Meet Stephanie Mickler
Journalism Adviser of the Year 2026
Stephanie Mickler
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Stephanie Mickler, with 17 years under her belt as a journalism teacher and student media adviser, has built one of the most impressive high school journalism programs in the area at Struthers High School. This year, her Journalism I, II, III and IV courses had a total of 68 students. Journalism is one of the only classes at Struthers that students can take every year of high school.
And yet she is quick to shift the credit to her students, some who have gone on to work as professional journalists. “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside so many talented students over the years,” Mickler said. “Their creativity, dedication, humor, hard work and willingness to tell important stories are what make our program special every single day.” Mickler was named Journalism Adviser of the Year by the judges in this year’s Youngstown Press Club Scholastic Journalism Awards. The recognition program and journalistic writing and media contest gave awards in scholastic journalism in a six-county area. |
A teacher for 19 years, Mickler taught seventh grade for two years before moving to the high school, where she became the journalism teacher and adviser of The Student Prints, the school newspaper.
“I love the fact that I get to have students year after year,” she said, noting that more than half of her students are returning students and staffers. “I develop really great relationships with students from all grades and watch them grow throughout the years.”
The program’s strength is giving students the fundamentals of news writing and the basics of journalistic ethics, while allowing students to find their voices and write what they’re passionate about.
“Journalism allows me to watch students become involved in our school and community by highlighting our students, staff and events. They get to tell stories, and they bring their subjects to life through their writing,” Mickler said.
She uses local media outlets — WKBN, WFMJ, The Jambar and The Vindicator — as models of good journalistic writing.
“I also like to use previous students' work who have moved on to professional media outlets, so they can see people who sat in their seats doing great things as a career,” she said.
Her biggest challenge is the school’s prior review process, where a student’s story is not approved for publication. “Students will write an article that comes from their heart, and for whatever reason, it is not approved for print. They become defeated, but I am sure to remind them that they should continue to speak their minds for what's right and to never quit.”
Mickler said the most exciting part of her job is to see students who come in thinking they’re not “good” writers, and then watch them become successful.
“They take a chance on the class, and they end up really liking it. They are able to find their passion and express themselves for an audience through our website.
“Journalism is not going anywhere anytime soon,” Mickler said. “Young people love to tell stories and share their passions. It's so important that we let them do that.”
“I love the fact that I get to have students year after year,” she said, noting that more than half of her students are returning students and staffers. “I develop really great relationships with students from all grades and watch them grow throughout the years.”
The program’s strength is giving students the fundamentals of news writing and the basics of journalistic ethics, while allowing students to find their voices and write what they’re passionate about.
“Journalism allows me to watch students become involved in our school and community by highlighting our students, staff and events. They get to tell stories, and they bring their subjects to life through their writing,” Mickler said.
She uses local media outlets — WKBN, WFMJ, The Jambar and The Vindicator — as models of good journalistic writing.
“I also like to use previous students' work who have moved on to professional media outlets, so they can see people who sat in their seats doing great things as a career,” she said.
Her biggest challenge is the school’s prior review process, where a student’s story is not approved for publication. “Students will write an article that comes from their heart, and for whatever reason, it is not approved for print. They become defeated, but I am sure to remind them that they should continue to speak their minds for what's right and to never quit.”
Mickler said the most exciting part of her job is to see students who come in thinking they’re not “good” writers, and then watch them become successful.
“They take a chance on the class, and they end up really liking it. They are able to find their passion and express themselves for an audience through our website.
“Journalism is not going anywhere anytime soon,” Mickler said. “Young people love to tell stories and share their passions. It's so important that we let them do that.”
