Ellen Smith Alden: Writing the Human Record

The Write Stuff - Virginia
March 2015

We’re back!  I know it’s been a while, but I am excited to share this latest interview with you.  Prior to the winter break, I was able to sit down in December with veteran educator and my good friend, Ellen Smith Alden.  And while I’m hoping she will forgive the long overdue posting of our interview, I know you will enjoy her wit, passion and expertise about the writing practice in her classroom.  Ellen currently teaches 7th grade history and English here in Virginia, and she is a certified NVWP consultant.  We met many years ago while working at a middle school in Stafford County, and I have always admired Ellen’s tenacity, sharp intellect, and evident concern for the kids in her classroom, both as students and as future adults.  She has the utmost respect for them, as is evident in the ways she teaches and in her consistent commitment to bringing them meaningful curriculum that will serve them their entire lives.

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Photo by Ellen Smith Alden - Ellen and her students celebrate a great year of writing.

Stephenie Fellinger and Riverside Young Writers: Words with Friends

Front Porch Magazine
March 2013 (pg. 26)

Friday. 2:30 p.m. English teacher Stephanie Fellinger opens the door for a group of students eager to write. She’s been opening this door every Friday afternoon for the past five years and facilitates further outreach to young writers in surrounding counties. She explains, “My involvement with the Northern Virginia Writing Project taught me that writers become writers when they write every day. I wanted to bring my kids to the point of thinking of themselves as writers, because it opens up a new world for them.”

RIverside Young Writers
Northern Virginia Writing Project

Pocket Aces: A Sure Bet

Front Porch Magazine
March 2012 (pg. 28)

Downing Guinness and dunking pretzels into Cheddar Ale Dip, the packed house at Colonial Tavern peruses the laminated playlists provided by the talent. Singer Theresa Gaddy poises lithely atop a stool on stage, her only tell the bouncing right boot crossed casually over her left leg. Twisting the tuners at the head of his guitar, Jeff Leibowitz casually eyes the crowd, smiling. Finally, Gaddy shows her hand, “The way it works is, we’ll play a couple songs, and you guys should have lists in front of you. When we stop playing, just shout out what you want to hear, and we’ll write it down and definitely get to it.” Like bullets, Leibowitz is all in with Alanis Morisette’s “Hand in My Pocket,” and Gaddy calls, electrifying the audience with her clear, powerful voice.