For any school looking to improve their climate, culture and morale, the Jostens Renaissance School of Distinction Award offers a template of activities to help meet that goal.

And the Platinum School of Distinction Award is the ultimate. State College High School in State College, PA decided to make that their target for 2023-24. They nailed it and it's made a real impact on the life of their building, a large school in central PA. Students AND adults.

Renaissance/PBIS leaders Jennifer Evans and Danielle Ambrosia sat down for a chat with us about their diverse school, why Renaissance, ideas they've used to reach the Platinum level and much more. They went for it and crushed it - and your school can too...

Student leadership is often overlooked at many schools. And even more at middle schools. Teaching good student leadership is something that our guest this episode has excelled at.

Listen as we talk to veteran educator Christina Onuskanich from Mill Hall, PA. Christina was a 2023 Jostens Renaissance National Educator of the Year and a national leader in using the Renaissance student leadership curriculum. Her kids LOVE their student leadership class.

She also talks about using Renaissance at the middle school level, those unique ages when students begin to assert themselves. Watch and note the many ideas that Christina's school has used over the last several years.

You can't discuss education today without talking about mental health, for both students and adults. It's a real issue - and Jostens Renaissance ideas can help any school to improve the situation for all involved.

We talked with educator and administrator Mark Brown from Newburg HS in Oregon about mental health in schools and how to change the game for the future. Mark is a Renaissance Champion for the U.S Northwest, and also has a personal story which motivates him to improve mental health for anyone who asks. Get some ideas and insights for your own school situation.

How's the adult leadership in your school building? Stresses on administrators and teachers have never been higher. How to really LEAD your group to success this year? Listen for insights and ideas from former administrator Dr. Darrin Peppard, also a Jostens Renaissance Hall of Famer, on how to positively affect the climate, culture and morale of any school. Also check out his website at roadtoawesome.net !

Renaissance ideas are for any school at any level - so what about elementary school? Listen to the story of Robb Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA, a school that went all in for Renaissance and it's made a huge difference for their students and staff. School facilitator Brad McCloskey gave us the full story, from getting started to the acclaim they've received from parents, the media and even the PA Secretary of Education. And Brad shares a lot of ideas that his school has used in the last couple of years - take notes and see how they can help YOUR school.

Can a large school succeed with Jostens Renaissance ideas? YES and in this episode we talk to Laura Tobias, principal at State College High School in State College, PA. Her large school began using Renaissance ideas in the summer and fall 2023 and it's already made a HUGE difference in their building while also achieving the Renaissance Platinum School of Distinction award in just one year. Listen to their story, ideas they've used, reactions and proof that a change has been made. You can do it too!

It's roughly halfway through another school year - and for many schools ROUGH is a good term to use again this year. That goes with another key word, CULTURE. Schools everywhere - and many yearbook staffs - are struggling through another year.

One man who knows all about good yearbook and school culture is veteran adviser Mitch Eden. Now retired after 25+ years of teaching and advising, Mitch is a new Jostens Yearbooks Ambassador, working with schools across the country to improve their journalism and marketing efforts.

Listen to this episode of the Report for insights and advice on not only improving yearbook culture but school culture as well during tougher times, and how your yearbook work could also boost the entire life of your school and everyone in it. This one's a keeper because every school out there can use some of Mitch's advice to have a better year - and have FUN doing this valuable work.

We're back and talking about one subject that many yearbook staffs avoid - writing. Photos will always be the #1 element of the book, but writing is a close #2, filling in the information that the photos miss. And that's a LOT of information.

Listen for great ideas and advice from veteran adviser Sharon Kubicek from Texas as she shares the importance of writing in the yearbook, the different ways to do it, how school has gone in Texas this year, and sage advice for any adviser but especially for rookie folks.