FEATURED STORIES
Climate and culture current events, school spotlights and research-based articles on what students need to succeed are all Jostens Renaissance® Education's featured stories. Check back often to see what's happening across the country.
Something great happening at your school? Send your stories — or story ideas — to Renaissance@jostens.com!
Want to see someone from your school featured here? Nominate someone who exemplifies Renaissance values and makes a difference in your school for Student and Staffulty of the Month!
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Jacob Garrett from Gloucester High School in Gloucester, VA. Nominator Joshua Coleman wrote: What are you…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Brad McCloskey from Robb Elementary School in Lock Haven, PA. His many nominators wrote: What do…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Tiffanie Smith from Heritage High School in Newport News, VA. Her nominator Rodrick Monroe wrote: How long…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Damian Gutierrez from La Quinta Middle School STEM Academy in La Quinta, CA. Nominator Dr. Farah Ortega-Choate…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Alayna Nichols from Drew Middle School in Fredericksburg, VA. One of her nominators, Shannon Patterson, wrote: How…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Patrick Tabscott from Newberg High School in Newberg, OR. Nominator Mark Brown wrote: How long have you…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Angie Gonzalez from Mayde Creek High School in Houston, TX. Nominator Mike Sosa wrote: How long have…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Abby Goy from LaSalle-Peru Township High School in LaSalle, IL. Her nominator Andrea Eichelkraut wrote: How long…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Jinnea Zenzen from Grand Rapids High School in Grand Rapids, MN. Her nominator Christine Grover wrote: How…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Kiera Thomas from Puyallup High School in Puyallup, WA. Nominator Jamie Mooring wrote: How long have you…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Amber Threlkel from Bullitt Lick Middle School in Shepherdsville, KY. Her nominator Maria George wrote: How long…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Araya Green from Marshall County High School in Lewisburg, TN. Nominator Vanessa Hitchcock Sweeney wrote: How long…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Erin Schreurs from Kingman Academy of Learning High School in Arizona. Jennifer Perea, one of her many…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Olivia MacLeod from Kennebecasis Valley High School in New Brunswick, Canada. Nominator Melissa Wright says: How long…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Ismael Kone from Harrison High School in New Jersey. Nominator Nick Landy writes: How long have you…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Jen Kane from Ottawa High School in Kansas. Nominator Kelly Whittaker writes: How long have you been…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Lisa Reina from Sierra Vista Middle School in California. Nominator Ryan Price writes: How long have you…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Maysen Victory from Kingman Academy of Learning High School in Arizona. Nominator Erin Schreurs writes: How long…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Laura Wingert from Ottawa High School, KS. Nominator Jennifer Kane writes: How long have you been involved…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Mychal Limric from Puyallup High School, WA. Nominator Jamie Mooring writes: How long have you been involved…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Caitlin Heller from Annville-Cleona High School, PA. Nominator Tommy Long writes: How long have you been involved…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Gracie Price from Brazoswood High School, TX. Nominator Rita Pintavalle writes: How long have you been involved…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Mary Alice Kane from Flanagan-Cornell High School, IL. Nominator Amber Carls writes: How long have you been…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Victor Smith Rogel from Shelbyville Central High School, TN. Nominator Jeremy Bryant writes: How long have you…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Autumn Sneath from Central Mountain Middle School, PA. Nominator Christina Onuskanich writes: How long have you been…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Megan Sisk from Chisholm Trail High School, TX. Nominator Carla Hardy writes: How long have you been…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty™ of the Month is Judy Perrine of Kingman Academy of Learning Middle School in Kingman, AZ. Their nominator Tony Victory wrote:…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Rachel Kromke from Rockford High School in Rockford, MI. Nominator Lisa Avram writes: How long have you…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Gabrielle Staman from Warrior Run High School in Turbotville, PA. Nominator Andrea Landis writes: How long have…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty™ of the Month is Stephanie Jess of Brazoswood High School in Clute, TX. Their nominator Rita Pintaville wrote: How long have…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Kamden Evans from Ottawa High School in Ottawa, KS. Nominator Kelly Whittaker writes: How long have you…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty™ of the Month is Conner Mattingly of Henderson County High School in Henderson, KY. Their nominator wrote: How long have you…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Diamond Edwards-Ebere from Desert Ridge Academy in Indio, CA. Nominator Terresa Amidei writes (lightly edited): “Diamond is…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Roxane Winston at Centennial High School in Peoria, AZ. Their nominator wrote: “Roxane brings a burst of…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Julianna Clouser from Kingman Academy of Learning High School in Kingman, AZ. Nominator Erin Schreurs writes (lightly…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Ryan Clement at Annville Cleona High School in Annville, PA. His colleague, Tommy Long, writes: “Mr. Clements builds…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Lizzie Herring at Mayde Creek High School in Katy, TX. Jostens representative Mike Sosa writes (lightly edited):…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Evan Zeleny from Del City High School in Del City, OK. Nominator Kristy Cooper writes (lightly edited):…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Avery Soltesz from Warrior Run High School in Turbotville, PA. Nominator Andrea Landis writes (lightly edited): “Avery…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Eric Lillis at Kingman Academy of Learning High School in Kingman, AZ. Nominator Erin Schreurs writes (lightly…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Chase Chatfield at Vancleave Middle School in Vancleave, MS. Nominator Ashley Allred writes (lightly edited): “Chase Chatfield…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Grace Ankenbrand from Cane Bay High School in Summerville, SC. Nominator Debra Summers writes (lightly edited): “A…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Madilyn Sugars from Flanagan Cornell High School in Flanagan, IL. Nominator Amber Carls writes (lightly edited): “Madilyn…
This month we are pleased to honor a yearbook adviser, Florina Merturi from Academy of Information Technology & Engineering in Connecticut, because of her ability to…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Principal Kelly Whittaker at Ottawa High School in Ottawa, Kansas. Nominator Jennifer Kane writes (lightly edited): “Mrs.…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Abby Mooney from Powell High School in Powell, TN. Nominator Julie Liford writes (lightly edited): “Abby has…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Leigh Cattolico-Yago at Fountain Woods Elementary in Burlington, NJ. Nominator and Renaissance Hall of Fame educator Tina…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Ella Fryer from Bixby High School in Bixby, OK. Nominator DeWayne Patterson writes (lightly edited): “During the…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Fatima Pulido from La Puente High School in La Puente, California. Nominator Joey Zamora writes (lightly edited):…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Terresa Amidei from Desert Ridge Academy in Indio, CA. Nominator Pamela Alles writes (lightly edited): “Terresa Amidei…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Denise Privott from Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Middletown, Connecticut. Nominator Normand Laflamme writes (lightly edited): “Denise…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Emma Litvinchuk from Nipomo High School in Nipomo, California. Nominator Sammie Cervantez writes (lightly edited): “Emma is…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Abraham Panjshiri from North Stafford High School in Stafford, Virginia. Nominator Andrea Marra writes (lightly edited): “Abraham…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Mary Alexander from Shadow Hills High School in Indio, California. Nominator Gabriel Fajardo writes (lightly edited): “Mrs.…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Sherry Purdy from Cane Bay High School in Summerville, SC. Nominator Katherine Nobles writes: “Even during online…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Sam Blumberger from Bacon Academy High School in Colchester, Connecticut. Nominator Marlene Blumberger writes (lightly edited): “Sam…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Olivia Camacho from Deland High School in Florida. Nominator Mendi Camacho writes (lightly edited): “Due to COVID-19…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Mandelé Davis from Eisenhower High School in Houston, TX. Nominator Mike Sosa wrote that even in her…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Stephanie Jess from Brazoswood High School in Clute, TX. Nominator Rita Pintaville describes how she recognizes everyone…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Summer Childress from Pascagoula High School in Mississippi. Nominator Leigh Hanna writes (lightly edited): “Summer is a…
While our resources have been developed for in-class use, many of them can be adapted for remote or distance learning as well. The key, as always,…
Click on the link below to open the PDF containing answers to Frequently Asked Questions and compiled ideas from the Wednesday breakout sessions: Frequently Asked Questions…
Click on the links below for documentation you can use to submit for CEU’s. Participation Certificate Participation Certificate with Editable Name Field Jostens Renaissance Virtual Conference…
Wednesday, July 15, 2020 Educators: click the link below to join the breakout of your choice. The content is the same, but panelists will be educators…
By Melanie Lindsey One in a series of success stories from Class of 2020 graduations, when the need for innovation brought unexpected benefits and connections. Planning,…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Grace Anderson from Kennebecasis Valley High School in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada. Her nominator Melissa Wright writes…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Mark Brown from Newberg Senior High School in Newberg, OR. Nominator Melissa Wright describes how he made…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Featuring an interview with three guests in a Facebook Live presentation on May 18, 2020.…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation on…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Featuring an interview with school culture expert Phil Boyte in a Facebook Live presentation on…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation on…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Wayne Powers from Foothill Technology High School in Ventura, CA. Nominator Devin Franke describes how he motivates…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Sydnie Ailey from Powell High School in Powell, Tennessee. Her nominator Beth Mooney writes, “Even though she…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Featuring ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Featuring ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation on…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation on…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance student and educator community and shared in a Facebook…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation on…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation on…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation on…
By Rhett Ladner Research shows that middle school years matter more than any other time of a child’s life How many times have we heard that…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Kirsten Evans from Ottawa High School in Ottawa, KS. Her nominator Jennifer Kane writes, “Kirsten is a…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Amy Adams from Berkeley Middle School in Moncks Corner, SC. Nominator Larsen Tedder describes how she brings…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation on…
Part of the Virtual Culture and Climate Series – Spring 2020 Ideas contributed by the Jostens Renaissance educator community and shared in a Facebook Live presentation…
By Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder Use Renaissance to Meet Social and Emotional Learning Goals As we move into 2020, it is essential to reflect on who…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Jenny Lipscomb from Greenbrier High School in Greenbrier, TN. Nominator Samantha Grimes (a Renaissance Hall of Fame…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Jesus Dominguez from West Grand High School in Kremmling, Colorado. His nominator Cori Kassib writes, “Jesus Dominguez…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is MSG (Ret.) Marlon Green from Lakewood High School in Salemburg, NC. Nominator Jennifer Naylor describes how his…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Antonio Martin from Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia. His nominator Erionne Baltrip writes, “Antonio does a…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Ashanty Camacho from Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, CA. Her nominator Chris Reeder writes (lightly…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Ginger Stovall from Henderson County High School in Henderson, KY. Nominator Shawna Evans describes how Ginger tirelessly…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Elizabeth Folkins from Kennebecasis Valley High School in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, in Canada. Nominator Melissa Wright describes…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Alexis Ward from Saginaw High School in Saginaw, TX. Her nominator Chelsea Shields writes (lightly edited): “When…
by Dr. Darrin Peppard In today’s public schools we are “evaluated and graded” on test scores, perception, and the words of outside people. Is it fair?…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Lauren Klein from LaSalle-Peru High School in LaSalle, Illinois. Her nominator Andrea Henry writes (lightly edited): “As…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Terri Vanderwijst from Mountain Ridge Middle School in Gerrardstown, West Virginia. Nominator Ronald Branch II describes how…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Chelsea Shields from Saginaw High School in Saginaw, Texas. Nominator Courtney Parker describes how treating everyone with kindness…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Kaiden Cassano from Chisholm Trail High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Her nominator Carla Hardy writes (lightly…
by Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder As we head into April, which is officially designated Autism Awareness month, it is important to remember how we include all students…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Stephanie Gripp from Bureau Valley High School in Manlius, IL. Her nominator writes (lightly edited): “Stephanie found…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Sherry FitzGerald from Jefferson High School in Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia. Nominator Katerina Rushizky describes the importance of…
Thanks to Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder, Sara Cowey, Rhett Ladner, Dr. Darrin Peppard, and Dr. Steve Woolf for sharing their ideas. Their comments were lightly edited and…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Jay Watterworth from Philip Simmons High School in Charleston, South Carolina. Nominator Dr. Connie McClanahan gives Jay…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Tayon Smith from Goose Creek High School in South Carolina. Nominator Amanda Cooper writes: “Tayon is a…
Thanks to Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder, Sara Cowey, Rhett Ladner, Dr. Darrin Peppard, and Dr. Steve Woolf for sharing their ideas for this article. What ongoing groups…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Allison Raney from The Independent School in Wichita, Kansas. Nominator Deborah Johnson raves about the impact Allison…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is RJ Moilan from Prairie Vista Middle School in Texas. The above photo was taken with a truck…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Katerina Rushizky from Jefferson High School in West Virginia. The above photo was taken at summer camp,…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Amber Carls from Flanagan-Cornell High School in Flanagan, Illinois. Amber is off to a great start with…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Dr. Farah Meadows from Indio High School in Indio, California. Farah has been involved with Jostens Renaissance…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is sophomore Sydney Ferrer from Green River High School in Wyoming. Nominator Bradlee Skinner writes: “Sydney wanted to…
By Dr. Steve Woolf Live Your Life Out Loud! The first time I heard Kevin Honeycutt, my dear friend and former JRNC keynoter, say “Live your…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Debra Summers from Cane Bay High School in South Carolina. Debra has been a Renaissance coordinator for…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is senior Carissa Knitowski from William B. Travis High School in Texas. Carissa has been involved with Renaissance…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is senior Natalie Silva from Vista Murrieta High School in California. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty Member of the Month is Devin Pullen from Burlington City High School in New Jersey. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty Member of the Month is Ashley Langenderfer from New Albany High School in Ohio. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is junior Jane Hollis Poovey from Decatur High School in Alabama. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is sophomore Isabelle Wright from Bureau Valley High School in Illinois. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty Member of the Month is Devon Pearrell from Jefferson High School in West Virginia. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty Member of the Month is Ginger Reigners from Phillip Simmons High School in South Carolina. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is 5th grader Aaron Almanza from Academy of Technology & Leadership At Saticoy (ATLAS Elementary School) in California.…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Mariah Helm from Monrovia High School in California. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar spoke to…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty Member of the Month is Amy Chosewood from North Hall High School in Georgia. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty Member of the Month is Dinah Greene from Orange Vista High School in California. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Braiden Jenkins from Carlisle High School in Arkansas. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar spoke to…
This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty Member of the Month is Jennifer Bernardini from Belhaven Middle School in New Jersey. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar…
This month’s National Renaissance Student of the Month is Alex Peck from Bureau Valley High School in Illinois. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar spoke…
Our first National Renaissance Staffulty Member of the Month is Beth Morgan from Lassiter High School in Georgia. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar spoke…
Our first National Renaissance Student of the Month is Matthew Klein from LaSalle-Peru Township High School in Illinois. Renaissance Hall of Fame member Steve Bollar spoke…
The following was submitted by Tricia Phelps, Renaissance Adviser at Licking Valley High School in Newark, OH Over the past few months at Licking Valley High…
Principal Cris Turner at Bonney Lake High School is well aware of the importance of attendance when it comes to student success, stating that, “We also…
The following was written by Principal Michael J. Kapolka of Chelsea High School in Michigan and was originally posted to MASSP’s blog found at www.mymassp.com. Chelsea…
The following story was submitted by 2016 Jostens Renaissance Student Scholarship Recipient Kelty Pierce. Kelty is a senior at Puyallup High School in Puyallup, WA.…
The following was submitted by Amy Quayle, Leadership Teacher/Adviser from Clarkston High School, and Lauren Culver, Executive Producer for Independent Television, in Michigan. My Leadership classes and…
This past fall Mike Smith, host of The Harbor™ by Jostens, traveled 12,000 miles and spoke to over 25,000 students with The Harbor Back to School Tour.…
For the 2015 Jostens Renaissance National Conference, we held a “Why Jostens Renaissance?” video contest and asked schools to make a 3 minute or less video…
This week the National Association of Secondary School Principals selected their 2016 National Principal of the Year. Of the 50 Principals of the Year from each…
On September 16th, Minnesota Timberwolves’ rookie point-guard Tyus Jones made a special guest appearance at a Harbor tour stop in Apple Valley, MN. Tyus, MVP of…
It’s back to school time! That means that Renaissance schools across the country are using creative ways to set the tone for the school year with…
On behalf of Renaissance Education and the entire Jostens organization, we are honored to congratulate each of the 49 National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)…