California Poets in the Schools (CPITS)
CPITS has been in existence since 1964, helping students throughout California recognize and celebrate their own creativity, intuition, and intellectual curiosity through the creative writing process. CPITS provides students with a multicultural community of trained, published poets who bring their experience and love for their craft into the classroom. There are approximately 150 poet-teachers in the program, and I am happy to count myself among them.
I’ve been with the CPITS program for 16 years and love bringing the possibilities of creative expression through poetry into the classroom. I’ve worked with children ranging in age from 5-18 and started offering individual and small-group writing sessions to adults about ten years ago, when a mother of one of my students called and asked if she could come to a workshop. “Can you help me learn to write a poem—even though I’m not a kid?” she asked. That question sparked something and now I work with all ages—5 year-olds to 95 year-olds.
Teacher Testimonials
“Karen brings not only skill and expertise in the writing of poetry but also a natural ability to communicate her subject clearly and extremely effectively. She is supportive and kind and brings out the best in children’s writing—even those who are reluctant writers.”
—Hillery Jaffe-Urell
Associate Head of School,
Marin Horizon School
"Karen helped my students to look at the ordinary and find it extraordinary."
—Robin Alderson
Fifth Grade Teacher
Tam Valley School, Mill Valley
"I greatly admire Karen. She is centered and calm and really brings out
the very best in my students. They love to write poetry with her. She has a
great way of helping them trust in their own voices and share who they are.
She brings an enthusiasm and joy into the classroom that is truly exceptional."
—Joe Martini
Third Grade Teacher
Park School, Mill Valley
“Karen Benke is an amazingly talented poet-teacher who makes poetry come alive in the classroom. I had the great pleasure of having Karen work with my fourth grade students, and have always been so impressed with the way she easily motivates, and immediately engages all students, helping them learn different ways to express themselves by using their hearts along with their minds. She creates an environment that feels safe for the students to use their imaginations and express their creative sides. Karen is simply magical with what she does. She is a gift to our classrooms, and I can hardly wait for her to work with my kindergarten students!”
—Elena Garton
Kindergarten Teacher
Tam Valley School
“Karen Benke is angelic in word and deed, a brilliant and sweet soul.
As a teacher she has touched the hearts and minds of thousands of people with
her words and presence—she will inspire you and help you to discover your
true poet within.”
—Albert Flynn DeSilver
Poet-Laureate of Marin County
Author of Letters to Early Street
(La Alameda Press, 2007)
"Karen Benke has been a phenomenal asset to Marin Poets in the Schools. My instincts were right when I recruited her into the program nearly 15 years ago. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her dedication to her students has made her a favorite in the Mill Valley Schools. She has also provided invaluable service by bringing in new donors and businesses to help the local and statewide poetry program grow. Karen's love for poetry radiates out into many directions and it has been a real pleasure working with her."
—Terri Glass
Area Coordinator
Marin Poets in the Schools
