Robert J. Courtemanche, CJE
Mr. Courtemanche became the 24th advisor of the Galena Park High School Jacket Yearbook in 1995. Since then, The Jacket has grown to a 200 page book, and from seven staff members to more than 40 staff members. He was also the adviser of the school newspaper, The Golden Gazette, from 1995-2000 and from 2001-2006 it has been produced by the yearbook class. In 2007, the yearbook staff retired the school newspaper and began the new school magazine The Buzz. He is the longest serving yearbook adviser. He also is the sponsor of JACKET-TV and the Quill & Scroll Honor Society. The publications class also produced The HIVE literary magazine for the first time in 2002.
Mr. Courtemanche was named a GPISD "Dazzling Diamond" Teacher in 2000 and has been named by his students in "Who's Who Among High School Teachers" in 1999 and 2002. He was also chosen as a "Teacher of the Week" by the Varsity Football team and "Most Spirited Male Teacher" by the Student Council in 2003.
Mr. Courtemanche is a past member of the Harris County Department of Education Journalism Steering Committee, a current member of the Texas Association of Journalism Educators, the Journalism Educators of America, and the International Quill & Scroll Honor Society. He was a member of the staff of the 2000 & 2002 HCDE Journalism Summer Workshops, has been a UIL district judge for several Houston area contests, 2001 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Photography Contest Judge, and guest speaker at other workshops. In 2007, he was awarded national recognition as a Certified Journalism Educator (CJE) by the Journalism Educators Association.
Mr. Courtemanche is an alumnus of Ellison High School (Killeen, Texas) and a 1985 graduate of Zweibrücken American High School (Zweibruecken Air Force Base, Germany). He was a staff member of The Trojan Flash news magazine and the News Flash weekly newsletter. He also was a member of the Screaming Eagle Band, the Trojan Pep Band, Army JROTC, Air Force JROTC (cadet Lieutenant Colonel - Group Deputy Commander), 1984 European Honor Unit with Distinction, the 1984 All-European championship AFJROTC color guard and both armed & unarmed drill teams.
Mr. Courtemanche is a 1990 graduate of Angelo State University with a Bachelor's of Arts in Journalism and a minor in history. He received a second Bachelor's degree in 1993 in History with a minor in Kinesiology (Physical Education) and earned his TEA certification in Language Arts (Journalism) and History. He was a staff member of The Ram Page newspaper as well as its sports editor (1988) and managing editor (1989). He was also the sports editor of The Rambouillet yearbook (1990). At ASU, he also participated in The Society of Professional Journalists / Sigma Delta Chi (Vice President 1989, President 1989 & 1990), The Golden Ram Band, Arnold Air Society and the UCPC Films Committee. Mr. Courtemanche won a Texas Interscholastic Press Association Award of 1st Place in Television Sports Writing and an Honorable Mention in Newspaper Inside Page Design. In 2007, he added a TEA certification in Instructional Technology grades 7-12.
Mr. Courtemanche spent three months as a news intern at the Killeen Daily Herald. He then began a broadcasting career at KIDY-TV Ch. 6 FOX (San Angelo, Texas) as a production assistant, promotions manager and on-air master control operator for three years. Mr. Courtemanche was the winner of four Tom Green County Advertising Council Addy Awards for television advertising. Finally, he spent two years as a producer/director of on-air programming at KNCT-TV Ch. 46 PBS (Killeen, Texas) and helped to create and produce The Pet Clinic, High School Football This Week, Central Texas College Report and Inside Central Texas.
