Recommendations

Randy Stano, Professor of Practice in Journalism and Visual Journalism, Editorial Adviser to the Ibis yearbook and Distraction Magazine
School of Communication, University of Miami

“In answer to the question so often asked as to how we are where we are today:

Marcia is the backbone of our yearbook.  The staff could not make it without her.  She is Mother Superior for advice, criticism, what to do next, how do we handle this, good referee, knows know to listen and knows when to say yes/no.  She is an outstanding asset to the book.  She meets with the core editors (editor-in-chief, managing editor, copy editor, photo editor and design editor) at least every two weeks and sometimes every week in the fall as they start up.  She looks at pages and offers advice, is available by email and cell phone 24/7 and calms my nerves when needed.  She takes/escorts the staff to conferences, workshops and holds work sessions. Plus she keeps us on track with deadline and budget.

So you get the picture.  We could not do any of this without our TPC rep.  Marcia is a gem.  Yes, she is a former student of mine.  I taught her in a two-week adviser workshop back in the summer of 1974  at the University of Iowa when I was a high school newspaper and yearbook adviser teaching journalism at A.N.. McCallum High School in Austin, TX.

We like to say I taught her then and. in 1993, when I came back to yearbooks, she taught me. Now we’re a partnership; sometimes good cop – bad cop, sometime mom and dad, but always working toward what’s best for the book, what’s best for the staff.  This past March we had dinner at Patsy’s in NYC with six “generations” of editors and their significant others, all involved in this award-winning production called the Ibis.”

Amy Finney, Adviser
Merritt Island H.S. Islander

Gary A. Shiffrin, Merritt Island H.S. Principal

“I have been an educator for over 34 years and have worked along side many outstanding representatives at the four schools at which I have either taught or administrated. I will tell you that there has never been one better than Marcia.  As a school principal, I understand the importance of having a top-notch and high-quality yearbook; it contains all of the memories of the year for our students and our community.  Marcia is the person who makes sure all of this happens. She is a very knowledgeable individual who has years of experience with Taylor. She works very well with our yearbook adviser and all of the students on staff.  She is very accommodating and attempts to work with the school itself to make the printing and delivery of the books successful. We are very please with Taylor Publishing Company in all aspects and, because of Marcia, we at Merritt Island High look forward to many more years of an enjoyable relationship.”

Anna Chaput, Tropical Elementary School, Merritt Island

Anna Chaput served as yearbook adviser at Tropical Elementary for the past three years. In 2010, she decided to do a “real” book and called on Taylor and Marcia to assist her. Julianna, her daughter now a 7th grader at Jefferson Middle School on Merritt Island, was in her last year of elementary school and Anna wanted this book to be special.

“I am so glad that we switched (to Marcia and Taylor). The (StudioWorks) program offers a lot of versatility and I am happy with the change-over.  The times that we met with Marcia one-on-one allowed us to pursue new design ideas. I just wish that this wasn’t my daughter’s last year at Tropical!”

Mike Taylor, Marketing and Education Manager, Taylor Publishing

“At Taylor, we appreciate the hard work that Marcia and her customers do to make outstanding yearbooks. It is very obvious that Marcia works closely with her staffs so that they understand and appreciate strong designs that showcase journalism skills.

Marcia is one of those sales reps who, over the years, have had multiple Crown and Pacemaker winners from both CSPA and NSPA. She is the type of sale rep I would want working with my staff today; I know her people appreciate her yearbook knowledge, her publishing expertise and her willingness to give the extra effort it takes to be the best.”

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Claudia Balinet, Adviser, Osceola Magnet Elementary School (Vero Beach)
“Marcia has been an incredible cheerleader and motivator. She understands the pressures that teachers are under in addition to putting out a yearbook and she takes that into account when working with us. If we need her, she’s there to hold our hands and soothe us. Marcia has a fabulous wit and easy way of letting you know it’s all going to be “OK.” I learned so much by publishing this yearbook, and not just about yearbooks, but about maintaining my patience, poise and sense of humor under pressure.”

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Chris Rackliffe, 2009 Ibis Editor, University of Miami

“During a December back-and-forth e-mail session, Marcia congratulated me for my leadership and the fact that we are so far ahead with our deadlines. But she warned me that she would “be the first to start jumping up and down if there’s a problem. That is exactly why we love her! Every book needs someone like Marcia!”

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Lorisa Hilburn, Adviser
St. Mary’s Catholic, Rockledge, FL”The first thing I did when I took on the enormous task of yearbook adviser was switch to Taylor Publishing Company.

I had my first experience with TPC in 1979, when I was in the 8th grade. I was on the yearbook staff throughout middle and high school, and knew that Taylor shared my own high standards for yearbook publication.

I can’t say enough good things about my experience this past year! There was always support if I had a question or a problem. The software provided by Taylor is so easy for the students to learn and use. The final result was a much better product than last year, a book that will last forever.”