Full Name
Melissa Perner
Where (school and city) do you teach?
Ozona High School, Ozona, Texas
How many years have you been advising publications?
6
How many students are involved in your media program at your school?
50
Most unusual item in/on your desk?
Lightsaber tape dispenser that makes a lightsaber noise when you use the tape.
Favorite deadline snack?
Chocolate
Favorite journalism-related website?
JEA Digital Media and JEA
Three words students use to describe you?
Fun, laid back (except on deadlines), and pushes students hard
Last great book you read?
“The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon
If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would it be?
Italy
Why is journalism important?
Journalism is key to any community, to any state, and to any country. Journalism is what keeps people informed about what is happening around them. Journalists are the “watch dogs” of all that is going on in government, in the state, in our communities, and in our school districts. As Walter Cronkite said, “Journalism is what we need to make democracy work.”
What’s the biggest struggle you’ve had to overcome as a teacher?
Teaching is my second career. I started out as a newspaper reporter and then newspaper owner. So having to learn to delegate duties and teach students a lot of tasks that I would normally do has been a struggle, but I have great students that help me!
Who are your biggest influencers as a teacher?
I come from a family of teachers, so my Mom is a huge influence.
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