Nooksack Valley teacher part of Freedom Writers book

KIRA MILLAGE - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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Nooksack Valley High School English teacher Kirsten Jensen is officially a published writer thanks to the newest book from the Freedom Writers' Foundation.

Jensen, 31, is one of 150 teachers who wrote short stories for "Teaching Hope," which looks at the daily life of classroom teachers in the U.S. and Canada and how teachers reach struggling students.

For Jensen, the experience reminded her why she got into teaching.

"I want to work towards equitable opportunities for all students," the seven-year teacher said. "Students come to classrooms from very different situations."

The Freedom Writers was a group of struggling California students who banded together and discovered their potential when their new teacher, Erin Gruwell, figured out the best way to reach her students was by relating lessons to their real lives. A book, "The Freedom Writers Diary," was published in 1999 with journal entries from 150 students. A movie, starring former Bellingham resident Hilary Swank, was released in 2007.

Jensen became interested in working with the foundation after reading the original book and identifying with Gruwell and the obstacles she faced in her first year of teaching. Jensen tries to use some of Gruwell's techniques in teaching her ninth- and 10th-grade students about writing and literature by letting them pick topics and books they're interested in.

"Often (teachers) try to control what students do, and I think it's hard to step away from that," Jensen said. "The whole Freedom Writers experience ... has been one of the most impactful professional development activities for me."

So when Jensen was asked to be one of four Washington teachers writing for "Teaching Hope" in 2008, she jumped at the chance. And then she took it further, being one of three teachers asked to help edit the book.

All the stories are anonymous to protect teachers, students and the schools involved. Jensen won't reveal much, but said her story focuses on a struggling student, one who some would have classified as "unteachable." It chronicles their teacher-student relationship and how they managed to find some common ground, even if they didn't see eye to eye at the end of the school year.

"This student in some way had been failed by the system," she said. "Part of our responsibility is to be aware of that and find ways to support all students so we're not just continuing the cycle of unequal opportunities."

'TEACHING HOPE' BOOK LAUNCH

Nooksack Valley High School teacher Kirsten Jensen will be at Village Books on Tuesday, Sept. 1, for the local launch of "Teaching Hope." Jensen will be signing books, and a few of her students will be reading memoirs written during the 2008-09 school year.

The event starts at 7 p.m. at 1200 11th St. in Fairhaven.

"Teaching Hope" launches nationally Tuesday, Aug. 18.

For more information about "Teaching Hope" and the Freedom Writers Foundation, go to freedomwritersfoundation.org.