In April, Bank Street School for Children welcomed New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Dan Gutman as the 2026 Dorothy Carter Writer-In-Residence, an annual program in which a renowned author works with fourth grade (9/10s) students on their writing skills and creativity. Gutman, who is the author of 200 books for young readers, including the widely acclaimed My Weird School series, was selected for the residency by the Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature.
During the four-week program, Gutman focused on creative writing with students and shared his “Nine Steps to Writing a Great Story,” from building characters and settings to crafting obstacles, plot developments, and surprise endings. Gutman also reflected on his own career challenges with the students, discussing how often his books were rejected and encouraging them to stay persistent in their work.
“This year’s residency was distinguished by Dan Gutman’s genuine connection with the students and his appreciation for their ideas and writing,” said Cynthia Weill, Director of the Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature. “He offered thoughtful guidance and affirmed students’ voices in ways that nurtured their love of writing and encouraged them to express themselves through their work.”
To celebrate the end of the program, students presented excerpts from their stories with parents, classmates, and teachers during a family share event.
Students shared a variety of imaginative works, including The Tale of Pasquale the Squirrel, The Great and Adventurous Book of Ramen, Tomato Tomáto, and Project Earth and Space, among others.
“The Writer-in-Residence program provides Bank Street students with a meaningful opportunity to learn alongside some of the most talented creators in children’s literature today,” said Melanie Bryon, Dean of Children’s Programs and Head of the School for Children. “It was wonderful to see our young writers gain confidence in their ideas, strengthen their creative voices, and discover joy in writing and storytelling as they shared their work with the community.”
Throughout the residency, Gutman documented his time at the School for Children on social media, posting several thoughtful observations about the creative process and the lessons he learned from Bank Street students. At the start of the program, Gutman shared his enthusiasm in a Facebook post: “I’m not a teacher, and I never took any writing classes. But now I’m a writing teacher! … My first piece of advice for the kids: IGNORE ADVICE!” Reflecting on the experience toward the conclusion of the residency, he wrote in another post, “Honestly, the kids taught me more than I taught them.”
Established in 2015, the Dorothy Carter Writer-in-Residence program invites a distinguished author to work with School for Children students each spring. Dorothy Carter was Bank Street’s first African American faculty member, writer of highly acclaimed children’s books, chair of the Bank Street Writers Lab, and Broadway actress. The residency was endowed by Arlene Mark, Former Bank Street Trustee, and Carol Carter, daughter of Dorothy Carter.