This summer ERWC is celebrating two decades as a literacy initiative. As part of the anniversary festivities, we’ve been collecting congratulatory messages from some of our favorite educational leaders, including Kelly Gallagher, Carol Jago, Jim Burke, Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, Trevor Aleo, Matthew Johnson, and Carol Booth Olson.
Continue reading to see what esteemed colleagues and mentors have to say about the impact of the ERWC community. And if you’d like to add your own anniversary message to the collection, please use the comment box at the end of this post. So pop the confetti and join the celebration!
Congratulations to the ERWC community on your 20th year anniversary! I have much appreciation for all you have done to position all students for success as they transition to the Cal State University system. I know many of my students benefited from your hard work and dedication. Your work is making a difference and is deeply appreciated. Again, congratulations, and here’s to the next generation of students who will benefit from your efforts.
Kelly Gallagher, author of Deeper Reading, Write Like This, and Readicide; co-author of 180 Days
Dear ERWC Leadership and Community:
ERWC changed everything for those fortunate to go through the trainings in the earliest days, often at county offices but always with teachers who were deeply committed to teaching what our credential programs seemed never to get around to before we entered the profession: teaching kids how to read, write, and think as needed to get into and succeed at college. And on top of all this instruction in teaching these academic literacies, ERWC provided us all a community of equally committed professionals, led by those remarkable educators who had the vision for what the ERWC could be and why it needed to be! Ever grateful to all those who contributed much to our collective growth and my own personal improvement as an English teacher.
Jim Burke, author of The Six Academic Writing Assignments, The English Teacher’s Companion, and Writing Reminders
Matthew Johnson, author of Flash Feedback: Responding to Student Writing Better and Faster–Without Burning Out
Over the course of two decades ERWC has held true to its belief in the power of literacy to change lives, and the world, for the better. ERWC’s impact has been made possible by the collective blood, sweat, and tears of everyone in this community. Much has been achieved. Much remains to be done. Happy anniversary to us!
Carol Jago, author of The Book in Question and With Rigor for All
Happy Anniversary to the ERWC family from Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Thank you for all you do to help students join academic conversations with skill and confidence!
Best, Jerry and Cathy
Trevor Aleo, Co-Author of Learning That Transfers: Designing Curriculum for a Changing World
Warmest congratulations and happy 20th anniversary to the ERWC community from the editorial group at W.W. Norton! We admire and applaud your two decades of helping students become close readers and confident writers.
Sarah Touborg Editor & Vice President at W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
As I look back at ERWC for the last 20 years, I am struck by how it has totally exceeded my expectations. I joined the ERWC team in 2006 when I came to the Chancellor’s Office as an Associate Director. At that time, we were working on the 2nd edition, and I remember going to many of the professional learnings throughout the state to learn about the program. I was struck by the dedication and commitment of the teachers and professors involved and the innovations they were implementing. It was incredible back then…and then came the I3 Grants, the validation studies, the 3rd edition, and national recognition and I must say, it has totally exceeded my expectations. The impact has been far-reaching and I am looking forward to the next 20 years to see where we can go with this innovation as the CSU emerges as a national leader.
Zee Cline CSU Chancellor’s Office CAPP Director
My warm congratulations to the ERWC community–our CSU faculty and high school teachers–on your 20th anniversary! The ERWC curriculum and programming has had a deep impact on the preparation of hundreds of thousands of young people in CA and across the country to be successful in college. The California State University, Chancellor’s Office is so proud of ERWC’s accomplishments as it has evolved over these 20 years
Teaching ERWC 