ASHLEY BARTLEY

Grand Rapids: Middle School

Ms. Bartley is an 11th-grade English teacher, but she is excited to work with middle schoolers this summer through the writing project! She got her bachelor's degree in Language, Literature, and Writing for Secondary Education from Eastern Michigan University and her master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Aquinas College. She began her teaching career in Charleston, South Carolina, but soon returned to the great state of Michigan to continue her career. She has been teaching at East Kentwood High School for six years. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys practicing yoga, reading anything she can get her hands on, and relaxing on the shores of Lake Michigan. She is passionate about equity in the educational system, young adult literature, technology in the classroom, and The Great Gatsby. Her biggest goal in life is to own a mini-pig. She looks forward to a summer full of writing and imagination.

KIM BOLT

Allendale: Elementary

An LMWP alumna of 2005, Kim has taught in almost all areas of education: juvenile detention, private high school, charter middle school, and online education (before it became popular in Covid!). Currently she is an adjunct professor in the English Department at Grand Rapids Community College. She holds a masters of education from Grand Valley State University and another masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (fiction) from Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has led a number of GVSU summer writing camps, most of them at the middle school level, but last year she taught her first elementary school camp and loved it so much she’s back to lead another 3-5 camp this summer. At home she attempts to mother three kids and one dog. When it all becomes too much, she reads, writes and runs to escape the world. 

HEATHER BREWER

Grand Rapids: Elementary

She has taught English and French at Spring LakeMiddle School for 16 years. She earned herbachelor's degree in English and French Educationfrom Northern Michigan University and a master'sdegree in Secondary Education Curriculum andInstruction from Marygrove College. As a TeacherConsultant with the Lake Michigan Writing Project, she has led several Advanced Institutes in writingfor teachers as well as summer writing camps forstudents. Working with students in writing campinspires her as a teacher and writer. Personally, sheenjoys writing memoirs, poetry, and short storiesabove all else. In her free time, she enjoys reading,playing with her two young children, and spendingtime with her husband.

ERINN CALEY

Allendale: MS/HS

Ms. Caley is so excited to write with you this summer! She is currently in her 17th year of teaching, and has taught every age from kindergarten through 12th graders. Though her teaching career has taken her overseas and from rural Indiana to urban Massachusetts, for the last eleven years, she’s been happily teaching writing courses at Byron Center High School. She holds an undergraduate degree from Huntington University and  Masters degree from GVSU, where she trained as a K-12 literacy specialist. She’s also enjoyed being involved with the Lake Michigan Writing Project since 2015. Outside of her professional life, Ms. Caley loves to write and read and bake. Her greatest delight, though, is spending time with her 4th grade daughter and two mischievous cats. 

KATIE JARVIS

Allendale: Elementary

Mrs. Jarvis earned her BA degree in English fromCentral College in Pella, IA. After a few yearsworking in marketing and human resources, sheearned her Teaching Certification and Master'sDegree in Reading from GVSU. During the summerof 2016, she had the pleasure of becoming a part ofthe Lake Michigan Writing Project. Mrs. Jarvis hasbeen an English teacher in the Hamilton CommunitySchool district for the past 19 years -- 13 of thoseyears with 8th graders, and the last 6 years withseniors teaching Senior English, and AP Literatureand Comp. Her students know that teaching writingis clearly her passion, and she views all of herstudents as writers, challenging them to seethemselves in the same way. In her free time, sheenjoys reading, running, exploring the outdoors withher husband, and watching their four teenagersparticipate in sports.

JEFF LARSEN

Grand Rapids: High School

Jeff Larsen teaches anything and everything at Lowell High School, where he began his teaching career nearly 30 years ago. He is on the AP Literature Exam Reading leadership team, and is an adjunct instructor at Grand Rapids Community College. A proud member of the 2003 Lake Michigan Writing Project cohort, he has degrees from Eastern Kentucky University (BA in Broadcasting), Grand Valley State University (BA in English), and Michigan State University (MA in K-12 Leadership). Outside of the classroom, Mr. Larsen loves spending time with his family, going to concerts, and reading ALL the books!

LAURA KOZMINSKI

Write Your College Essay

Laura Kozminski teaches writing composition at Grand Rapids Community College, but previously taught high school English in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She earned her B.A. in English Literature from Northwestern University and her M.A. in Secondary Education from the University of Michigan. She is a proud alumni of the Lake Michigan Writer's Program, 2018. She loves teaching writing and enjoys writing her own poetry and short stories. 

DUSTIN MORLEY

Allendale: MS/HS

Grand Rapids: High School

Dustin Morley currently teaches English courses including Creative Writing at Jenison High School. He has been teaching since 2011. He graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2011 and became part of the Lake Michigan Writing Project (LMWP) during the summer of 2016. He was part of a group from the LMWP that presented at the National Conference for Teachers of English in St. Louis during the fall of 2017. He has also been part of the Literacy Network through the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District since 2016. A few of his favorite things besides teaching include going on adventures with his family, reading, writing, playing strategy games, being outside, baking anything with chocolate, and drinking coffee.

KALEY OBNEY

Grand Rapids: Middle School

Kaley Obney currently teaches 7th and 8th grade English at Wyoming Junior High School. She attended Hope College with an English and Psychology Secondary Education degree in 2018 and went to high school at Forest Hills Eastern. She became part of the Lake Michigan Writing Project in the summer of 2021 and fell in love with it. When she's not working with student council or fellow staff members on varying projects, Kaley Obney enjoys relaxing with friends and family, playing with her cats Taco and Belle, and either binge-watching Netflix or writing poetry. 

ANN OOSTERHOUSE

Grand Rapids: Elementary

Ann Oosterhouse currently teaches AP English Language and Composition Grandville High School. She holds degrees in Professional Writing, English Language and Literature, and also a Master's of Secondary Education from Grand Valley State University. Ann has been teaching for seventeen years and has been working with the Lake Michigan Writing Project since the summer of 2015. She loves helping young writers find their voices and also realize that the English language is more accessible than they think.

ERIC TOWER

Write Your College Essay

Eric Tower is the English department chair at Grandville High School in Grandville, MI.  A 26-year teaching veteran, he has taught freshman composition and literature and several upper-level electives, including Mythology, Science Fiction and Fantasy Lit, Shakespeare, and a college essay writing class. He has also been a teacher consultant with the National Writing Project for 19 years. His conference presenting credits include the Michigan Reading Association, the Kent ISD Literacy Coaches Network, the Michigan College Access Network, and the West Michigan National College Fair. When not teaching and presenting, Mr. Tower can be found directing high school theatre, shopping with his wife and calling it "date night", driving his three children to their school activities, walking his dog Scout, or falling asleep on the couch when he should be doing one of those other things.