Mary DeWinkeleer's ePortfolio

‘Behind the Desk’ Blog Posts

Read a few of my thoughts as I complete a master’s degree in journalism education from Kent State University.

  • Going to college means I’ll never need to do this job

    Going to college means I’ll never need to do this job

    by Mary DeWinkeleer Last week I got a message telling me that the raffle ticket I had filled out at our local “Old Homes Day Fair” had been pulled, and I had won a prize. When I called the company back, the woman on the other end informed me that I had won a 3,4,…

  • The teacher becomes the student

    The teacher becomes the student

    I get it now. Being a student is hard. For the last three years I’ve been balancing being a teacher while also being a student in a master’s degree program. It’s been difficult on quite a few levels, but it’s also been a wonderful reminder of what it’s like to be a student. As a…

  • Thoughts on my final weeks before graduating

    Thoughts on my final weeks before graduating

    As graduation approaches, I reflect on my journey through the Journalism Education Master’s Degree Program at Kent State University, which began over three years ago.

Resources for journalism advisers

Need some resources for your journalism classes? Click on these links for some presentations, handouts and assignments to help you teach your students some journalism basics.

Interviewing
News Writing
Feature Writing
Opinion Writing
Sports Writing

JNED End-of-Degree Portfolio

At the end of the Master’s in Journalism Education program at Kent State University, students are required to create a portfolio with examples of assignments completed in the six core classes. Along with these assignments, students are also required to write a reflection about each class and demonstrate how they would use what they learned in their own classrooms. Click below to see my portfolio.

Mary DeWinkeleer’s JNED End-of-Degree Portfolio

Writing Samples

These pieces were written for the Reporting, Writing and Editing class with Professor Ellen Austin. This course was one of the required classes in the Master’s in Journalism Education program at Kent State University.

Exploring our family tree in Lithuania with my Dad

A personal column about the trip I took with my dad to Lithuania in 2015.

Mike Lukas sits on a bench overlooking the Baltic Sea in Lithuania.

Prism Concert’ auditions collect spectrum of musical talent

A feature article about auditions for the annual “Prism Concert,” which is a showcase of of musical talent at Londonderry High School.

Junior Blake Gustitus practices his guitar for his upcoming audition as part of the 20-person group “Bad Dog No Biscuits,” which is also the name of the Japanese fusion jazz song they hope to perform at this year’s Prism Concert.

This I believe: The First Amendment is Worth Fighting For

“This I Believe” personal opinion piece.

Open mouth with text of First Amendment protections for freedom of speech, press, assembly, and petition
Illustration highlighting key First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and petition

Sunnycrest Turns Farm into Family

Long-form article based on an interview with the owners of a local apple orchard.

Sunnycrest Farm is a family-own apple orchard in Londonderry, New Hampshire.

Therapy dog visits high school

A news article about the therapy dog that visited Londonderry High School in September 2015.

Junior Abby Mantegari hugs Sophie, the pet therapy dog who visited LHS on Friday. After becoming an official pet therapy dog through Pet Partners a year ago, Sophie and her handler Wendy Calnan have been visiting schools and universities to help students.

‘The Juicery’ at UNH whirs with the sounds of smoothies

An “observation piece” about a smoothie restaurant on the University of New Hampshire’s campus.

The Juicery workers take a moment to visit the refrigerator in back to restock the various fruits and yogurt while there are no new customers. Throughout the day, UNH students order smoothies and a variety of bowls to take out or sit in and eat.

Admin assistant juggles phones, fashion, family

Profile article on the principal’s administrative assistant at Londonderry High School.

Michelle Broadhurst, who is the administrative assistant to the principal of Londonderry High School, stays busy answering phones, scheduling meetings and helping students and teachers.

Beyond teaching

Connecting with students is one of the most important parts of being a teacher and adviser. See some examples of this in the slideshow of photos below.

Journalism adviser Mary DeWinkeleer shares a hug with Hanna Carroll, who was DeWinkeleer’s student for four years until she graduated in 2025. Carroll was in DeWinkeleer’s Freshman Humanities class and her Journalism 1, 2 and 3 classes as well. They still keep in touch even now.
  • It was tough during the end of the 2019-2020, which was the COVID year, to stay connected, but my staff and I met on Zoom almost every day. In addition to getting work done, we also played games, had a “spirit week,” and held a “meme-creating contest,” using photos of our staff.
  • Each year I take my students to a national journalism conference. This photo was taken in NYC at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association conference in 2016. My staff and I have attended the CSPA conference almost every year since 2010.
  • The 2016 staff and I wait for the subway in NYC at the CSPA conference.
  • The 2019 staff and I wait together to go to a Broadway show in NYC at the CSPA conference.
  • During the fall of the 2025-26 school year, members of my staff and I went to Nashville for the National Scholastic Press Association conference.
  • One of my chief editors and I shopped for souvenirs in a store in Nashville while we attended the NSPA convention in 2025.
  • During the spring of the 2025-26 school year, members of my staff and I went to Minneapolis for the NSPA conference.
  • I took some of my students in my 2018 staff to a First Amendment night in Manchester, NH, where the keynote speaker was Garrison Keillor.
  • We often celebrate different holidays as a staff. The 2024-25 staff wanted to do a “Boob Basket” exchange for Halloween, so we had a little party and exchanged baskets with one another.
  • Each year we also do “secret Santa” exchanges and have a little party before winter break.
  • We end each year with an awards ceremony and celebration. All my journalism classes get together, and we distribute awards, pass out Quill and Scroll Honor Cords to seniors, and announce next year’s staff members.
  • We like to celebrate on the days we pass out the magazine and post photos on our Instagram.
  • Mr. Londonderry High School is our big fundraiser each year. Senior boys strut their stuff on a catwalk, show their moves in a group dance and then perform a talent. The winner is crowned Mr. LHS.
  • Mr. LHS is a lot of work, but it’s also a great bonding time for my staff and me.
  • Mr. LHS is a completely student-run event, which is why it is successful each year. We use the money we raise to print our magazine, buy equipment and pay for contest submissions.