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GPS Junior High Yearbook Advisers Earn National Honors

Holly Anderson
Flyer that says For Immediate Release by GPS
Jennifer Parsons

GILBERT, Ariz. (Feb. 23, 2026) - Gilbert Public Schools’ Yearbook advisers, Jennifer Parsons from Greenfield Junior High School, and Jeanette Lockwood from Desert Ridge Junior High, have been nationally recognized for excellence in scholastic journalism and advising. 

Greenfield Juniors’ Jennifer Parsons received the Special Recognition Yearbook Adviser award from the Journalism Education Association (JEA) as a part of the 2025 H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year program. The award celebrates the outstanding dedication and impact Parsons has on her students and program, noting her ability to prepare junior high students for success as they continue their pathway in digital communications by creating an environment centered on technical skills and journalistic confidence. 

Additionally, Jeanette Lookwood, yearbook adviser for Desert Ridge Junior and Desert Ridge High School, was named as one of the 2025 JEA Rising Stars, an award given to early-career journalism advisers who have shown remarkable success in building and improving digital communications programs. Lockwood’s award spotlights her ability to build a strong, student-centered yearbook program that emphasizes storytelling, organization, and journalistic collaboration. 

Jeanette Lockwood

In addition to their individual honors, the Desert Ridge and Greenfield programs were both named finalists for the 2025 National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Pacemaker award, one of the highest honors in scholastic journalism. Their programs were also selected as finalists for the 2026 Columnia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Crown Awards, further highlighting the high level of storytelling, design, and journalistic standards demonstrated by the advisers and their students. Greenfield Junior High’s Yearbook program has earned these national awards since 2015. The work of both Jennifer Parsons and Jeanette Lockwood reflects their commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences for their students. 

 “The success of these advisers demonstrates how CTE Digital Communications programs prepare students not just for the classroom, but for careers—combining technical training, creativity, and industry-aligned experiences that open doors for students long after graduation,” says Doug Daley, GPS Career & Technical Education (CTE) Director.

The CTE Digital Communications program prepares students for future careers in journalism, public relations, and media. The yearbook program falls within Gilbert Public Schools’ Digital Communications pathway, where students gain hands-on experience and real-world skills like graphic design, writing, and editing while gaining certifications in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. 

To learn more about Digital Communications and other CTE programs offered at Gilbert Public Schools, visit GilbertSchools.net/CTE.