While the majority of Freedom students have become familiar with The Revolution Newspaper and the Glory Yearbook staff, many still have yet to meet the man behind both classes. This is Mr. Sidwell’s third year teaching at Freedom High School, his second year working with journalism, and first year as Freedom’s Athletic Business Manager. Before becoming a reading teacher, Mr. Sidwell went to the University of South Florida and worked with various high school marching bands. Now, Sidwell works alongside his wife, Ms. Reale, who also teaches in the English department.

“I took up journalism because it’s different from all my other classes,” said Sidwell. “After talking to Ms. Guida [former yearbook adviser] and Ms.Gold [former newspaper adviser], they said they were great classes to have.”

Although Mr. Sidwell enjoys teaching journalism now, he admits it was a challenge at first.

“Now that we have a dedicated group of staff members who like to write, we have improved,” said the Revolution sponsor.

Both newspaper and yearbook fall under “journalism”, but the classes are very different from each other.

“Yearbook is different because they have to produce something at the end of the year. Like no other class, they have to produce 272 pages of content,” said Sidwell.

In regards to the goals of each class, Mr. Sidwell hopes to make the newspaper the “voice of the school.” With yearbook, Sidwell hopes to produce a better book than last year’s.

Outside of school, Mr. Sidwell can usually be found on the golf course or spending time with his two children.

“I love Tampa. I love the weather, I love the Bucs, and I love being able to play golf twelve months out of the year,” said Sidwell.

For the students who want to have Mr. Sidwell as their yearbook or newspaper teacher after reading this, you are in luck. Mr. Sidwell does not plan to leave his current position at Freedom High School.

“I don’t have any plans to go anywhere. I like Freedom. I like the kids I teach, it’s a nice diverse group,” said Sidwell.