This Man "Write" Here, @othello88, Doing @cwpfairfield @writingproject Proud. "Flipping the Script: Reorienting the Classroom through Hip Hop Pedagogy"

I remember vividly when Dave Wooley did his teacher interview for the summer leadership institute at Fairfield University. Julie and I were sitting in my office, and she asked him if he could perform some of his work for us and he broke into bars about 9/11, his father, and the legacy that put him on the path he currently travels. We were awed, tears were shed, and we realized, "Wow. We're going to be able to work with Dave Wooley."

Our summer with Dave proved magical, and he created a demonstration on hip hop, wrote a piece called Walls inspired by artist Rick Shaefer, and quickly jumped in to lead literacy labs, including Project Citizen where we kicked it off with a NWP Youth Camp grant. In fact, William King, Jessica Baldizon, and I celebrated his work for special piece in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. 

I learned, too, that Dave was a neighbor, great cook, and father of four. We quickly became friends, well brothers, and I knew instantly I was becoming a better man because of him. It's hard not to hold him in the utmost regard. 

Yesterday, Dave presented to our summer institute, and I was beyond impressed as he once again had teachers filling their writer's notebooks with facts, ideas, possibilities, and power - he truly lives the passion he offers in his presentations. When Dave talks about hip hop and pedagogy, you enter a magical universe of history, globalization, politics, and art. The teachers were beyond impressed, and after he left, everyone wanted copies of his presentation, contact information, and opportunities to work with him more. He delivers knowledge with the same flow he produces verse and music. It is spectacular.

I'm also realizing that the rise in the work with do in Connecticut, building on teacher leadership, student workshops, young adult books, and performances, Dave has always on board and in the lead. 

This is a TGIF post (I'm tired, but healthy too), that really should be TGFD - Thank God for Dave. His work, brilliance, thinking, knowledge, teaching, curriculum, life-trajectory, fatherhood, husbandry, and friendship are something all of us can learn from.

So, here's to Dave - we are so, so lucky to have him in our network.