click logo for homepage
 
 

	Vol.7, No 35, October 28, 1999
	L.B. teacher inspires students, wins award By Sarah LaVoie Daily Forty-Niner A Long Beach high school teacher who gained national attention by inspiring her students to write a book was named "Teacher of the Year" on Oct. 13 by the Credential Counselors and Analysts of California. Erin Gruwell, who is part of the Distinguished Teacher in Residence program at Cal State Long Beach, has previously won awards including Long Beach Unified School District's Teacher of the Year. "I am so humbled and so flattered," Gruwell said. The Credential Counselors and Analysts of California is a professional organization of more than 500 credential specialists that works directly with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialling. Gruwell was presented the award at this year's organization conference with more than 700 people in attendance. Gruwell is currently on loan to CSULB as one of only two Distinguished Teachers in Residence. The program offers teachers an opportunity to gain experience by working with the university on education reform, said Jean Houck, dean of the College of Education. "What we have seen is a real fulfillment of our wish for the program," Houck said. "She motivates anyone who is around her." Gruwell previously taught for four years at Wilson High School in Long Beach where she began her first year teaching English to a diverse group of 150 students. She began addressing tolerance issues after intercepting a racial cartoon of one of her students. She then compared such attitudes to those that led to the Holocaust. None of the students had ever heard of the Holocaust, Gruwell said. Soon she had her students reading and writing about Anne Frank and the Holocaust, the ethnic cleansing in Eastern Europe, and the violence they see in their own lives. The students adopted the name the "Freedom Writers" in homage to the civil rights activists known as the Freedom Riders. The group received national honors and media recognition and eventually had their writing published. The book is titled "The Freedom Writers' Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them." Her enthusiasm and dedication have been widely acknowledged by her colleagues. "She turned a lot of lives around," said Dave Beard, head counselor at Wilson High School.   "These are kids that thought they had nothing going for them. She lifted and created vision for the kids and what they could do with their lives. She is full of energy, creativity and dynamic style." "She challenged kids to do things that they didn't believe they could do," said Al Taylor, assistant principal at Lakewood High School. "She is an outstanding person who is involved in the profession with her heart, mind and soul," said Cathy Ducharme, acting chairwoman of CSULB's teacher education department. "She's committed to making a difference."		Volunteer service stressed at fair   Students bring life to 'Day of the Dead' on campus   Chemical alarms officials   CSULB science professors awarded research grant   Nursing department to take over O.C. clinic   CSULB mentors help create difference   L.B. teacher inspires students, wins award   Long Beach Airport to offer flights to Las Vegas Gray strikes out   Faculty unions help all employees   Deaf drivers should not lose privilege to drive Alumna creates old-style treats   Scary tales drift through campus   Video picks feature 'Halloween'   Movie pleases despite problems Volleyball team welcomes foes behind orange curtain   Runners hope to advance past conference finals   One coach's loss creates another's opportunity   Soccer team's last hurrah Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.