Writing has become a cornerstone of teaching technique over the past years as a direct result of my experiences with NWP/EKUWP. These treasured have given me the tools and opportunities to advance that teaching pedagogy. As a result of my teaching and research, I was awarded a small group grant to work in Nebraska with rural minded teachers developing technology based writing methods. This, in turn, led to the beginnings of a newly generated database of Teaching Lesson Plans for statewide use in Kentucky. Our plan was so different from current digital resources , NWP officials selected our program for presentation at national conference on Writing at Western Michigan University. The result is that I now collaborate with over a dozen teachers nationwide on developing the database in hopes that this could become a national database for teachers in-and-out of the NWP network. Without NWP, this resource and these conversations about writing could quickly disappear.

What makes NWP different is that great teachers receive training to become great leaders and given time throughout their career to encourage teachers to develop new and better resources. Every year in Kentucky an estimated 200 teachers participate in NWP activities, more than any other statewide program. That means 200 schools are directly rewarded with more than 30 hours of professional development that can be funneled into new writing policies, programs, and activities.

I do hope that you will consider signing on to the “Dear Colleague” letter.