been teaching in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 19 years and currently advises Miami Norland's yearbook and newspaper. She hopes to give her students new opportunities by revamping and revitalizing the photography program. The school has agreed to renovate the darkroom so that the students will be able to develop film and print pictures.

A native Miamian, Kennedy attended Miami Northwestern Senior High, graduated from the University of Miami's school of Communications, and holds a Masters Degree in Journalism and Photography from Florida International University.

Kennedy teaches the Summer Journalism Institute for minority students at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami and advises the museum's student publication, MOCAzine. She was also recognized as an American Society of Newspapers Editors' fellow last year and spent the summer at the University of California, Berkeley were she was coeditor of the publication, The Gate.

She is a member of several civic and professional organizations including the Journalism Educators of America, the South Florida Black Journalists Association, and the United Teachers of Dade County.