Novelist and writer James Patterson gave a shoutout to the UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge recently while a guest on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “The Morning Show.”
Patterson, the world’s bestselling author, appeared on the show to discuss his newest book, “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading,” which invites readers to step inside the lives of the “smart and talented people who live between the pages — and who can’t wait to help you find your next favorite book.”
Patterson notes in the interview he is donating proceeds from the book: “I will not earn one penny, everything will go back,” he says. Patterson adds that half of what he and his wife, Susan Patterson, give goes to supporting literacy and teachers.
He expresses that he especially likes supporting programs, like the Teacher Pledge, which help a large number of people.
“It’s great for the kids, it’s great for the University of Wisconsin, (and) it’s great for the state,” Patterson says. “I love that kind of very pragmatic, ‘close the circle’ kind of thing where everybody is benefiting from it.”
The UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge program, which launched in the fall of 2020, is dedicated to bolstering Wisconsin’s teacher workforce. This donor-funded initiative pays the equivalent of in-state tuition and fees, testing, and licensing costs for students enrolled in one of the School’s teacher preparation programs. In return, graduates “pledge” to teach for three or four years at a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school in Wisconsin.
Last year, a $5 million gift from Susan and James Patterson allowed the School to extend the Teacher Pledge program.
Learn more about Patterson’s book, “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians,” by listening to the full interview on WPR’s “The Morning Show.”