The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) is pleased to announce that Julia Satterthwaite has been named the 2025 National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year.
The 2024-2025 school year marks Satterthwaite’s 20th year as a teacher and adviser in journalism education. Presently she teaches journalism and advises the print and online newsmagazine El Estoque at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California. Previously, Satterthwaite taught at Rochester High School in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and has served in leadership roles at the Journalism Education Association, the Journalism Education Association of Northern California, and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.
Satterthwaite feels a strong connection to her staff. “My philosophy of instruction is simple: people first, then product. I genuinely care about my students as human beings and place their well-being above anything El Estoque produces. I model being open about mental health challenges myself and students often seek me out for one-on-one conversations about their lives, from dealing with severe depression to struggling to get along with parents.”
The National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year Awards program is managed and sponsored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association of Columbia University in the City of New York and co-sponsored by Dow Jones News Fund. Thirty-one instructors were considered for the award by a panel of four judges.
In addition to Satterthwaite, CSPA named the following honorees:
Distinguished Advisers:
Louisa Avery, The American School in London, United Kingdom
Jason Block, Prospect High School, Mt Prospect, Illinois
Kathryn Campbell, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Sara Whittaker, Iowa City West High School, Iowa City, Iowa
Special Recognition Advisers:
Matthew LaPorte, Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
Tommy Li, Sunny Hills High School, Fullerton, California
David Nathan, St. John’s School, Houston, Texas
Larry Steinmetz, Bullitt East High School, Mount Washington, Kentucky
Said CSPA Director Jennifer Ha, " This year, the competition received its highest number of entries ever, from an astoundingly talented group of advisers of the highest caliber. Student journalists and scholastic journalism as a whole are so fortunate to have all these extraordinary educators in our schools. Through their students, they are safeguarding the future of media to ensure that it remains a key pillar of public discourse." She continued, "CSPA would like to thank our judging committee, and as well the Dow Jones News Fund, for their continued support of this important program that recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of these individuals guiding our next generation of leaders."
The awards will be presented at the CSPA Spring Convention at Columbia University in New York City on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
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Founded in 1925, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association unites student editors and faculty advisers working with them who produce student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and online media. Students come from public, private and faith-related schools and colleges throughout the United States and from overseas schools following an American plan of education. The Association is owned and operated by Columbia University.
The Dow Jones News Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes careers in journalism in the digital age. Our vision is robust news media staffed by well-trained, innovative journalists who reflect America’s diversity and are dedicated to a free, strong and fair press. The News Fund is supported by Dow Jones, Dow Jones Foundation, other media companies and private donations.