Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, Perez, United Way Chairman David O'Neal and MISD Education Foundation Board President Craig Dawson. "She makes you proud of being a teacher," said Sarabia, starting his ninth year in education.Īlong with the message from Gruwell, MISD employees from teachers and administrators to bus drivers, custodians and secretaries received thanks and well wishes from Sen.
TEACHER IN FREEDOM WRITERS MOVIE
(But) to hear her tell the story, as opposed to seeing it in a movie or even reading the kids thoughts, to hear her thoughts was really exciting."Ĭrockett Elementary fifth-grade teacher Sergio Sarabia said Gruwell enforces the idea that all kids can learn "and there's hope." "I read the book, watched the movie and was inspired like most of us, so coming into convocation this year, I was really looking forward to it. Midland Freshman High School seventh-grade pre-advanced placement world history teacher Cherilyn Amburn said instructors last year did a book study on "Freedom Writers." Superintendent Sylvester Perez announced Amburn was the Region 18 Education Service Center Teacher of the Year. Many teachers stood in line waiting for a chance to get the Freedom Writers book signed by Gruwell.
She proved she could be successful and lead her kids to be successful." She did it in one of the worst circumstances most any school district could have. "There is plenty of room (for teachers to take those risks) and she proved it. "What an outstanding presentation, but better yet, what a great example for all our teachers and administrators to see that there's hope in every kid," board Vice President Jay Isaacs said. Teachers and board members said the convocation achieved its mission. Reading those books taught her students that writing makes you immortal. But once encouraged, the students were inspired, even writing letters and raising money to invite the Frank family's secretary, Miep Gies, to speak to them. Her department chair told her the students were "too dumb" to read a book from cover to cover. Borrowing money from her father and maxing out all her credit cards, she purchased enough books for all 150 of her students. "The Diary of Anne Frank" and other works by youngsters living in war zones came to mind. That got Gruwell thinking about what books she could use. Gruwell had a list of books she planned to teach, but one of her students didn't see the relevance and asked why they had to read books by "dead white guys in tights." That same student said he felt like he lived in an "undeclared war" because of all the violence that surrounded him. There was no technology in the classroom and everyone in the room knew someone who had been gunned down or had been shot or knifed themselves. Youngsters arrived at school from the projects without new backpacks or designer duds.
Students divided themselves up along ethnic, gang and even neighborhood lines. Despite what she had learned about teaching culturally diverse students at California State University Long Beach, she and her students weren't holding hands and singing songs. riots, there was a lot of anger in her classroom. Growing up in Newport Beach, Calif., Gruwell lived in a gated community. Those attending also saw a clip of "Freedom Writers," where Gruwell has her students do a "toast to change" with sparkling apple cider. Her story has been made into a movie, "Freedom Writers," starring Hillary Swank, and been the subject of news magazine specials, one of which was shown as a prelude to Gruwell's presentation. The annual event kicks off the school year, which begins Monday. Gruwell told her story to a packed house at Midland College's Chaparral Center on Thursday as part of Midland ISD's convocation.
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