MELISSA AUSUA

Grand Rapids: High School

Melissa Ausúa began her career in public education 19 years ago as a paraprofessional, spent the bulk of those years teaching English at the middle school, high school, and college levels, and now serves as a Promise Neighborhood School Renewal Specialist in the southeast quadrant of Grand Rapids Public Schools. She obtained her B.A. in Secondary Education from GVSU and her M.A. in Literacy Studies from WMU and began working with the Lake Michigan Writing Project in 2015. In her free time, she enjoys being an aunt, going to the movies, getting in a good workout, accidentally falling asleep with a good book, being really bad at pickleball, and trying to figure out crochet.

KIM BOLT

Grand Rapids: Elementary

Kim has been an educator for over 25 years, teaching every subject and age group from 8-year-olds to college students. She holds two master’s degrees: one in Secondary Education from Grand Valley State University (Michigan), and one from Queens University (North Carolina) with a fiction emphasis. She has led a number of GVSU summer writing camps, most of them at the middle school level, but is now in her third summer leading a 3-5 camp. At home, she has a husband, three children and one dog (whom she spoils more than her children). When life becomes too much, she finds enjoyment in escaping by running and reading.

ERINN CALEY

Allendale: High School

Grand Rapids: Middle School

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. 

CLAUSENE CARLSON

Allendale: Elementary

I retired after 32 years of teaching in June 2024. I started my teaching career in Kearsley Community Schools as a middle school resource room teacher before going to Hamilton Community Schools. In Hamilton, I taught second grade for one year and elementary resource room for 28 years. During my years in Hamilton, I served on the building MERT Team and School Leadership Team. As a retiree, I have switched substitute teaching in West Michigan schools. 

I first participated with the LMWP institute in 2017. Since then I have attended many of the summer oppoortunites. Writing has become a source of relaxation, joy, and reflection. I look forward to the opportunity to write with my young fellow writers this summer.

AMANDA FISCHER

Allendale: Middle School

Bio coming!

KATIE JARVIS

Grand Rapids: Elementary

Mrs. Jarvis earned her BA degree in English from Central College in Pella, IA. After a few years working in marketing and human resources, she earned her Teaching Certification and Master's Degree in Reading from GVSU. During the summer of 2016, she had the pleasure of becoming a part of the Lake Michigan Writing Project. Mrs. Jarvis has been an English teacher in the Hamilton Community School district for the past 19 years -- 13 of those years with 8th graders, and the last 6 years with seniors teaching Senior English, and AP Literature and Comp. Her students know that teaching writingis clearly her passion, and she views all of her students as writers, challenging them to see themselves in the same way. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, exploring the outdoors with her husband, and watching their four teenagers participate in sports.

KALEY JOHNSON

Allendale: Middle School

Kaley Johnson currently teaches 9th grade ELA and AP Psychology at Northview High School (but used to teach 7/8 for 5 years at Wyoming Jr High so she can still keep up with your Middle Schoolers!). 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 the community and fellowship. When she's not working with student council or fellow staff members on varying projects, Kaley Johnson enjoys an exciting game night with family and friends, playing with her cat Taco, and binge-watching the latest Netflix/Hulu dramas (or rewatching Hamilton again). 

JEFF LARSEN

Grand Rapids: Middle 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

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.

ANN OOSTERHOUSE

Writing Camp Coordinator

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.

TRACEY WEBERG

Allendale: Elementary

Mrs. Weberg is excited to be a part of LMWP this summer! It has been nearly ten years since she participated as a writer! She looks forward to hearing the stories the kids write, as well as writing alongside them. Over the past thirty-odd years, Mrs. Weberg has taught all grades from 6 to 12 in a variety of English-based classes, including American Literature, Creative Writing, Literacy Lab, Drama, and Public Speaking. Currently, Mrs. Weberg teaches sixth-grade English at The 5/6 Building @ Georgetown in Hudsonville. She holds a BA from Central Michigan University and a Master's of Secondary Education from Grand Valley State University. When not teaching, Mrs. Weberg enjoys spending time with her handsome husband, their three daughters and their significant others, and the bosses of their home, Reo and Jinga! Mrs. Weberg enjoys reading, writing, practicing yoga, gardening, and traveling.