More than 100 San Bernardino County youths can now call themselves authors.
Students from sixth through 12th grade in the county’s alternative education programs recently teamed up to write eight children’s books through a special program.
The initiative’s goal is “fostering literacy, leadership and representation in literature,” states a news release from the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools office, which runs the alternative schools.
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Representatives of the Texas-based IMPACTtruth, Inc. guided student authors as they tapped their life experiences to create the books. The company blended its programs to focus on “empowering students to share their own stories in print,” according to IMPACTtruth.
Each book is titled for its theme:
- “Courage”
- “Empathy”
- “Gratitude”
- “Integrity”
- “Perseverance”
- “Resilience”
- “Responsibility”
- “Respect”
The new authors appeared Monday, May 5, at a book signing event called Beyond the Books at the Dorothy Inghram Learning Center in San Bernardino.
Counting last year’s six books, the program has now led to 14 children’s books, the release states.
“It has been incredible to see our students transform into published authors,” San Bernardino County Superintendent Ted Alejandre said in the release. “This program demonstrates how creative partnerships can nourish potential in our at-promise youth while addressing critical needs like literacy and representation in children’s literature.”
Students at eight community schools took part. They are:
- Barbara Phelps County Community School
- Bob Murphy County Community School
- Chaffey North County Community School
- David Stine Chaffey West County Community School
- Tri-City County Community School
- Victorville Education Center
- Vision Community School
- Yucca Valley Community School
