As the hosts of this National Writing Project affiliate, we partner with regional education professionals to extend our reach into the community.
Who We Are
The National Writing Project is the premier effort to improve writing in America. It began at the University of California at Berkeley in 1974 and now includes more than 200 sites around the country, including the Southern Maine Writing Project (SMWP) at the University of Southern Maine (USM), in operation since 2006.
Writing Projects across the country believe in a shared leadership model, which aims to promote writing for everyone across age groups and content areas, Kindergarten through University. We support teachers as learners. In fact, the National Writing Project is the only provider of professional development in writing named in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
The Writing Project fosters an interdisciplinary community. Our site is a growing, dynamic group, and our ranks include elementary, middle and high school teachers, and a school librarian. Many of us teach English language arts; others teach special education, English as a second language, math, science, foreign language, and social studies.
We are authors, editors, readers, songwriters, photographers, basketball players, poets, outdoors people, actors, techies, and musicians. The common thread: all of us believe in the importance of writing in our personal and professional lives and in the lives of our students.
Who We Serve
- Teachers can join our growing network of teacher-consultants by participating in our Invitational Summer and Fall Institute and annual Conference.
- Administrators will find opportunities to network with expert educators.
- Students explore and expand their writing skills through our Young Authors Camps.
Events
One of the ways that we serve and connect with teachers, administrators, and students is through our events.
Our Mission
The Southern Maine Writing Project is a community of diverse educators who are passionate about building knowledge and transforming classroom practices across the curriculum to improve writing and learning for all students.
Our Leadership Team
Please contact any of the following site leaders with questions about specific programming:
- Site Director: Andrea Stairs-Davenport
- Site Co-Director: Rebecca Redlon
- Invitational Summer and Fall Institute Directors: Anne Tommaso and Kellie Hooper-Bressler
- Young Author’s Camps Directors: Lorrie King and Kelly Ouellette-Tukey
- Writing Group Coordinator: Leah Siviski
- Technology Liaison: Tim Hebda