A few years ago a mentor told me something that changed the way I think about my career: "The most effective way to make an impact is to build community roots in a single place." I've been pretty ineffective at taking her advice over the years.
From growing up in Ohio, to college in Pennsylvania, to nonprofit work and a first round of graduate school in Missoula, to another round of graduate school in Boston, back to work and a third round of graduate school in Missoula, I've been traveling throughout most of my professional life. I've appreciated what I've learned during my travels, associating my goals with particular senses of place.
But nothing compares to Montana. I moved here two weeks after graduating from college, to work on the "nerd crew" (GPS data collection) through Missoula's Montana Conservation Corps branch. What a way to be introduced to Montana's backcountry--going on 10-day hitches with strangers into wilderness research areas! As you can imagine, I fell in love with Montana quickly. Not just with its land, but with its people, too.
Unlike my future husband (whom I met through MCC), I decided I wasn't tough enough for multiple seasons in the backcountry. Instead, I turned my focus to community work. I earned a Master's in Sociology from University of Montana and taught as an adjunct for several years. I loved teaching but was heartbroken whenever I heard a student (any age from 18 to 65) say, "I can't write," which was paired with internalized ideas about lack of intelligence. As writing coaches we know that belief is false! Writing is a learned skill, not an innate marker of intelligence. I knew I wanted to address this kernel of doubt in students, but I wasn't sure how to go about doing that.
After a stint in Boston which led to another master's degree--Children's Literature--and a short career in publishing, my husband and I returned to Missoula. We unexpectedly lost my brother-in-law, and in our grief we had one of those, “Who do we want to be in this lifetime?” moments. We realized that our greatest sense of home was in Montana. We wanted to be wrapped up in community once again.
I returned to UM's Sociology Department as an adjunct and advisor. But the "I can't write" messages from students just grew stronger. I decided to shift into K-12 work to get at the root of those painful and limiting ideas.
I quickly found a job posting for the Writing Coaches of Montana Executive Director position. In my self-centeredness, I thought: "This job was made for me!” K-12 experience? Check. A love of writing and teaching writing? Check. Nonprofit administrative experience? Check. But of course, there are endless ways to implement the vision of WCM because the heart of our organization is broad and vital and profound: “We envision that all Montana students think critically and communicate effectively through writing.” The first word in that sentence is the most important. “We” signals that WCM is greater than any one person; it is inherently collaborative, depending on teachers, administrators, community members, board volunteers, students, and a small but mighty staff to pull off the impact it has offered for over thirty years.
I would have stayed in the ED position for a long time if there hadn't been epic changes in our family. Having kids has a funny way of changing your perspective...on everything. Enter Dublin, our daughter born in spring of 2022. And then our son Mason, who joined the family in July 2024. As much as they adore their Montana “aunts” and “uncle”–including WCM staff and board members–there simply isn’t anything compared to the way Dublin’s eyes light up when she gets to play with cousins back in the Midwest. That’s why our family will be relocating to Michigan in the summer of 2025.
Working for WCM has been the greatest joy and privilege of my professional career. I love working with a diverse array of stakeholders–educators, volunteers, students, donors, grantors–to support student literacy. Because of this organization, the “we” part of supporting public education has become embedded in my professional identity.
Hence in August 2025, I’ll be starting as a doctoral student in Michigan State University’s Curriculum, Instruction, & Teacher Education program. I can’t think of a greater honor than building on the lessons I’ve learned through WCM. Teachers are the backbone of public education, and I’m excited to help support the next generation of public servants learn how to care for all of our students, including the most vulnerable. All of our kids should be able to think, “I can write. I’m smart. I’m worthy.”
I have no doubt that Montana will always feel like home, and I’ll miss it regularly. Luckily, I have unwavering faith in the community work Montanans accomplish, including the next iteration of WCM. The organization was doing amazing work before I joined, and it will continue to do so under new leadership. If you know anyone who might be interested in directing a very special literacy organization, please share this job posting with them.
Here’s to the work ahead.
