The 2025-2026 El Burro Yearbook leadership team is poised for a promising, exciting year, eager to explore themes of unity and individuality that resonate beyond the surface. With a chosen theme of “Beyond the Obvious,” they aim to capture the diverse stories and experiences of the Burroughs community.
From July 23-25, the Yearbook leadership team opted for a more personal summer retreat on our very own school campus, foregoing their usual trip to Josten’s National Yearbook Workshop (JNYW) at the University of San Diego.
“I wanted to be able to include the whole leadership team in our decision-making,” said Advisor Susie Burgess. “This approach just felt more inclusive and empowering.”
With three days’ of activities, the retreat fostered collaboration and fueled creative minds. The students brainstormed, explored and debated the theme, color palette, and fonts for this year’s edition. To test out their ideas, they used last year’s photos to draft potential pages. Away from their computers, they participated in team-building activities, evaluated last year’s strengths and struggles, roleplayed various leadership scenarios, and indulged in ice cream sundaes.
The various activities brought the team together and armed them for their specific duties.
“I learned more ways to connect with other students and how I can efficiently and effectively help people design their pages while keeping their creativity,” said Design Editor Jayden Nevarez, a senior.
Nevarez will be streamlining the design process of the yearbook, building thematic page elements, spread layouts and templates, and a style guide for staff page designers to incorporate the theme in an inspired approach.
Senior Editor-in-Chief Paige Dunn is determined and passionate in her desire to create a yearbook that captures the Burroughs experience and makes a lasting impression.
“My goals are to craft an extraordinary edition while ensuring our entire team has a memorable year to reflect upon!” said Dunn.
El Burro newcomer Jasmine Casas-Flores, a senior, is a vital member of the team as copy editor. Her job is to ensure that each and every page boasts high-quality, accurate content. She proofreads all written material, especially captions, to guarantee they contain thorough storytelling elements to bring the photos to life.
“My vision is to work with the rest of our yearbook staff to create an inclusive yearbook that showcases the best memories from the year!” said Casas-Flores. “I would like to see a yearbook that’s truly eye-catching and meaningful to everyone at Burroughs.”
As a poster in the Yearbook classroom puts it, the student body pays money to read their homework. That idea is one that the staff and leadership team are taking seriously. To guarantee that deadlines are consistently met, Dunn is implementing a proactive communication strategy.
“I am committed to ensuring that our staff feels supported and has access to resources that will empower them to deliver their best work,” affirms Dunn.
In addition to Dunn, Nevarez, and Casas-Flores, the leadership team includes Coverage Editor Annie Ngo; Photography Editor Lucas Campbell-Goolsby; Business Manager Nisha Wallace; Records and Reference Editor Asera Williams; and Social Media Manager Siona Otillio.
The Yearbook is currently on sale at $85, its lowest price of the year, through Sept. 9.
