History of Young Authors
In August 1984, the Floyd County Education Forum, Inc., began as a request of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence in Kentucky schools. In August 1985, the School-Community Partnership began as a sub-committee of the Floyd County Education Forum.
The School-Community Partnership developed several goals for the 1985-86 school year. These goals included: an active resource center, an art contest to design School-Community Partnership logo, County Young Authors Program at elementary level, and a County Literary Magazine at high school level.
The School-Community Partnership (SCP), was chaired by Freddie Goble, initially, and later, he and Dolores Smith served as co-chairs. The efforts of these two people along with Carol Stumbo and Jean Rosenberg resulted in beginning the Young Authors Program for the children of Floyd County Schools. In May 1986, the SCP began meeting with the school administration and teachers to devise a plan for the Young Authors Program. On June 18, 1986, the Floyd County Board of Education voted to make the Young Authors Program a part of the language arts curriculum.
On August 12, 1986, by invitation of SCP, a second grade teacher, Dorethea Bensenhaven, from Jefferson County came for a day of training about the Young Authors’ Program. ALL elementary teachers had one hour with her, and the SCP people helped by handing out supplies. The SCP provided mat board for book backs and awards for this program. The SCP got a local TV station to televise one session of this training in order to develop community interest. After a school year of learning how to write, in the spring of 1987, the school district’s Young Authors Program had 3,226 participants, 282 room winners, 147 school-wide winners and 43 county winners. Awards were certificates, ribbons and savings bonds. Judges were retired teachers, high school teachers, and community people.
In 1987, Mrs. Thelma Spears, a retired teacher, became the first county coordinator (working half-time) for Young Authors and the high school literary publication. In 1992, Ms. Patricia Watson, an English teacher at J. H. Allen Central High, was selected as first district writing coordinator. Along with Ms. Watson’s duties was the work as the coordinator of Young Authors and the high school literary magazine. Ms. Watson served in this role until 1999, when she was selected as a Highly Skilled Educator for the Kentucky Department of Education and was on loan from the school district for three years. Mrs. Debbie Daniels became the district writing coordinator and coordinated Young Authors work, 2000-2002. Ms. Watson returned to the school district and resumed the work as coordinator for writing programs; thus, again, leading the work with Young Authors’ program until her retirement in 2014. Mrs. Pam Caudill became the coordinator of the Young Authors program in 2014 and continued until the pandemic of 2020 when schools closed. Ms. (now Dr.) Patricia Watson returned to work in the district in 2021 and has continued the work through 2024. There were no student district programs in 2020 – 2022 due to schools, first, being closed and then re-organizing from the pandemic. The 2023 Young Author program included ALL school winners with a total of 136 school winners and 36 district winners.
During these years of students writing, publishing, and having a showcase of student books, the Wilkinson-Stumbo Convention Center at Jenny Wiley State Park in Prestonsburg was filled with students’ bound books and beautiful displays from each school. Ribbons and banners were proudly draped on each table to identify schools. At first, the School Community Partnership provided a $25 US Savings Bond to each district winner; later, that award changed to tee shirts with a writing imprint and slogan; now, the district award is a medallion styled ribbon and frameable certificate.
As use of technologically increased, Dr. Watson initiated an e-book format for the Young Authors books with submissions in 2012. Watson believed this allowed student publishing to be current with the movement towards increased use of technology. Printed books continued; yet, e-book formats became more common each year. There were no district Young Author programs from 2020 – 2022. However, all Young Authors 2023 submissions were e-books; the 2024 submissions will be e-books. Young Authors’ winning books are chosen by a group of judges from the Big Sandy Community and Technical College and some community volunteers.
At Dr. Watson’s request, the Young Authors Program is having a district webpage built. It is currently a work in progress. District winning books are being stored electronically to form a Young Authors’ Library. With the use of technology via the Book Creator program, pages will turn. This program will allow the students and teachers to have examples of Young Authors books to read and to share as examples of what their books might be like. Also, the web page will allow the district to archive books for years to come.
One important feature of the Young Authors Program has been to place a spotlight on a published author who has come to each district celebration event. Some of the guest authors include: George Ella Lyons, Michelle Greene; Anne Shelby; Paul Brett Johnson, Debbie Hodson, Eloise Delzer, Linda T. Elliott, Ruby M. Robinson, Kathy May, Dr. Charles Whitaker, and others.
One important feature of the Young Authors Program has been to place a spotlight on a published author who has come to each district celebration event. Some of the guest authors include: George Ella Lyons, Michelle Greene; Anne Shelby; Paul Brett Johnson, Debbie Hodson, Eloise Delzer, Linda T. Elliott, Ruby M. Robinson, Kathy May, Dr. Charles Whitaker, and others.