Our Mission
To become the nation's leading provider of professional development for teachers across grade levels and subject areas. Our motto is "teachers teaching teachers" to use writing as a learning tool to improve literacy for students, teachers, parents, and administrators.
BWP Profile
The BWP is housed within the Valdosta State University English Department, and in collaboration with the VSU College of Education, we create a space for experienced, highly recommended teachers in thirteen counties of the regional area to teach and learn from each other about writing for both personal and professional reasons. After intense leadership training, those teachers (called Teacher Consultants or TCs) are available to create professional workshops for school systems who wish to improve their literacy rates with limited budgets in mind.
The National Writing Project began in 1975 with 25 teachers from various grade levels in the bay area of California. Since then, it has trained teachers and reached millions of students.
Here are a few of many quotes from local teachers who have attended the BWP:
- "The enthusiasm of the directors, presenters and other participants will rub off and will positively change the way you think about and teach writing forever." -Dawn Montooth, Williams Middle School
- "It was an amazing experience to learn how smart other teachers are and how smart they think I am." -Patricia Waters, Brooks County High School
- "The project revived my love and spirit for teaching and encouraged me to be the best teacher possible." -Jana N. Cook, Valdosta State University
- "[E]ven though for years I've appreciated and enjoyed writing, this is the first time I've used such comprehensive and varied writing activities to arrive at a sharpened, focused position on a self-chosen idea." -Traci Augustosky, Savannah College of Art and Design
- "I looked forward to being in class each morning anticipating the chatter of classmates, food, writing, sharing, listening, observing, laughing and sometimes someone would cry in joy and sadness." -Joseph Brown, retired administrator, Valdosta State University
- "The daily journal writing allowed me to find memories and emotions I had forgotten or never knew I had." -Lynn Higgs, Indian Creek Elementary
The director of the BWP is Donna Sewell.