Colorado Student Media elects board members for two year terms on an alternating cycle. The 2025 election cycle includes the Vice President/President Elect, Advocacy Coordinator, and Contest/Critique Coordinator. All current member advisers are invited to vote in this election. A ballot link will be sent to all current members. The ballot will close on April 22.
Vice President/President Elect Candidates (1 candidate)
Karla Shotts, Englewood High School
Bio Statement:
I am a mildly-seasoned high school media adviser with over 10 years of experience in journalism, web design, yearbook production, and broadcast journalism. Passionate about fostering the next generation of journalists, I have dedicated my career to mentoring students in the responsible practice of ethical journalism, media literacy, and digital communication. My primary focus is helping students understand the importance of credibility, fact-checking, and unbiased reporting. I hope my students not only develop technical skills but also a deep understanding of the ethical considerations behind every story they produce.
I love a dynamic learning environment where students learn to use their voices responsibly in an ever-evolving digital world. I have a strong belief in the power of informed, ethical media to shape society.
Goal Statement:
I have thoroughly enjoyed being a voice for the exceptional advisors across Colorado. In my current role as Education Coordinator on the CSMA board, my mission has been to discover unique lessons that build upon the foundation of journalism and media literacy while incorporating new and distinctive technology and perspectives. As the media landscape is constantly evolving, it is more crucial than ever to stay up-to-date with changing trends.
One area I would love to expand for advisors in Colorado is Community Engagement and Impact. Journalism holds the power to influence local communities, so it is vital for students to comprehend their role within this ecosystem. The organization should prioritize fostering connections between students and their communities, whether through investigative reporting, feature stories, or serving as a voice for underrepresented groups. Teaching students to consider the ethical implications of their work on a local scale can cultivate responsible and impactful journalism. I would be thrilled to see news deserts filled with high school media in some capacity.
Additionally, I would like to focus on Diversity and Inclusion. Promoting diverse perspectives in reporting and media creation is of utmost importance. CSMA should continue to ensure that all voices—whether in terms of race, gender, socioeconomic background, or geography—are represented in both the content created and the students involved in journalism programs. Understanding and authentically portraying diverse viewpoints is key to maintaining a well-rounded and fair media presence.
Contest/Critique Coordinator (1 candidate)
Jo Powell, Pine Creek High School
Bio Statement:
For over 20 years, I have been privileged to advise various student media programs across Colorado. My experience includes advising newspaper and yearbook at Peyton High School, yearbook at Wray High School, and, for the past nine years at Pine Creek High School, leading the broadcast and news website programs in addition to yearbook. This journey, spanning both rural and suburban settings, has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse challenges and rewards of student media advising. Currently, at Pine Creek High School, I am also excited to be developing our sports live streaming capabilities. A key focus of my advising is empowering students with tangible skills and pathways to future success, demonstrated through the offering of industry-recognized certifications in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Premiere Pro, as well as dual enrollment media courses through Metro State University at Denver.
Goal Statement:
Critiques and contests are vital for student self-reflection and growth. The process of students evaluating their work before contest entry and bravely submitting it for critique is invaluable in developing both individual journalists and journalism programs. I deeply appreciate the impact of past critiques on my students’ growth and their ability to gain new perspectives on their work. At PCHS, we have successfully used critique feedback to set goals and drive program improvement.
This year, it has been my pleasure to serve on a CSMA committee tasked with creating opportunities for new advisers to connect with the larger CSMA community. The opportunity to work alongside other advisers with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and talents invigorates and excites me for the future of journalism in Colorado.
My recent experience as a judge for out-of-state journalism contests has provided me with a valuable perspective. I am eager to build upon the excellent foundation of CSMA’s contests and critiques by revamping and updating them over the next two years. My goal is to maintain the high standards and expectations that are the hallmark of the Colorado Student Media Association while encouraging more students and advisers to participate in the contests and critiques and finding new ways to showcase and celebrate excellent work in each media.
I have been fortunate in my career to advise multiple different student media programs, including yearbook, newspaper, and online news websites. I believe this wide range of diverse experience will allow me to be a valuable resource for other advisers and will help inform improvements as we continue to enhance the critique and contest programs in Colorado.
Advocacy Coordinator (3 candidates)
Jen Lammey, Mead High School
Bio Statement:
I am an art teacher at Mead High School in Longmont, where I have taught photography and digital art for five years and served as the yearbook adviser for the past three. I am passionate about inspiring students to step out of their comfort zones and build confidence through creative endeavors. The yearbook enrollment has doubled while I have been adviser and we had 42 students enroll this year. I think part of the success of the program comes from students feeling empowered to run the book themselves while I help them grow as leaders and journalists. I have enjoyed my time as yearbook adviser, but I will be passing the torch next year as I take over our broadcast news program and launch a live sports broadcasting class. I’m excited to embrace this new challenge and explore the world of broadcast journalism alongside my students.
Goal Statement:
I am interested in running for Advocacy Coordinator because a recent issue in my district made me realize how fortunate we are to have strong student journalism protections—and how important it is to defend and promote them. As a yearbook adviser, I recognized that I hadn’t covered student press rights as thoroughly as I should have, and I want to help other advisers feel confident in teaching these essential rights to their students. As a future sports broadcast adviser, I also want to work with CHSAA to ensure student broadcasters have access to playoff games, an issue that has been in flux this year. I am excited to collaborate with professional press organizations to bridge the gap between scholastic and professional journalism, helping students develop the skills and confidence they need to navigate the industry successfully.
Scott Roberts, Grandview High School
Bio Statement:
I am Scott Roberts, and I am in my sixth year teaching and my 5th year advising broadcast journalism at Grandview HIgh School. I have helped to build our broadcast program, GVTV, from the ground up and in 3 years of submitting to CSMA awards have turned the program into an All-Colorado award winning program. Our program also boasts the current (2025) Colorado journalist of the year, Jake Chau. I am the current advocacy coordinator for the CSMA and would love to continue in the position. I live in Centennial with my wife and two kids ages three and one.
Goal Statement:
As the incumbent Advocacy Coordinator, I am excited to run for this position for another term. After serving on the board for the past two years, I feel like I have truly grown into this position, gaining a deeper understanding of the responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities that come with it. Now that I fully understand my role, I feel more equipped than ever to continue advocating for student journalists and advancing the mission of the CSMA.
With Colorado’s student free expression law we are one of the best states in the union to be a student journalist. However, that does not mean we don’t have district and state officials still trying to censor students. Over the past two years I have dealt with multiple instances of censorship all across the state and from my own district as well. I have a firm grasp on how to handle these situations and have learned many strategies to combat this from happening in the future, making me the right choice to continue in this role going forward.
Moving forward, I would like to build on the progress we’ve made and further strengthen our advocacy efforts. My primary goals include: Continuing to educate and empower students and advisers about their rights while working to safeguard press freedoms at both local and state levels, developing new ways to engage student media programs across Colorado, ensuring all schools—regardless of size or resources—have access to the tools they need to succeed, and collaborating with industry professionals and organizations to offer workshops, training sessions, and mentorship programs for students and advisers.
CSMA plays a critical role in supporting and advocating for student journalism, and now that I have a solid grasp on the responsibilities of this position, I am eager to take our advocacy efforts to the next level. With your support, I will continue working tirelessly to ensure that student voices are heard, respected, and protected.
Kelly Johnson, Delta High School
Bio Statement:
I advise the Delta High School student media in Delta, Colorado. I started advising the Green and Black yearbook and Delta Paw Print in 2007 after attending the Reynolds Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. After 20 years of teaching and 18 years advising student media, the program at Delta High has evolved and changed. I will be attending the National Spring Convention in Seattle with students this year and have presented and judged at conventions in the past. I attended the JEA adviser summer institute in 2024 and the CSJ advanced advising workshop at Kent State in 2019. As a Colorado adviser, I do not get to attend as many J-Days as I would like to, but I have attended CSMA summer workshops and winter thaws on occasion. I love the CSMA, and my students receive critiques and participate in Best of Colorado yearly. I just renewed my CJE certification and look forward to continuing to help promote student journalism on the Western Slope.
Goal Statement:
Because I have experienced censorship battles in my district, I hope to serve as an advocate for advisers who may be in similar situations. I’m not sure I would have been able to fight the battle I had to fight without the help of the CSMA advocacy coordinator and the SPLC. I hold a press law and ethics certification from CSMA and hope to offer wisdom and experience to advisers who may need help. It would also be great to see Western Slope representation on the CSMA board.
