With every Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, our thoughts turn to building a better community and calls to service. The problems can seem intractable, and our contributions impotent. No greater example exists than in our public schools, now facing escalating challenges. Students confront new media, old prejudices and high stakes on a daily basis. Immense classes and thin support stretch resources to the breaking point. Urban students lose ground against suburban neighbors and global competitors. How can we attend to the overwhelming situation?

Last year, a group of El Cerrito public school parents and administrators sought new solutions to the question. We identified a highly successful program and worked to bring it to El Cerrito High School.  The WriterCoach Connection started in Berkeley 10 years ago, growing to serve students in Berkeley, Albany and Oakland. WCC trains volunteers to work one on one with students in English class, serving entire classes and, in other districts, whole grades. In the age of crowded classrooms, this half hour of personal attention can contribute greatly to a student's learning experience.

The WriterCoach Connection works by providing individual students with a personal coach as part of the curriculum. Volunteers undergo six hours of comprehensive training, preparing them to improve student writing and critical thinking skills.  For some students, coaches may become the first adults to pay uncritical attention to them. For others, the writing process becomes less mysterious. Writing improves. Bonds of trust form. Resistance thaws, and confidence builds.

Many elements contribute to WriterCoach's success. Coaching occurs as part of the class, not as an optional afterschool program. Every student participates, and generally is paired with the same coach throughout the year. Writing is teacher-assigned and is part of the curriculum. After a year's coaching, student writing improves an average 20 percent.

 Less measurable, yet of great importance, are the human aspects. Students meet routinely with adults deeply concerned with them as individuals. Coaches demonstrate that our community cares about student successes, and show a wonderful willingness to give. Volunteering one or two hours, 10 times a semester, coaches can make a big difference.

ECHS piloted the WriterCoach program this past fall with success. Several other West Contra Costa Unified School District schools, including Portola Middle School, want to implement the program. To meet the demand, we must quickly obtain many more coaches. Berkeley and Albany currently provide WriterCoaches to every 8th grade student. We hope the general El Cerrito community can provide similar levels of support. With 40 more coaches, ECHS can serve every 9th grade English student by next fall. With even a few more, Kennedy and Portola can also start programs.

Spaces remain for the two-part ECHS WriterCoach training happening at 6:30 p.m. on the next two Thursdays,  Jan. 20 and 27. Other trainings are available.  Register on the WriterCoach Connection website http://www.writercoachconnection.org. Coaching is an extremely personal and rewarding experience. We welcome coaches from all walks of life, like private school parents concerned about public education. Retired teachers make exceptional coaches, as do professional writers and civic minded people. Coaches from college can inspire younger students to strive.

 Show ECHS students that our community wants them to succeed. Let us work to see every child schooled in El Cerrito find a good path to the future. You can counteract the messages sent by cuts in budget and services, and economic-social dislocation faced by many West Contra Costa families. For more information, go to  http://www.writercoachconnection.org or email volunteer.ecwcc@gmail.com.