Michelle Custer

A poorly written resume can be the factor that determines whether or not a person gets a job. In order to better prepare her students for the types of writing they will have to perform in the workplace, Custer designed "Write to Work", which will be implemented as part of the curriculum for her Garden Spot High School Technical English II course. Currently, there is no formal curriculum in place at the school which addresses the writing needs of students who want to enter the workplace after graduation. Through this course, up to six sessions of students ages 12-18 will gain the skills needed to become effective workplace writers. The program will provide students with an opportunity to learn about the types of writing used in their career of interest, by creating a career plan that includes developing a resume, completing a job application, writing a cover letter, and producing a variety of professional documents like proposals, brochures and newsletters. Students will present their final career plan and writing samples to a group of teachers and administrators for evaluation. Custer resides in Denver.