As a new teacher at Terra Nova, a nature-based 6-12 charter school in Minnesota, Maria faced the challenge of reviving a yearbook program that had been abandoned the previous year due to staff burnout. The previous advisor had unsuccessfully tried to transition to a student-led model, and students were vocal about missing this important school tradition. Despite being in her first year at the school, Maria chose Treering as her solution because it offered an accessible platform that empowered students with creative control, provided affordable options without minimum order requirements, and aligned with the school's ethical values. As a result, Maria's students created a completely student-powered yearbook—including student-shot portraits and student-designed cover art—that was celebrated as "the most beautiful book we've ever had," bringing joy to the entire community while establishing a sustainable foundation for future years.
"They've had a yearbook in the past completely devised, created, and administered by staff. And the staff member who was running it just couldn't do it anymore. She didn't want to do it and had tried several times to create a crew of students to do it, but was unsuccessful."
Maria inherited a program where yearbooks:
The school community felt the absence: "The kids really pushed for it. They were like, ‘we missed that.’ We have to have some type of culminating piece that is for posterity."
"I think the beauty of Treering is it made it so accessible for our kids to do a club-style program, and the technology was so easy for them to just dive in and feel comfortable and take over and run with it. I think it's fed their creativity rather than got in the way of it."
Maria chose Treering to revitalize her school's yearbook program because it solved several problems she faced as a new advisor at a school where the program had been abandoned. After researching three different companies, Treering immediately stood out for our:
Maria particularly valued Treering's ethical approach: "I liked the idea that you allow us to determine the quantity, you know, we don't have to order a certain number of books. It’s not a consumer-consumptive based business. It's a business that's really more ethically aligned with supporting community."
Maria's first year using Treering was a resounding success, far exceeding her initial expectations. The program transformed from a staff-driven initiative into a fully student-powered endeavor, with students taking the lead on everything from creating the entire yearbook, including portraits without a professional photographer, to a student artist designing the cover art that seamlessly blended with their vision. Their creativity even extended to incorporating hidden animal images throughout the book. The unveiling of the yearbook brought immense joy to the community, with staff saying it was "the most beautiful book we've ever had." This student-led process fostered a strong sense of community and generated enthusiasm for future yearbooks, even prompting students who initially opted out to purchase a copy after seeing the finished product. Parents also found the ordering process to be simple and straightforward, contributing to Maria's shift from planning to use Treering for just one year to committing to it "always forever."
Maria's success with Treering was driven by several key factors: the platform's accessibility empowered student creativity, and their responsive customer support. The absence of minimum order requirements made it financially viable for their small school, and Treering's ethical business practices aligned perfectly with the school's values. This all contributed to their ability to create an inclusive, beautiful yearbook that the entire community celebrated. Even though Maria described their first year as "bare bones" and "simple," they still produced "an absolutely gorgeous book" that brought joy during both its creation and delivery. This positive experience completely transformed her perspective, turning a perceived one-year commitment into an ongoing program she's now excited to expand.
Don't let your yearbook program disappear due to staff burnout or technology barriers. Whether you're a new teacher like Maria or a veteran advisor looking to revitalize your program, Treering provides everything you need to create a student-powered yearbook that brings joy to your entire community.
