Samantha McDonald, a 10th-grade student at Ernest Righetti High School in Santa Maria, earned the title of 2023 Poetry Slam winner at the Santa Barbara County Education Office Poetry Slam, May 4.

Standing together outdoors are Litzy Matematico, left, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Melinda Palacio, Samantha McDonald, and Natalie Lancor.
Litzy Matematico, left, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Melinda Palacio, Samantha McDonald, and Natalie Lancor. Credit: Courtesy photo

High school students like McDonald inspired the audience with their powerfully written, original poetry and performances. Judges based student scores on performance elements such as enthusiasm, delivery, and facial expressions.

McDonald read the classic poem “Hanging Fire” by Audre Lorde, and an original poem “Generational Burden.”

Tying for second place were Litzy Matematico, a 10th grader, and Natalie Lancor, an 11th grader, both students at Ernest Righetti High School.

The Poetry Slam, which combines performance, writing, competition, and audience participation, is a program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO).

SBCEO partnered with the team at the Get Lit – Words Ignite, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, to support teachers and students in learning about spoken word poetry, and to provide the support and coaching to claim and create literary works while exploring meaningful topics that impact their world.

“Spoken word poetry provides students a stage to be unapologetic truth-tellers and to use the power of language and authentic performance to transcend human struggle and create beauty. It is art for collective healing,” Ellen Barger, associate superintendent of SBCEO Curriculum & Instruction, said of the event.

“The students transformed written poems to a new level of brave artistry and creative expression,” said County Schools Superintendent Susan Salcido. “Congratulations and thank you to all the participants for sharing your poetry with our community.”