Hey! I'm J. Mike Blake, the class educator. Prior to my teaching career, which started in 2018, I was a full-time journalist for The News & Observer Publishing Company, starting at The Cary News as sports editor and later adding the title of Southwest Wake News sports editor before becoming the N&O's high school sports editor. I started my career in college, working at WRAL in both the sports and news departments as a part-timer and contractor. I am still an active reporter, working as a contributor to HighSchoolOT, which covers high school athletics across the state. Recognition/awards: 14 N.C. Press Association awards, the N.C. High School Athletic Association's media person of the year award (only winner to not be a full-time reporter), the only two-time winner of the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association's media person of the year award, and led UNC Journalism Day's sports writing workshop for [I can't remember] years.