FSPA Board of Directors
FSPA’s board of directors shape the future of scholastic journalism in Florida through defining the mission of the organization, organizing district workshops and the state convention and fostering relationships with other advisers throughout the state.
The board is composed of the president, vice president, past president, executive director and advisers representing each of the seven districts.
President
Zach Garrett
Gulliver Preparatory School, Miami
president@floridascholasticpress.com
Zach Garrett is an award-winning broadcast journalism educator and adviser to the RaiderVision broadcast journalism program at Gulliver Prep in Miami. A 2023 STN Teacher of the Year and FSPA Board member, he has built a nationally recognized program grounded in real-world newsroom practices. Zach is passionate about elevating scholastic journalism across Florida by developing student leaders, supporting advisers, and creating meaningful, high-impact experiences for students and teachers.
Vice President
Christina Porcelli
H.B. Plant High School, Tampa
christina.porcelli@hcps.net
Past President
Joanie Webster
Robinson High School, Tampa
nancy.webster@hcps.net
Nancy “Joanie” Webster (Oben) serves as Past President and is in her eighth year at Robinson HS in Tampa, Fla. She advises the yearbook, newspaper and broadcast staffs. Webster received the 2018 JEA Rising Star at the JEA/NSPA National Journalism Convention. Before teaching, she worked as a marketing and communications coordinator for a nonprofit in Atlanta. Webster graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in communications, majoring in journalism.
Executive Director
Adam Livesay
Florida Scholastic Press Association, Largo
director@floridascholasticpress.com
Adam Livesay, CJE, is the Executive Director for the Florida Scholastic Press Association. A three staff journalism junkie in high school (yearbook, newspaper and broadcast), Adam went on to get degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science from the University of Central Florida. After graduating, he spent 8 years as a Yearbook Sales Representative in Tampa Bay and Central Florida. A presenter at journalism conventions and summer workshops, Adam is excited to continue his passion for working with students and their advisers and shaping scholastic journalism in Florida.
District 1 Director
Ken Killam
Gulf Breeze High School, Gulf Breeze
KillamK@santarosa.k12.fl.us
Ken Killam, a native Pensacolian, holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of West Florida. He teaches at Gulf Breeze High School, where he has taught every level of high school English alongside Creative Writing and History of Cinema. A nationally certified educator, Killam has advised both the Blue and Gold newspaper and the Angle of Reflection literary magazine, and was honored as the Florida Scholastic Press Association's Teacher of the Year.
District 2 Director
Denise Honey
St. Francis Catholic Academy, Gainesville
denise.honey@sfcawolves.org
Denise Honey currently teaches video production at St. Francis Catholic Academy and photography at Santa Fe College in Gainesville Florida. Denise holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Arkansas. After working 15 years in broadcast news including WOFL and WKMG in Orlando, Ms. Honey began her teaching career at East Ridge High in Clermont starting a brand new program from the ground up. Now she is bringing the same passion to a growing broadcast program in District 2.
District 3 Director
Callie Williams
Astronaut High School, Titusville
williams.callie@brevardschools.org
Callie Williams has taught for nearly two decades in Brevard County and currently advises every student publication staff at Astronaut High School — yearbook, newspaper, and broadcast. A recipient of the JAU Medal of Merit Award and a former FSPA District 3 Teacher of the Year, she also created and administers the "Journalism Teachers" Facebook group, connecting advisers nationwide in the shared belief that journalism is one of the most transformative classes a student can take.
District 4 Director
Courtney Nickel
Steinbrenner High School, Tampa
courtney.nickel@hcps.net
Courtney Nickel has been a teacher for over 20 years. She has taught in both New York and Florida. At Trinity Lutheran School in NY, she established the school’s first newspaper. In 2009, she moved to Florida and has taught ELA and journalism at Middleton High School, Alonso High School and (currently) Steinbrenner High School. She is a National Board Certified English teacher, Tampa Bay Area Writing Project Mentor Teacher/Teacher Consultant and was awarded Teacher of the Year by Middleton High School. This is her first year as an FSPA board member. She is married to her high school sweetheart, has two children and is the proud dog mama to a great dane named Murphy the Great.
District 5 Director
Ashley Denton
Babcock High School, Punta Gorda
adenton@babcockneighborhoodschool.org
After eight years in the Chicagoland marketing industry, Ashley moved to Florida in 2016 to follow a career in education. She has built award-winning media programs at both Oasis High School and currently at Babcock High School, creating innovative opportunities for students in media, marketing, and leadership while founding the media programs and Student Government at BHS. Outside the classroom, you can find Ashley behind the camera for her photography business or with her dog, Oliver.
District 7 CO-Director
Kara Mullins
Western High School, Davie
kara.mullins@browardschools.com
Kara Mullins currently advises the Calibre Yearbook and Paw Prints News at Western High School in Davie, Florida and formerly advised in Virginia. She and her staffs have won awards including CSPA Silver Crown, NSPA All-American, FSPA All-Florida, Sunshine Standout, Sun-Sentinel Best of High School Journalism, VHSL Trophy Class and the Charles E. Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence.
District 7 CO-Director
Danny Swerdlow
NSU University School, Ft. Lauderdale
swerdlow@nova.edu
As Director of Arts at NSU University School, Danny Swerdlow oversees the performing arts, visual arts, and mass communications programs for grades 6-12. With programs spanning television, film, radio, and publication, USchool is committed to fostering a community of passionate creators who tell meaningful stories, amplify diverse voices, and share the future of media. Over the past decade, Danny has worked closely with the USN team to earn state and national recognition. He is proud to help host the District 7 conference and enjoys working with this team of passionate educators.
