"I love my writer coaching. It’s so helpful. It's more than a connection. It's a relationship. When it's one on one with someone you know, you work harder, and you take feedback better." -- 9th grade student, El Cerrito High School
Our History
Inspired by a successful writing coach program on the East Coast that reported dramatic gains in language arts SAT scores, Dr. Mary Lee Cole developed WriterCoach Connection and introduced the program at Berkeley High School in February 2001.
Berkeley High School beginnings
With 35 trained community volunteers and six English teachers, coaches at Berkeley High began working with 180 students, and word soon spread about coaching results. “This program really works. All my students have moved up a grade,” reported a Berkeley teacher.
Program growth
Volunteers spread word that the program was a wonderful opportunity to make a difference to kids in the schools. Embraced by the community, teachers and students, the program rapidly expanded from Berkeley’s high school to its three middle schools. Within three years the volunteer force had grown to 200 coaches and served every eighth- and ninth-grade student in the Berkeley Unified School District.
In spring 2003, the organization launched a replication project at Albany High School in a neighboring district and WCC coaches soon served all Albany ninth-grade students, expanding to Albany Middle School in 2006-07. That year WriterCoach Connection also began what proved to be a successful pilot program of coaching seventh- as well as eighth-grade students at Longfellow Middle School in Berkeley.
Mayor Tom Bates proclaimed “WriterCoach Connection Day” in the City of Berkeley on April 26, 2007, to honor the founders and many volunteers who had served thousands of Berkeley students during its first seven years. The Albany Board of Education followed suit, declaring April 24, 2008 “WriterCoach Connection Day in the Albany Schools.”
Following a year’s absence from Berkeley High, in fall 2007 WriterCoach Connection returned to a warm welcome at the Community Partnerships Academy at Berkeley High, working with all ninth- and tenth-grade students. “[WCC] has brought a shot of enthusiasm about writing to my freshman classes,” said teacher Susannah Bell. “The students feel supported and confident in their writing process.” For 2010-11, WCC expanded to Communication Arts & Sciences and continued at Community Partnerships Academy at Berkeley High.
Oakland expansion
In spring 2008, with the help of a generous grant, WCC studied the possibility of expanding into nearby underserved school districts in the East Bay and made the decision to serve a high school in Oakland that fall.
Our pilot program in Oakland for tenth-grade students at Media Academy, a small school that is part of the Fremont Federated Schools in the Fruitvale neighborhood, met with great success. The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) pass rates for sophomores were higher than they’d ever been in the past at Media Academy, a result the principal attributed in part to the work of the WCC coaches. In 2010-2011, WCC continued in its third year at Media Academy and expanded to Mandela High School, another small school on the same Fruitvale campus.
East Bay and beyond
WCC is developing plans for growth to additional high schools and middle schools in Oakland, and for the 2010-11 school year expanded to another underserved school district in the East Bay with a pilot program at El Cerrito High School in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. During the 2011-12 school year, WCC hopes to expand to all ninth grade English classes as well as English Language Development classes at El Cerrito High School and to make plans to bring writing coaches to students at Portola Middle School.
In the wake of decreased school budgets, increased class size, and reduced staff, requests for WCC coach and teacher support programs have increased and have come from across the country. While taking one step forward at a time, we look toward a future when WriterCoach Connection is in schools nationwide.
Berkeley High School beginnings
With 35 trained community volunteers and six English teachers, coaches at Berkeley High began working with 180 students, and word soon spread about coaching results. “This program really works. All my students have moved up a grade,” reported a Berkeley teacher.
Program growth
Volunteers spread word that the program was a wonderful opportunity to make a difference to kids in the schools. Embraced by the community, teachers and students, the program rapidly expanded from Berkeley’s high school to its three middle schools. Within three years the volunteer force had grown to 200 coaches and served every eighth- and ninth-grade student in the Berkeley Unified School District.
In spring 2003, the organization launched a replication project at Albany High School in a neighboring district and WCC coaches soon served all Albany ninth-grade students, expanding to Albany Middle School in 2006-07. That year WriterCoach Connection also began what proved to be a successful pilot program of coaching seventh- as well as eighth-grade students at Longfellow Middle School in Berkeley.
Mayor Tom Bates proclaimed “WriterCoach Connection Day” in the City of Berkeley on April 26, 2007, to honor the founders and many volunteers who had served thousands of Berkeley students during its first seven years. The Albany Board of Education followed suit, declaring April 24, 2008 “WriterCoach Connection Day in the Albany Schools.”
Following a year’s absence from Berkeley High, in fall 2007 WriterCoach Connection returned to a warm welcome at the Community Partnerships Academy at Berkeley High, working with all ninth- and tenth-grade students. “[WCC] has brought a shot of enthusiasm about writing to my freshman classes,” said teacher Susannah Bell. “The students feel supported and confident in their writing process.” For 2010-11, WCC expanded to Communication Arts & Sciences and continued at Community Partnerships Academy at Berkeley High.
Oakland expansion
In spring 2008, with the help of a generous grant, WCC studied the possibility of expanding into nearby underserved school districts in the East Bay and made the decision to serve a high school in Oakland that fall.
Our pilot program in Oakland for tenth-grade students at Media Academy, a small school that is part of the Fremont Federated Schools in the Fruitvale neighborhood, met with great success. The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) pass rates for sophomores were higher than they’d ever been in the past at Media Academy, a result the principal attributed in part to the work of the WCC coaches. In 2010-2011, WCC continued in its third year at Media Academy and expanded to Mandela High School, another small school on the same Fruitvale campus.
East Bay and beyond
WCC is developing plans for growth to additional high schools and middle schools in Oakland, and for the 2010-11 school year expanded to another underserved school district in the East Bay with a pilot program at El Cerrito High School in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. During the 2011-12 school year, WCC hopes to expand to all ninth grade English classes as well as English Language Development classes at El Cerrito High School and to make plans to bring writing coaches to students at Portola Middle School.
In the wake of decreased school budgets, increased class size, and reduced staff, requests for WCC coach and teacher support programs have increased and have come from across the country. While taking one step forward at a time, we look toward a future when WriterCoach Connection is in schools nationwide.
