Three years ago, when Leslie Fireman began advising West Chicago Comunity High School’s student-run newspaper, the Wildcat Chronicle, all of the content was being written and published by one dedicated student; now, there are nearly 50, and the journalism teacher is being honored as Illinois’ only recipient of the Journalism Education Association’s (JEA) Rising Star award.

Fireman is among nine total award winners nationwide, and will be formally recognized at the JEA National High School Journalism Conference in Philadelphia in November.

She took the reins of the journalism program at the high school in 2021, and admits she had “no idea” what she was doing at the time. Through her relentless dedication and passion, Fireman revitalized the program, transforming it into a thriving class that has since garnered regional, state, and national recognition, including the prestigious Pacemaker award.

JEA Illinois State Director Katie Fernandez, who served as Fireman’s mentor for two years, expressed her admiration for Fireman’s remarkable achievements.

“In the two years that I have worked with Leslie, I have seen her take a dying club and turn it into an award-winning publications class,” Fernandez said. “To take the club from one reporter to winning a Pacemaker is unbelievable. What makes it more impressive, to me, is that she very much did it on her own. She did not have any co-advisers or even other teachers to chaperone trips with her.”

Fernandez also praised Fireman’s commitment to team building and fostering a strong sense of community within her classroom.

“She really created a community in her classroom,” Fernandez said. “The students worked together on fun activities which brought them closer and built trust among the team. Students who were just placed in her class became part of the team. They bought into her plan and
contributed to the website. Leslie worked with her editors to find something for everyone to do. They worked on building each student’s strengths and if anyone had a new idea, it was never turned down. Instead, Leslie and the editors worked with the student to figure out how to make it work. Again reinforcing the idea of teamwork.”

That teamwork came into play when several of Fireman’s advanced journalism students wrote letters of recommendation on her behalf.

“I have never had an advisor in any other activity that was so passionate about her students’ work. She always believed in each one of her journalism students and made sure they had everything they needed to be successful. She always let the student editors make final decisions when it came to content,” WCCHS alumni and former Editor-in-Chief Sasha Baumgartner said.

Those thoughts were echoed by current Wildcat Chronicle reporters as well.

“Student staffers are always praised for the turnout of our school newspaper, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Mrs. Fireman there to teach, guide, and support us,” junior and Senior Reporter Ja’Nyah Villa said.