Marietta High School's Andrea Lyons named GSPA's 2024 Adviser of the Year

Andrea Lyons, adviser for The Pitchfork and Persephone in Marietta, Georgia, has been selected as GSPA’s 2024 Adviser of the Year. The award recognizes a journalism teacher who goes beyond the “call of duty” in supporting his or her staff.

The Pitchfork staff members CHEER ON ADVISER andrea lyons as she GOES ON STAGE TO ACCEPT Her AWARD.

Lyons has grown professionally, recently earning her status as a certified journalism educator. She is already planning her path to becoming a master journalism educator.  She’s grown her programs, adding a news website to her school’s journalism portfolio and reviving a literary magazine. Furthermore, she successfully advocated for the addition of another full-year Journalism 1 class at her school.

She received lots of praise from her staff members in her nomination materials.

“Mrs. Andrea Lyons took a chance on me and fueled my passion for journalism,” wrote Sydney Martinez. “She opened the door for so many opportunities and molded me into the journalist that I am today. I know that she will continue to build foundations for future leaders.”

Wes Harrison added, “Mrs. Lyons saw my ability to lead and create and allowed me the chance to take charge of the program. Without her help, I never would’ve even dreamed of creating the Pitchfork website. She always advocates for our student voice to be heard and for us to always tell the full story.”

GSPA Ambassadors sydney martinez (LEFT) and wesley harrison (center) PRESENT their high school adviser andrea lyons (RIGHT) WITH THE 2024 ADVISER OF THE YEAR award.

Lyons wrote in a letter to GSPA that she was honored by the recognition. “When I got home, I was reflecting on what a humbling experience it is to be recognized for a job that is a privilege to have,” she noted. “I spent the evening texting my former editors and other staffers to thank them for all that they have poured into our program to help continue to build it, improve it and provide more opportunities to future students. I’m fortunate to stay connected with so many of them, but I’ve been sure to remind them that I’ve learned as much from them as they have from me over the years.

“In the ‘daily grind,’ it is sometimes difficult to remember the joy of any ‘job,’ but when students keep in touch, come back and visit, pay it forward, and want to keep celebrating our success together, it’s overwhelmingly awesome to feel like a job is actually a purpose-filled calling,” Lyons wrote.

Lyons was recognized at the 2024 Spring Workshop and Awards at the UGA Georgia Center on March 25, 2024.