Visiting Poet Project

Regionally recognized Black poet, Charlies Coe has been a frequent visitor to Newton North High School over the past four years, visiting approximately 12 classrooms and inspiring over 300 students per year. Charles’ impact as a poet and writer who can provide writing prompts, feedback, reflection, humor, and insight into student work is remarkable; many of my students’ writing has been transformed through Charles’ work. Since students of color represent 87% of my classes (Black, Latino, and Asian), my goal is to have Charles present a variety of writing prompts focused on my students’ identities, in order to have them create poetry and prose that help them see themselves as writers.