DENTON, Texas — A collaboration between the University of North Texas (UNT) and Denton Independent School District (ISD) is giving local middle school students a chance to enhance their writing skills and explore creative expression. The Writers in the School (WITS) program, launched at Calhoun Middle School in the fall of 2018, pairs UNT creative writing doctoral students with seventh-graders in the school’s gifted and talented program, known as “EXPO.”
Founded by Corey Marks, a Distinguished Teaching Professor and Director of the UNT Creative Writing program, WITS offers students a hands-on opportunity to engage with writing in a supportive and creative environment. The initiative draws inspiration from a similar program at the University of Houston, aiming to make creative writing more accessible to younger students.
“WITS allows strong writers to work with public school students, giving them training and opportunities they might not otherwise have,” Marks said. “It demystifies the writing process and fosters a connection with UNT, making it more familiar to them.”
Running parallel to the Denton ISD academic calendar, WITS introduces a new class of students each fall. The year-long program includes book discussions, writing exercises, and peer work-sharing sessions. The culmination of the program is a book launch event, where the students’ writings are published in an anthology, and participants present their work at a local bookstore.
The program’s instructor, Heather Myers, a UNT doctoral candidate in creative writing, emphasized the importance of providing students with the freedom to write without the pressure of assignments. “If they gain a positive association with writing, they can carry that forward into high school and college,” Myers said.
Amy Taylor, a Calhoun Middle School teacher, echoed this sentiment, highlighting how the creative and flexible nature of WITS helps students engage with their imaginations. “This age group is still in that play stage of life. Writing helps them define who they are as individuals,” Taylor said.
Former WITS instructor Madison Garber, who taught from 2022 to 2024, noted the mutual growth that both she and her students experienced through the program. “WITS changed my approach as an instructor. The relationships I built with my students allowed me to grow alongside them,” Garber said.
Through this unique partnership, UNT and Denton ISD are fostering creativity, self-expression, and a love for writing among middle school students, helping them build skills that could last a lifetime.
