TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tuscaloosa City Schools (TCS) kicked off the 2013 – 2014 school year with Institute Day, which included a speech from Erin Gruwell, whose teaching style inspired the 2007 film “Freedom Writers.” In the film, Gruwell was portrayed by actress Hilary Swank.
Gruwell described how she overcame her struggles teaching at-risk high school students in Long Beach, Calif. during the mid-1990s to the nearly 1,400 TCS employees in attendance. She said she encouraged her students to write and share their life stories to help them understand how to write their own endings.
“Today is a celebration of our profession, our schools and the 10,000 kids getting ready to come back,” Gruwell said.
The event marked the first day of school for many TCS employees, including teachers, who are undergoing professional development training and preparing their classrooms until students return.
Gruwell is founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving education by mentoring students and teachers.
Tuscaloosa City Schools’ students return Aug. 19.
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