When Melissa Deavers-Lowie returned to her alma mater of Portage High School in 2007, she was set to fill a different role. After attending PHS just five years prior, Deavers-Lowie was now a member of the faculty, teaching English and beginning journalism while also serving as the school’s publications advisor.
“A lot of the teachers that I had when I went here five years prior were still teaching here and that was very odd for me. Not only have I come to look at them as my co-workers, but they have come to look at me as their co-worker,” she said.
Deavers-Lowie, who is current in her fifth year of teaching, has now grown accustomed to the position. The title of publications adviser is a loaded job that demands time commitment and dedication.
“I love so much about my job, I’m not even going to lie. Pretty much every aspect of it is just fantastic. I guess my favorite part of it is getting to deal with the students every day,” she said.
In between her two stints at Portage High School as a student and as a teacher, Deavers-Lowie attended Ball State University, where she wrote on the school’s newspaper staff. She also spent four weeks during the summer of 2009 as an intern for The Times of Northwest Indiana. During that internship she gained knowledge that she took with her back to her classroom.
Deavers-Lowie’s unique teaching position allows her to develop a close bond with the students in her Pow Wow newspaper and Legend yearbook classes.
“I’m definitely a lot closer to the publications students, probably because I spend so much more time with those students. We have the work nights where we’re here until super late, we have field trips that we go on and I really get to know the students on a more personal basis. I get to know them, their families, their situations and I like that aspect of it,” she said.
Since taking the PHS Publications Department over, Deavers-Lowie has led it to new heights. She oversaw the launches of the Pow Wow’s first ever website, radio program, morning closed circuit television show and sports magazine, while improving upon the quality of the newspaper and yearbook.
“The progress has been amazing. In the time that I have been here we have been keeping up with the trends. I’ve been lucky to have the students who are willing to work a little extra and put a little more time into developing the program,” Deavers-Lowie said.
When the bell rings each day to indicate the end of school, Deavers-Lowie’s work day is far from finished. Many days there is radio show after school which lasts until 3:30. Every other Monday the newspaper staff stays after school for deadline night until the paper is complete, which could be as late as eight or nine o’clock. In addition, she stays after for Legend work nights on many Wednesdays and teaches the English portion of night school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8pm.
“I feel like I could probably build a room in my office and live there,” she said.
Outside of many publication related duties, Deavers-Lowie adds other little things to her schedule. She enjoys volunteering and attending athletic events and other school functions.
“I like being visible in the community so that the students see me and they know that I care. I like being here,” she said.
Deavers-Lowie’s journalism roots come from her grandfather, who was a World War II veteran and writer for a Croatian/English newspaper.
“I always looked up to my grandpa. He was a huge inspiration to me, a wonderful guy. He really inspired me to be a writer. I think I got a lot of the talent and passion that I have from him,” she said.
Although her initial ambition was to become a journalist, Deavers-Lowie realized in college that she loved teaching as much as she loved journalism. Her position at PHS allows her combine both of her passions in one place. She is well-respected and well-liked by her students as a teacher, a role model, and a friend. Deavers-Lowie has the ability to establish a connection with the students that makes her effective in the classroom and allows her to make a major impact on their lives.