The First Letters Kindergarten Pen Pal Exchange was created during a class that Kristen and Katie attended at the University of Florida. The Summer Holocaust Institute for Florida Teachers is a weeklong institute that educates teachers about the facts of the Holocaust and how to implement it in the school curriculum. While attending the institute Katie and Kristen were trying to figure out a way to implement lessons they have learned from the Holocaust into the kindergarten curriculum.

After a lot of discussion about our county and the layout of the public schools we decided that our schools were very different and it would be great if our students could experience a culture different from their own. Kristen works in an urban school where most of her students are African-American while Katie works in a rural school where the majority of her student population is Caucasian. They decided it would be neat if their students communicated with each other through letters and had the opportunity to meet each other at the end of the year. This would give them the opportunity to see another school in the county, since most students stay at the same school for most of their elementary schooling.

In addition, Kristen and Katie hoped the project would increase motivation for writing by providing a meaningful rationale to write. In the fall of 2005, Katie and Kristen began the first year of the Kindergarten Pen Pal Project. The first year was a great success and received a lot of local recognition including an article in The Gainesville Sun and a spot on the evening new WCJB TV20. The project has seen multiple learning opportunities arise from this wonderful opportunity for everyone involved.