Excellent Teachers and Powerful Writers Champion The Change Agent

It started with The Change Agent receiving scores of submissions through a handful of teachers at a community learning center in El Paso. “What is this powerhouse of an adult learning center?” I wondered. “What are the teachers doing to generate so much powerful writing?”

These teachers were (and still are) taking advantage of Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning (TCALL)’s statewide bulk subscription to The Change Agent. Like other teachers across Texas, they are bringing relevant, engaging student-written essays into their intermediate and advanced English classes and using them as models of writing, so their students can read content written by their peers and thus see themselves as potential writers as well. The strategy is working! Dozens of students at Ysleta Community Learning Center have been published over the last few years. Their words have reached thousands of students all over the country, inspiring them with their ideas and perseverance in the face of many obstacles. Their words are also framed and hung on the walls, greeting their fellow students and visitors with the reminder that all voices matter.

In February, I was blessed to spend time in El Paso with these teachers and others from nearby learning centers. Although I was there to share my knowledge, I quickly discovered that several of the teachers themselves had already developed trainings on how to use The Change Agent in the classroom. I know something about the depth and breadth of Change Agent resources, but these teachers are the true experts. They are in the classroom every day — using the materials, seeing what works, noticing what resonates with students, and developing creative and powerful extensions.

So we decided to collaborate on a statewide presentation, which we did in March 2025. Two teachers (Georgina Tena and Heidi Nava) and one student (Antonio Carreon) co-presented with me on what The Change Agent has to offer. The teachers shared their favorite articles, teaching strategies, lesson plans, and activities. The student read his article out loud and shared what it was like to engage in the writing process.

Something is happening in Texas, indeed! Teachers and students are not just incorporating The Change Agent into their teaching and learning, they are taking the lead on sharing this resource with others!

Are you a teacher or student using The Change Agent? We can collaborate or support you to achieve your goals. Contact us at changeagent@worlded.org to learn more.