By Kim Douillard (SDWAP)
At the San Diego Area Writing Project (SDAWP), we’ve learned over the years that SDAWP teacher leaders need opportunities to write, learn, and connect in order to have the energy, inspiration, and refreshed skills to support teachers in the larger educational community in our region. Advanced Institutes offer teacher leaders this valuable support.
As a way to celebrate the National Writing Project’s 50th anniversary SDAWP leadership invited a group of 30 fellows who have been a part of SDAWP ranging from 1992 to 2023 to come together. This was an opportunity for teacher leaders to connect their past by sharing their stories of how they came to SDAWP, fuel their present by reading through a chapter of Thomas Newkirk’s text Literacy’s Democratic Roots, and plan for future SDAWP events.
The goal of our meeting was to sustain a vibrant, energized community of professionals and be a support space for teacher leaders to learn from one another. We want SDAWP to feel like a long term professional development home to support teacher leaders to feel ready for the work they do in their classrooms.
Here’s to many more years of growth, learning, and community with SDAWP!
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