Ashley Cohen
Staff Writer
In addition to teaching Advanced Placement Art History and Appreciation of the Arts, Valerie Park’s love of art and design has led her to take over the role of Hoofprints Yearbook advisor replacing Drew Holland for the 2013-2014 school year.
Park has been teaching AP Art History and Appreciation of the Arts at Mira Costa for three years and has taught art at another school for an additional year at Cabrillo High School.
“Unlike Holland, Park comes from a design background,” junior design editor Jessie Franco said. “I am very excited about the changes that she can bring to the design of the yearbook considering her artistic abilities.”
Park and Holland are working together to make a smooth transition into the 2013-2014 school year for the Hoofprints staff. According to the students, Park has been working closely with them to improve the existing program.
“The staff got used to having Holland as our advisor over the past three years, but we are all open to change and improvement,” senior Editor in Chief Natalie Barghash said.
Park expressed that although she hasn’t had any experience with yearbook production or journalism, she is prepared to take on the role of yearbook advisor and has researched all that she could about yearbook design and production over the summer.
“Everything is new to me but my team of editors have been very supportive, helpful, and understanding which is more than I could ask for,” Park said.
Park stated that she can offer a unique perspective to the Hoofprints staff because she can objectively evaluate the yearbook from previous years. She is able to quickly see design and photography issues that need attention.
“She’s bringing new ideas to the book as well as the staff,” Barghash said. “I think her artistic eye can bring a new element to the book that we didn’t have before.”
Park has received feedback from the Hoofprints editorial board about what has worked and hasn’t worked for past yearbooks. Park’s main goal is to focus on featuring the students in the yearbook and pushing the creativity and technical skills of the designers.
“We have improved aspects of the yearbook from previous years while still keeping old traditions and inserting new ones,” Park said.
According to Park, Mira Costa school spirit is one of her top priorities. She took over the role as Yearbook advisor to become more directly involved in the school rather than simply attending games and events.
“I thought it would be a great way of helping to capture the spirit and history of the campus,” Park said. “I’m all about Costa spirit.”
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