This is a Movement: Owning Our Stories, Writing Our Endings

Facing past trauma takes courage. By choosing to write, we at Scriber Lake High School are owning our stories--struggles with mental illness, addiction, and abuse both physical and mental--while granting others courage to do the same. Instead of allowing the past to define who we are, we are determining our own futures and providing hope for others struggling to do the same.

These are our stories for the Movement. What's yours?

Marjie Bowker has been teaching English and History somewhere in the world for the past twenty years: China, Norway, and Vietnam, in addition to her regular spot at Scriber. She is a co-founder of the Scriber Lake Writing Program and is the author of creating a Success Culture: Transforming Our Schools One Question at a Time and two curriculum guides: They Absolutely Want to Write: Teaching the Heart and Should of Narrative Writing and Hippie Boy Teaching Guide: Transforming Lives through Personal Storytelling.

Shalyn Ensz is a former Scriber student who learned how to use an Oxford comma before she learned to walk. Since joining the writing program she has been Student of the Month, Edmonds Daybreaker's Hidden Winner, Lynnwood Rotary's Youth Challenge Award nominee and winner, among other academic acknowledgments. Before and after her early graduation, she has participated in and led dozens of speaking events beyond the Edmonds community and has been recognized by multiple newspapers and magazines for her work in both this year's and last year's book. She hopes to become a fiction novelist as well as follow Marjie's footsteps teaching English in Norway.

David Zwaschka has taught English over the last 25 years in Alaska, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Washington, with moments of administration between. His three years at Scriber have been a revelation; he has enjoyed his work with the school's terrific students and dedicated staff. Dave enjoys running, reading, hiking in the North Cascades, and not having any pets. He and his wife, Claire, have two daughters.