From August 11 to 14, 2025, the Pacific Literacy Consortium hosted its most recent Poet-in-Residence program, bringing poet, author, and law professor Sean Petrie to seven schools across Oʻahu. Over four days, Petrie visited Waiāhole Elementary, ʻĀhuimanu Elementary, Hoʻokele Elementary, ʻEwa Beach Elementary, Major Sheldon Wheeler Elementary, Mililani Waena Elementary, and Kaimukī Middle, working with 1,826 students.
A founding member of the Typewriter Rodeo, Petrie is known for crafting spontaneous poems on vintage typewriters, a practice he demonstrated for students and teachers throughout the residency. His visits combined live poetry sessions with interactive workshops designed to help children release their creativity and discover the joy of writing. Students watched as their words and ideas were transformed into custom poems, while teachers gained practical strategies to make writing instruction more engaging and imaginative.
In addition to his work as a poet, Petrie is a law professor at the University of Texas and an award-winning author of children’s books. His time in Hawai‘i showcased how poetry can connect communities, inspire confidence, and make literacy come alive. The residency left a lasting impact, reminding students and educators alike that poetry is not only something to study, but something to experience and enjoy together.
