Chambers wins national Broadcast Adviser of the Year
September 20, 2021
The Journalism Education Association (JEA) has named Andrew “A. J.” Chambers of Richland Northeast High School its 2021 Broadcast Adviser of the Year. Chambers is the CavPlex-Convergence Media Director at Richland Northeast. He’s also the adviser for RNE-TV and The Saber, a student-run news site.
Chambers says he is honored to be recognized as a scholastic journalism adviser. “Teaching is my life’s work and being a broadcast journalism adviser is the best job. My students get to use their voices and inform their community,” he said.
Magnet Schools Director Dr. Sonja Merriwether-Hawkins, Assistant Principal Denise Fowler, Assistant Administrator Monique Flowers, Principal Mark Sims, A. J. Chambers, Assistant Principal Vanessa Rhoden, Assistant Administrator Bryan Ashley
The Broadcast Adviser of the Year Award honors outstanding high school advisers and their exemplary work from the previous year, as well as throughout their careers. JEA leaders surprised Chambers with the announcement at Richland Northeast earlier this month. In selecting him for the award, JEA called Chambers an exemplary teacher-mentor, who guides students and fellow advisers to fulfill their potential, creating an inclusive classroom environment for diverse students with diverse talents and interests.
Richland Northeast Principal Mark Sims added, “Chambers exemplifies what being premier in Richland Two is all about. Premier means the relentless pursuit of excellence and being the best version of yourself. This is a great example of Mr. Chambers being the best version of himself and we are honored to have him at Richland Northeast,” said Sims.
Chambers receives a $1,000 prize, and his school receives $500, which may be used to buy equipment for the broadcast classroom or to fund student scholarships for summer media workshops.
Chambers has been teaching for 14 years and has been involved in scholastic broadcast journalism since 2007. He is national board certified. Chambers holds a bachelor’s degree from Charleston Southern and a master’s in Integrating Technology in the classroom from Walden University. Under his guidance, RNE-TV Live won the Pacemaker award in 2018, the most prestigious scholastic journalism award in the nation.
