Laura Tracy Baisden Award for Exemplary Teaching of Writing
The West Virginia writing community lost a friend and advocate in 2018 with the untimely passing of Laura Tracy Baisden. During her two decades as a Logan County educator and member of the National Writing Project, Ms. Baisden touched countless lives with her generosity, compassion, and dedication to the craft of writing. The Central WV Writing Project wishes to celebrate the life and work of Laura Tracy Baisden by establishing a memorial award that will recognize an exemplary teacher of writing within West Virginia. The award will be presented annually at West Virginia Young Writers Day.
The 2026 Recipient of the Laura Tracy Baisden Award for Exemplary Teaching of Writing
Michelle Wolfe
Michelle Wolfe is a high school English teacher at East Hardy High School in Hardy County. She earned her B.A. in English Education from Shepherd University (2009) and her M.A. in Education–English from Grand Canyon University (2021). With 17 years of teaching experience, Mrs. Wolfe currently teaches dual-credit English 101 and 102, sophomore English, senior English, and Grow Your Own education courses. She has also taught creative writing and AP Language and Composition.
Mrs. Wolfe is National Board Certified and a recipient of the Milken Educator Award. She is passionate about supporting students as readers and writers and cultivating their growing understanding of the power of words to illuminate their own experiences and the experiences of others. She strives to nurture curiosity, creativity, compassion, and empathy in her classroom.