Erin Gruwell, the teacher who inspired the movie "Freedom Writers," visited Keller Elementary last week at the invitation of the students.

The movie highlights Gruwell's efforts to teach underprivileged students in Southern California to reach their full academic potential. Her methods have been adopted around the world, and include having students write honestly about who they really are. A book called "The Freedom Writers Diary" was published, including her early students' works, and was turned into the movie, which starred Hilary Swank.

Students from Keller grades 4-6 had written letters to Gruwell earlier in the school year, inviting her to Keller. The students also held fundraisers and practiced event organizing in the effort to bring Gruwell to the event.

"They learned fundraising, event planning, and all final decisions were theirs," said their teacher Deborah Clark, who has shown the movie the past couple of years. "The adults were more facilitators in the process."

At the event last Wednesday, May 23, students asked questions of a panel, which included Gruwell as well as local college graduates, about their journeys to successful careers.

Gruwell then had a casual "meet and greet" at the Keller Elementary library that was well attended and had finger foods to enjoy.

"I love it," Gruwell said. "I have a feeling that everything is interconnected. There really is a strong sense of family, community, honor and dignity to understanding our past and not losing the elements that make us who we are. This is the most unique place I've been."

Gruwell enthusiastically went around the room, speaking about how impressed she is with the ambitions of the students, and how beautiful the area is, as well as sharing her stories.

Gruwell currently teaches teachers around the world, traveling to far-away places, including Palestine, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Cambodia.

"The idea is, how do you give voice in a classroom, and give voice to the voices in a classroom so they can tell their story with a new ending so that it doesn't end in a genocide," Gruwell said about those war-torn places.

"Education levelizes an unfair playing field," she added. "Education can come to life; it doesn't just have to be in a classroom with a grade."

After the meet and greet there was a dinner of salmon, venison, potatoes, and more served to over a 100 people in the gymnasium.

Clark and student Eli Katitch introduced Gruwell, who spoke for about 45 minutes, including a multimedia presentation containing an interview with one of the original Freedom Writers students, and a clip from the movie.

Keller students then showed a slideshow they created featuring photographs of themselves, and inspirational lyrics alongside.

"Their slideshow is amazing. It really is a testament to them," Gruwell said.