Member advisers will elect three positions to MIPA’s executive board: first vice president and two trustees. Candidates for these officers were nominated at the MIPA annual meeting on April 20.
Elections will take place via email ballot. Ballots are being emailed to current members on April 21. Please contact the MIPA office if you have questions about your ballot or did not receive one.
Candidates were asked to respond to a questionnaire. Their answers are below. Responses to questions about work experience, educator and honors were edited by MIPA’s director for format and length.
First Vice President
MIPA’s first vice president serves a 2-year term before automatically becoming MIPA’s president for another 2 years.
Christina Hammitt, Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy
- Years at current school: 2
- Years as a teacher: 23
- Student media programs advised: CSPA Citadel (newspaper) and Sentinel (yearbook)
- Current MIPA office, if any: Second vice president
- Previous MIPA experience: MIPA board trustee, second vice president; MIPA fall conference speaker, summer workshop teacher, MIPA judge; NSPA judge
- Past work experience: IB / AP English & Journalism / Publications (yearbook / newspaper) adviser, Charyl Stockwell Prepartory Academy, Brighton, August 2018 – present; Workshop instructor, MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop, August 2014 – present; English & Journalism teacher / Newspaper adviser, Bloomfield Hills High School, August 2004 – January 2018; Journalism Online Instructor, Michigan Virtual, August 2009 – June 2012
- Education: Certified Journalism Educator; Certified AP Lang. & Lit; Certified trainer Link Crew / Challenge Day; Certified Global Champion; Bachelor’s degree in Seconday Education: English/Journalism, Ball State University; Master’s degree in Counseling, Wayne State University
- Honors, awards & activities:
MIPA Golden Pen nominee, 2010, 2017, 2018; MIPA Spartan Award, 10 times; National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Award, two times; NSPA All-American Award, three times; USA Triathlon athlete, Half-Ironman, five times; DEKKA teacher of the year - Why I’m seeking this office: I’ve also loved storytelling, especially stories of everyday people doing everything. After winning a scholarship to attend a high school summer journalism camp, I learned that I could not only tell stories but I could provide a platform for others to have a voice in the stories they tell. Through our many multimedia mediums are opportunities for the ordinary to become extraordinary. Being able to give back to the journalism community is the main reason I’m seeking this MIPA office. Providing programming, leadership, fellowship and direction to our counterparts and community is more important than ever. The educational and emotional support which we provide is priceless and an honor I would love to have.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about me: Doing what we do offers opportunities for questions. Collaborating closely with the professionals in our extraordinary community and working side by side with our MIPA president, I promise to find the answers.
Trustee
This is a 2-year term and 2 positions are available.
Heather Caid, Lakeshore High School (Stevensville)
- Years at current school: 4
- Years as a teacher: 17
- Student media programs advised: Driftwood (yearbook)
- Current MIPA office, if any: none
- Previous MIPA experience: Judging Day 2020
- Work experience: Yearbook adviser and teacher at Lakeshore High School, Stevensville, MI (4 years), Yearbook adviser and teacher at River Valley High School, Three Oaks, MI (13 years)
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in English for Secondary Education, Grand Valley State University, master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Walden University
- Honors, awards & activities: No response
- Why I’m seeking this office: I would really like to be more involved with MIPA! Of all of my years advising, the last few– when I became involved with MIPA– have been the best! I’m constantly learning new things and finding new resources to use, thanks to everyone’s help. For so many years I felt like an island unto myself, and I still would be if not for MIPA! The help and inspiration I receive from MIPA advisers is invaluable, and I would like to become more involved.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about me: I have three young children and a husband who keep me very busy, as well as two spastic cats, Harpurr Lee and Calpurrnia.
Elizabeth Cyr, Stockbridge High School
- Years at current school: 21
- Years as a teacher: 21
- Student media programs advised: Uncaged print newsmagazine, Uncaged news website, The Panther yearbook
- Current MIPA office, if any: Trustee
- Previous MIPA experience: As a member for 18 years, I have served as board trustee, summer camp instructor, adviser mentor, and multiple fall conference day sessions speaker. For two years, I have led the All State Student Advisory Cohort of youth journalists around the state, helping them network with each other and professionals in our field. Additionally, I have served as a head judge for MIPA student Staff and All State awards, participated in many judging days for competition and provided critiques and mentoring for other publications staffs. A strong supporter of summer camp, I have helped countless students attend on scholarship as well as helping my students fundraise to attend fall, spring and one-day conferences. I look forward to strengthening these sorts of endeavors and relationships with other advisers.
- Past work experience: Public relations manager in the automotive industry responsible for managing a corporate communications strategic plan. Staffing and budgeting responsibilities for $2.5 million internal/external relations program including press relations, promotions, trade shows, conference planning, advertising and target database marketing.
- Education: Master’s degree in Curriculum & Education, Michigan State University; Highly Qualified Secondary Teaching Certification: English & Speech, Eastern Michigan University, Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Cleary University
- Honors, awards & activities: 2019 Distinguished Service Award, Stockbridge Community Schools, Board of Education; 2019 National Diversity Award, Journalism Education Association; 2017 MIPA Golden Pen Adviser; Uncaged Newspaper Adviser, multiple NSPA Pacemakers and Finalists, multiple CSPA Silver Crowns and Finalists, 2017 CSPA Gold Medalist, multiple Spartans; Uncaged Online Website Adviser, 2016 Pacemaker Finalist, multiple CSPA Silver Crowns and Finalists; The Panther Yearbook Adviser, multiple NSPA All-Americans; 2017 CSPA Gold Medalist; multiple Spartans; CSPA Board of Judges; JEA National High School Journalist of the Year Competition Judge; WSTT/TST Classroom Technology Grant Recipient 2016; 2015 Stockbridge Schools Employee of the Year; 2015 Creative Instruction Grant Recipient; English Department Chair; Technology and Curriculum Committee (SCS); Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation Board Officer (2006-2012); Red Cedar Writing Project Teacher Consultant; WIDEPaths Instructor (Writing in Digital Environments: Pedagogies & Theories); National Writing Project Fellow; MCTE/NCTE/MIPA/JEA/NSPA/CSPA; Public Speaking Instructor & Certified Adult Literacy Tutor
- Why I’m seeking this office: When I look for good I can contribute in my teaching life, I know it will spring forward in the journalism lab. I am a free speech fanatic because it leads to civic engagement, but also because it leads to self-advocacy, which leads to agency. And, now, there is no muting student voice in our country. My strongest contribution is helping students realize their potentials through our craft. Let’s just say I’m deeply rooted in what we do. It changes kids. We all see it happen. What we do as advisers gives each student a catalyst. In my past four years as trustee, I’ve gotten to know many other advisers who share this same purpose. As we all draw from this passion, in the role of trustee, I would work to support advisers and journalists in this awesome purpose.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about me: We need each other now more than ever. Our extraordinary group of advisers across the state will be the shapers of our next generation of journalists. Let’s rely on each other to keep our youth inspired and educated to voice the issues important to their lives. MIPA is an organization full of talented, helpful, eager, witty, and sincere advisers willing to lend a hand to each other. I am proud and thankful to be a part of it. I am eager to continue collaborating, commiserating and celebrating our lives in scholastic journalism as your board trustee.
Michael Kaufman, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools
- Years at current school: 13
- Years as a teacher: 31
- Student media programs advised: Broadcast (CreuseLine)
- Current MIPA office, if any: none
- Previous MIPA experience: Broadcast Journalism Bootcamp instructor, MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop; Judged numerous video competitions and festivals including MIPA
- Past work experience: LCPS-TV Broadcast Coordinator (2016-present); Capturing Arts Wedding Videography – Videographer/Photographer/Editor (2014-present); Royal Oak Schools – Kimball High School – Drama Director/Teacher (1995-2006); Olympia Entertainment – Public Relations (1993-1995); Brandon Schools – Brandon High School – Drama Director/Debate/Forensics/Class Sponsor (1987-1993)
- Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Michigan, Master of Education, Oakland University
- Honors, awards & activities: Wall Street Journal – Courageous Leader – 2019; Digital Arts Film & Television (DAFT) – Educator of the Year – 2019; PBS Student Reporting Labs – Connected Educator/Summer Academy Teacher – 2016-present; Michigan Association of School Boards – Education Excellence Award – 2015; Royal Oak Teacher of the Year – 2005; Michigan Theatre Teacher of the Year- 2004
- Why I’m seeking this office: After recently working at the MIPA summer camp, I learned first hand what an incredible community of journalism instructors there are in the MIPA. While I’ve always known about the incredible broadcast journalism teachers in MIPA, this camp gave me the opportunity to see the bigger picture of MIPA and the incredible support structure this provides for students and teachers across the state. Seeking office as a trustee will allow me to give back to this organization.
- Here’s something else I’d like MIPA members to know about me: l was the first American certified by the Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association to teach Lakewater Canoeing (which I did for 2 years at a summer camp in Algonquin Park)