You Can't Make It Up...the @Writingproject Family is For Real, For Real. The Many Roads and Connections to Teacher Excellence is Simply Par for the Course

On the last day of the teacher institute, yesterday, I invited teacher leader Latoya Lisle to do a workshop on her reading (now writing) support she offers at a K-5 school in Norwalk. She used copies of POW to create a writing culture at her school, began after school book clubs, worked with administrators to establish a writing genius culture, and totally revamped literacy with her colleagues. 

As she's presenting, she shares a clip from a CWP-Fairfield Writing Our Lives event where we brought 140 girls to campus to learn from women and how they write in their career, including Brianna Martone who leads her classroom and high school with spoken work. So, Latoya shows a clip of this work to all of the teachers not knowing that Brianna is actually a teacher in the institute this year. Well, hugs, tears, and magic. 

BOOM.

Next think we know, Brianna is pulling up emails she got from Latoya's students and sharing the life-changing experience the young women had. Brianna is overwhelmed at the impact she had and starts this conversation about Latoya's workshop: the passion, the dedication, the flow, the excellence and Latoya says, "Ask Julie and Bryan...two years ago I was afraid to speak up in a room of colleagues."

And look at her now. 

The entire moment was absolutely amazing. When I think of two women who use their voices for good - to advocate most for the students they teach - I think of Latoya and Brianna.

And how lucky we were to experience their moment with them. To see all of LaToya's presentation, including the poem/song by Brianna, check out her Canvas slideshow.

Best time of the year for me. Always.