What I Wish I Knew Before Taking Over Yearbook
Every new adviser is going to mentally prepare this list. You can take one thing off by setting up the new yearbook adviser with a list of must-know and must-do information.
Why Do People Stop Advising Yearbook?
Advisers move to new schools. Administrators cut costs. Teachers retire. Others no longer have an affinity for awesomesauce.
Remind the new adviser to take heart! There are many on this journey to become a project manager-slash-school-historian-slash-marketer-slash-designer.
One Sheet To Share
Use the list below to create an indispensable guide for your successor. If you’re like me, you may be tempted to create a fully illustrated manual with a month-by-month guide, financial forms, and plenty of Lucid charts. Don’t.
A one-page reference should include the following:
Publisher info This is #1: include all your contacts for your publisher plus how to contact support. If you have a multi-year contract, include it and its expiration date.
School photographer Add the photographer’s name, email, and phone number plus who who is in charge of picture day. (No one wants to find out last minute they are stuck with that gig.)
Financial information Include information on your book price, publisher promotions (heeey 10% off in the fall), ad prices, book sales from previous years, and subscriptions.
Page count We love a good yearbook ladder. Your predecessor will too.
Yearbook traditions There’s a fine line between sacred cows and ordering an archive copy of the library.
Procedures If there is an editing checklist, camera checkout policy, or go-to person for name proofing, include that info.
Passwords Ensure your successor can access social media accounts, generic photo emails, and the yearbook room computers.
“It’s Not About Me, It’s About Us”
Make the transition smooth. No one is going to run your program exactly like you did. That’s an unfair expectation. Instead, offer your ongoing support and mentoring to your successor. By remaining available to answer questions and provide (solicited) guidance during the transition period, you are putting others first. That’s classy.
