WriterCoach Connection

Please join us in sending a hearty congratulations to WCC coach Gary Morton on publishing his first children's book, Clair and Bear: It's Okay to be Different.

Clair and Bear tells the story of a 10-year old girl who is frustrated because she can not play softball after school with her best friend, Celine. Bear is a stuffed teddy bear, her unconditional friend, and Clair's positive mindset. The story takes place in a day, with Bear helping Clair navigate through her frustrating day. Gary found inspiration for the book from his daughter, Sarah, who has developmental disabilities.

Of her experiences growing up and why he wrote Clair and Bear, Gary says, "She and her friends were often invisible to the public, or avoided because she looked or acted differently. Through my teaching and coaching, I have also seen that our youth are often not seen or valued. With my book, I want to show that someone believes in them, so that they can believe in themselves."

We love how Gary's story captures the spirit of our coaching model, being compassionate and supportive and helping youth build confidence in themselves and their abilities at a time when they need it most.

Congratulations on this wonderful achievement, Gary!

Today may be April Fool's Day, but it's also the start of National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we're not kidding when we say we appreciate the efforts of our volunteer coaches who are the driving force of our mission to provide close, human writing support for Bay Area students at a pivotal time in their educational lives.

Our coaches bring warmth, patience, and motivation that helps middle and high school students focus on developing their own thoughts and ideas into clear, confident, and effective writing.

To all our volunteer coaches, we are so grateful to have you all in our community. Your work makes a difference in young people's lives. Thank you for showing up for them.

AI isn’t coming. It’s already here! And it’s changing the way we learn, teach, and think.

So… what does that actually mean for students, parents, and educators?

Join us for AI in Education, a community conversation where we break it all down--no jargon, no gatekeeping. Just real insights, honest questions, and practical takeaways.

✨ Hear from speakers in tech + education
✨ Learn how to use AI effectively and ethically
✨ Connect with others thinking about the future of learning

📍 Open to students, parents, educators, and community members
📅 April 25th, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
📌 Albany Senior Center Multipurpose Room

Spots are limited so RSVP here: https://forms.gle/547KZEHynsroDQKH8

This Women's History Month we want to recognize Dr. Thelma Harms, a Bay Area educator and researcher who dedicated her work to raising the quality and standards in early childhood education.

Harms earned her master's in child development at UC Berkeley and was part of a developmental team that created the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale to measure the quality of early childhood education programs.

Her dedication to improving education for the youngest learners was influential in improving learning programs through increased policy action and investment in early childhood education.

She was known for framing her work with a focus on teachers, making the connection between enhancing learning environments and better supporting teachers. This emphasis inspires our work at WCC to support teachers by providing one-on-one coaching with all students in the classroom, ensuring all students receive the guidance they need to improve their writing skills.

Harms passed away last month at 100 years old, leaving a legacy of dedication to improving the lives and futures of our youth through improving their educational environments.