There's Never Enough Time to Quite Capture the Brilliance of a Day, But Sometimes a Couple of Photographs Can Lead the Way

I was on campus all morning and left in the afternoon to let the dog out. As soon as I left, I learned that the 12th edition of POW! Power of Words - An Anthology of Teacher and Student Writing began to arrive. They aren't scheduled until tomorrow, but the first two boxes seemed to sneak onto an earlier flight. This is the 40th year of National Writing Project Work in Connecticut and the year 15 of me at Fairfield University. It's hard for me to believe that we have put together the best of CWP-Fairfield summer work in another anthology of published work. This is the model. This is the research. This is what I hope to share with all interested in writing instruction. 

I'm super excited, too, to collaborate with the Women's Volleyball Team for a special Connecticut Writing Project Day on October 11th, as they take on Siena. It will be a location for families, kids, and teacher to pick up their copies. We're all in this together and since Coach Somera has been a champion of writing and leadership, I thought it would be a good way to go.

Additionally, yesterday brought a mentor, sage, historian, and writer back to Fairfield University in a call to do more in the Jesuit tradition. Dr. Yohuru William took me under his wing when I was first starting out and has been hugely instrumental in my thinking about history, research, and what is possible for community engagement. I was honored to feature one of his middle grade books on The Write Time two years ago. To see Dr. Williams in action is to witness greatness. I don't know many who can weave history, the Jesuit tradition, our responsibilities to a democratic nation, and the importance of education quite like he can. I left his lecture feeling rejuvenated, inspired, motivated, and responsible. He works magic with a crowd and today I'll attend a two-hour workshop for faculty.

This morning, I need to put a bow on the evening's class, but I'm carrying with me all the right reasons why I chose a career in teaching and lived the life that I have. As always, I simply need to find time to process and elevate the excellence of not only Dr. Yohuru Williams and his historical brilliance, but the superior writing of Connecticut teachers and students. 

It was definitely a day to remember...if only the necessity of sleep didn't get in the way. Phew. Last day of September. How did we get to October already?