Every Child Has a Story
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photo by shane darby
Area students published a book through a 12-week program at Washington Community Development Center
By Madeline Haak
Nine local students can now say they are authors, thanks to a project overseen by Tina Jones, a teacher at Kilpatrick Academy of Public Service and the founder of the Four States Urban Development Project, a nonprofit organization providing after-school and summertime programs for children. A subset of the organization, the Read and Rise program provides literacy tutoring for first- through seventh-grade students at the Washington Community Development Center.
Read and Rise started as an initiative to build stronger literacy skills and has grown to include the opportunity for students to write their own book, thanks to sponsorship from the Texas Pioneer Foundation. Local children’s author Cynthia Tyous was recruited to guide the kids through the process of illustrating, writing, and publishing their book, all of which occurred over a 12-week period. The process was designed to show them how they can bring their ideas to life and create something meaningful.
“We took literacy to the next level, moving beyond reading to creative expression and taking ownership of their words,” Tina said. “It reinforced reading and writing skills while boosting their confidence and the belief that their voices really do matter. Seeing them become published authors was a powerful way to show them the real-world impact of strong literacy skills.”
The nine student writers—Amiyah Clayton, Ameerah Cornelius, Princess Davenport, Kaitlyn Dupree, Brooklyn Guidry, Daija Kendrix, Devin Kendrix, Zaniya Kendrix, and Janyla Morgan—are a range of ages, from third grade to seventh grade. They titled their 32-page book A Friend Like You and Me. It is about friendship, kindness, and navigating differences. The book was independently published in March and can be purchased on Amazon.
“It’s important to give our students the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. Every child has a story. Every child has a voice. And every child has a dream waiting to be fulfilled.”
Tina’s goal for leading the project was to help her students build confidence and discover an outlet for self-expression—while also learning life skills such as planning, editing, collaboration, and seeing a project through to completion. “During the writing process, I saw that our students had powerful stories but often lacked the confidence to share them,” she said. “Publishing a book gave them a place to express their voices, see their ideas in print, and experience the pride of completing a project they could share with others.”
Local children’s author Cynthia Tyous helped facilitate the process of writing and publishing the book. submitted photo
As an educator, Tina realizes the importance literacy can play in her students’ futures, which is why it concerns her that only about one third of students nationally are reading proficiently. She also recognizes that literacy can have a profound impact on their lives now, as she was a child who used reading to feel a sense of adventure, sneaking a flashlight under the covers at night just to be able to finish whatever story she was wrapped up in. “I believe that the ability to read well opens doors of opportunity to succeed in life,” she said. “I grew up in a hardworking family that didn’t have much materially, but we always had books: a dictionary, encyclopedias, and classic novels. That childhood experience showed me that, if you teach a child to read, you give them hope and the ability to dream bigger.”
Seeing the students adapt and develop their ideas was exciting for Tina. However, her proudest moment was seeing her granddaughter become one of the students whose work was published in the book. “She used to dislike writing, but with the support of excellent teachers at Kilpatrick Elementary, and through the publishing project at Washington Community Development Center, she has developed a genuine love for it,” Tina said.
Her granddaughter wasn’t the only student who felt accomplished after finishing the project, and this is why Tina hopes the book publication workshop will become an annual program. “The students were so excited with the finished product. Sending a copy to the Library of Congress made it feel really official and important to them. They’ll get their own copies at our book-signing event later this year,” she said. “It was such a powerful experience for the students that we’d love to give more groups the same opportunity to become published authors.”
Russ and Holly Nelson volunteered with the We Are Washington publishing class. submitted photos
Tina has worked hard to expand her organization’s efforts, securing grants to help fund additional projects—not only creative literacy activities but also STEAM projects and other hands-on learning opportunities. Remaining funds from the Texas Pioneer Foundation’s grant will go toward upcoming projects. “This fall, students will participate in a poetry slam and other creative projects with TRAHC,” she explained. “We hope to have them publish a poetry book. We are also planning monthly visits to the Four States Ag Center to explore agriculture, from soybeans to dairy to pollinators. Students will also write an expository book on their journey.”
As a result of her work through the Four States Urban Development Project, Tina was recognized as one of 16 national Afterschool Ambassadors by the Afterschool Alliance. “The program continues to be mindful of the needs of our community by always staying free for families while helping more students close learning gaps and build confidence in their learning,” she said.
Tina hopes all who read A Friend Like You and Me will understand the significance of the students’ collective undertaking. “I hope readers see that every child has a story worth telling,” she said. “It’s important to give our students the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. Every child has a story. Every child has a voice. And every child has a dream waiting to be fulfilled.”