“Change Sings” Inspires Us To Be Change-Makers

By Julie Addessi, Assistant Principal

In February, Worley Elementary School welcomed our superintendent, Mr. Talbert, and several other friends in education as guest readers in each of our classrooms. Our special visitors shared a wonderful story with students called “Change Sings,” a story written by Amanda Gorman, an award-winning writer and a graduate of Harvard University.

In addition to Mr. Talbert, we welcomed Deidre Stokes Davis, Elena Monahan, Jolinda Seiple, Gary Kandel, Lori Nickels, Christen Sedmock, Jason Dixon, David Kaminski, Kim Brown, Scott Russ, Eric Resnick, and Charla Malone.

All of our students were able to connect with district leaders, and the visit left a lasting impression on our Student Leadership Team who served as ambassadors for the school as they escorted our friends. Students continue to talk about this experience as they had the opportunity to make personal connections with district change agents.

In addition to Change Sings, Gorman has written for the New York Times and has published three other books. Gorman was selected by President Biden to read her original poem “The Hill We Climb” for his Inauguration on January 20, 2021, making her the youngest poet to have served in this role. Gorman is the first poet commissioned to write a poem to be read at the Super Bowl and has performed at many prominent venues, including the Obama White House, the Library of Congress, Lincoln Center, and on CBS This Morning. She has received a Genius Grant from OZY Media, as well as recognition from Scholastic Inc., YoungArts, the Glamour magazine College Women of the Year Awards, and the Webby Awards. Gorman is also the founder of a non-profit organization called One Pen One Page, which runs a youth writing and leadership program.

According to Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. The girl in this story calls on others to use their strengths and abilities to make a difference in the world. As she leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes, big or small, in the world, in their communities, and most importantly, in themselves.

Each classroom was gifted a copy of Change Sings. By sharing this story and its message, these adults have not only helped us to inspire students with a love of reading but also to understand that they too have the power to be change-makers and that their voice matters.