Thanks to a grant from Parents as Education Partners (PEP), Schuylerville’s 4th grade students had the unique opportunity to meet Joseph Bruchac, a celebrated poet, author, and Native American storyteller. Bruchac, a proud citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, uses his heritage as inspiration for his writing. Through his stories and poems, he works to share and preserve the voices and traditions of Native peoples across the country.
During his visit at Schuylerville, Bruchac captivated students with stories, readings, and wisdom drawn from both his poetry and his life experiences. He encouraged young writers to see poetry as a way to remember important moments, connect with people they know, and make writing worth reading through revision.
“If you want to write, write every day,” he told the students. “And remember, revision makes writing worth reading.”
Bruchac also shared his musical talents by playing the Native American flute and revealed to students that he also holds two black belts in martial arts. Throughout the course of his career, Bruchac has authored more than 180 books. His numerous accolades include the Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, a National Endowment for the Arts writing fellowship, a Rockefeller Humanities Fellowship, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers’ Circle of the Americas.
“A good story and a good book for kids has two elements to it,” said Bruchac. “One is that it’s entertaining. But two, it teaches. You can learn a lesson from a story, you can learn a lesson from a poem, you can learn a lesson from a book. And often you don’t recognize what that lesson is at the time you read it or hear it. In fact, a funny story—earlier this year, I was at a school and there was a sixth-grade teacher who came up to me and said, ‘Mr. Bruchac, when I was in fifth grade, you came to my class and told a story I never forgot. I still remember that story.’ She paused and said, ‘And I just figured out the lesson last week.’”
Bruchac generously donated copies of his books to the school—ensuring his words and teachings will continue to inspire students for years to come.
“We extend a heartfelt thanks to PEP for making this memorable and meaningful experience possible,” said Schuylerville Elementary School Principal Stacy Marzullo. “And an additional thank you to Mr. Bruchac for sharing his stories, music, and passion for poetry with our 4th graders.”