We always say you don't have to be a teacher (or a writer, or an editor) to become a WCC coach, and it's true: our coaches come from a wide variety of backgrounds. But former teachers frequently sign up for training and become WCC coaches, perhaps because they value what they never had while standing in front of a classroom and looking out over 30 or more expectant faces: the time to work with students individually.
Marge Atkinson is a long-time Albany resident and community activist, a veteran Albany teacher and officer of the Albany Teachers Association, and currently a member of the Albany City Council and Albany's mayor. And now she has a sparkling new addition to her lengthy public-service list: she recently completed her WCC training and is a newly minted writer coach! Here's what Marge has to say about her newest role:
"The WriterCoach Connection training emphasized how important it was to make a personal connection with each student and be an adult that encouraged the ideas, voice and cues of what the student wanted to work on in each session. For many of the participants, it was hard not to feel like we wanted to 'instruct' a student, but that this was not our role. We are to be there to guide the student in his or her own direction and to be a friendly, supportive and helpful presence. It was an eye-opener to be instructed, by an English teacher (!) that it was not the grammar and mechanics that we needed to know, but that it would be our effort and success in establishing a positive relationship with each student that would make us a great writing coach mentor."
It's wonderful to see WCC teacher/coaches with the time to sit with students individually, for a half hour or more at a time, bringing to each student years of classroom experience and dedication, and so clearly appreciative of their new role. Many thanks to Marge for continuing her commitment to Albany's children!
Bob Menzimer