In honor of April being National Poetry Month, the North Attleborough Cultural Council has appointed Kayla Roy as the town’s first poet laureate.
In her two-year honorary term, Roy will focus on promoting poetry and writing within the community, according to an announcement from the town. Her responsibilities will include hosting workshops and events related to poetry, composing poems for special occasions and nurturing emerging poets and writers.
“Roy is deeply connected to literature and poetry as a teacher, book reviewer and published poet,” the announcement read. “Her work has been featured in several literary magazines, including The Bridge Literary Magazine and Red Skies Literary Magazine.”
Professionally, Roy has taught English Language Arts at Foxborough Regional Charter School, Lawrence Public Schools and North Attleborough Public Schools. As a literature teacher, she developed a curriculum that promotes reading and writing while providing support for students through modifications and accommodations.
She works at Tufts University as a program administrator and team lead for its pre-college programs for high school students. She’s also pursuing a master’s in English literature at Salem State University.
“Kayla is deeply connected to literature and writing, professionally and personally, which truly embodies the spirit of what a poet laureate should be,” said Kali DiMarco, vice-chair of the Cultural Council. “With her proven ability to instill a love for the literary arts, we look forward to seeing where Kayla takes this program.”
Roy plans to create a monthly newsletter highlighting literature events in the area, featuring poetry prompts and more. She also plans to build a workshop series for community members looking to improve their work. A primary focus will be fostering relationships with other poet laureates to bring different voices to town through open mic nights or other events.
“I’ve always been a literary person, so I was excited about the opportunity to be a part of building a literary community here in North Attleborough,” said Roy. “I have been fortunate to have found support and guidance in different chapters of my writing journey, and I hope that through this position, I’ll be able to do the same for others.”
Additional information regarding the newsletter and upcoming events will be shared as it becomes available.