The Michigan Interscholastic Press Association honored Portage Northern High School Principal Jim French as its 2021 Administrator of the Year. The award recognizes school administrators who have shown strong interest in and support for scholastic journalism.
French was recognized by student journalists of The Northern Light newspaper as part of an online ceremony May 12, along with other special recognition award winners in MIPA’s statewide scholastic journalism contests.
In nominating her principal, journalism adviser Dr. Amanda Thorpe said French has grown to understand and appreciate how to allow student journalists to act independently — even when covering controversial stories.
“He developed a really open spirit for learning how to be a good administrator for publications,” Thorpe wrote in her nomination letter. “He opened the door to developing a relationship based on trust, and his attitude has evolved from ‘show me before you run that piece’ to ‘let me know if there’s anything that should be on my radar so I can be ready to support you.'”
Selection for MIPA’s Administrator of the Year is based on a portfolio, which should include letters and other documentation that illustrate support for the journalism program, adviser and students, including:
- Awareness of current issues in journalism
- Journalism’s place in the school curriculum
- Understanding of the role of secondary administrators in journalism curriculum
- Allowing students press freedom
- Financing
- Encouragement of academic and professional growth
- Personal support and encouragement
French has been principal since 2005. In their letters of support, students at Portage Northern said French respects their rights as journalists, even if the stories they are reporting point out problems in the school.
“Mr. French has kept his word, even on some published pieces he was maybe a little wary of, he’s trusted us and our work,” Kylie Clifton, editor-in-chief of The Northern Light, wrote in support of her principal. “He is more than aware that the issues we write about are deeply important, and censoring those wouldn’t just harm us, but the student body. Thus allowing our staff the freedoms the press is guaranteed, even at the student level.”
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN INTERSCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1921 and housed in the Michigan State University School of Journalism, the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association is a nonprofit organization composed of scholastic journalism teachers and publications advisers and their students. MIPA is committed to promoting and recognizing excellence in scholastic journalism at all levels through education, training and support of student journalists and their advisers.