Prospect mentor a 'Rising Star' to his peers

Prospect High School teacher Jason Block brings real world experience to his role as newspaper moderator of the student publication The Prospector.

Prior to beginning his teaching career seven years ago, Block was sports editor of The Journal-Standard in Freeport, and news editor and sports editor of Press-Republican Newspapers in West Chicago.

Now Block adds another feather to his cap: he was selected as one of four journalism teachers from across the country to receive the Journalism Education Association's Rising Star Award.

In April, Block will travel to the association's national convention in Phoenix, to accept the award.

Block teaches freshman English, American Studies and all levels of journalism at Prospect, after two years at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

He says teaching students the craft of writing for a newspaper, is even more satisfying than working for one himself.

"It's amazing to see the growth these students experience over four years," says Block, a Mount Prospect native who graduated from Hersey High School in 1994.

Their progression from freshmen year --- when they learn how to write good leads, when to include a quote, and when to paraphrase - to senior year, when they brainstorm over crafting story ideas around breaking news events, is rewarding.

This year, Block points to his editorial board which is producing strong content every three weeks. They include editor-in-chief Emily Busse of Mount Prospect, managing editor Giovannina Penze of Arlington Heights; associate editors Melanie Walsh and Kevin O'Brien, and copy editor, Margaux Henquinet, all of Mount Prospect.

"They have a knack for taking a topical story and putting a spin on it that teenagers would find interesting to read," Block says.

Some of their recent editions have included stories examining how Mount Prospect was named the best place to raise children (in the November 2008 edition of Business Week), and another edition devoted to first person inauguration stories.

Block was nominated for the Rising Star award by his own former newspaper adviser at Hersey, Janet Levin. She pointed to the awards the Prospector has won under his guidance, including two national Pacemaker awards in 2005 and 2007, the first in the school's 51-year history.