Jean C. Wolph – Writer & Learner for Life

By Kelsey Knott Photos By Matt Johnson 

“Writing has always been my central love. Be awake in your life, and notice and record what you see or hear people do.” Few people on this planet string words and people together as beautifully and brilliantly as Jean C. Wolph. As Educational Consultant, Professional Developer, Author, and Director Emerita of the Louisville Writing Project and the Kentucky Writing Project, Wolph’s work centers around the noble mission of unearthing the writer inside all of us while inspiring teachers with support and community along the way. 

A Saint Matthews native, Jean majored in journalism at Indiana University with dreams of being an education reporter, and she taught at Fairdale High and Oldham County Middle and High before adjuncting with UofL and finding the program that would redirect her life’s course. “What kept me in teaching was the summer I decided to try the Louisville Writing Project… The National Writing Project elevates teacher knowledge, treats them as professionals, and assumes lifelong learning. I found my people–the people who wanted to be good at this and know what research-based practices could help them grow.” 

Many teachers echo how this program saved their careers. Wolph built almost a 50-year teaching career, impacting countless educators and students of all ages across Kentucky counties through argument writing work that produced legendary results. “Learning the moves you can make as a writer demystifies writing for kids and adults. The NWP did a brilliant job of making the wires visible. The culture of writing in this state was unparalleled, and we were the models known nationally.” For a state often perceived negatively in the education realm, Wolph recalls KWP as a large, vibrant teacher community depending on one another for problem-solving, challenges, and growth. 

As state funds are now spent elsewhere, Wolph calls for a renaissance of interest in supporting teachers in their professional development. “It’s been my life. It’s been the richest experience I could ever have hoped for in a career. So many bright, wonderful teachers whose hearts are in the right place, trying their darndest to make a difference. It’s been a privilege to try to support them in any way. The problem teachers face is that everybody has been a student, so they think they know what teaching is. And they don’t–it’s one of the hardest jobs ever, managing constant change and so many personalities.” 

Wolph knows education will struggle as long as scores are prioritized over progress. “Too many administrators I’ve worked with focus so narrowly on test scores, but without a strong writing program, you’ll never have strong writing scores. The best preparation for any kind of writing test is lots of writing and instruction focused on generating ideas, exploring techniques, and developing a piece over time with feedback.” She has co-authored five professional books for teachers: You Have to Teach It Before You Can Test It, Mentor Texts That Spark Writing, Composing to Practice. 

Since retiring, Wolph still grips her pen firmly, helping others find and share their voices as well, whether in the writing group she leads for seniors or in libraries and classrooms with her own published stories from her writer’s notebooks. “If you give people a chance, no matter what age, they can write.” Her mentees have published children’s books, memoirs, poems, and more. Mostly, they’ve reignited something lost or found what they never believed they had, thanks to Wolph’s steadfast belief that we all have stories to tell. Reach out to her about school visits and more at jcwolph@gmail.com!