Tuesday, September 27, 2011

14 Teachers Complete Invitational Institute



Fourteen area teachers have received their National Writing Project Teacher Consultant Certification. As such, they join the National Writing Project’s network of literacy teacher leaders throughout the country.


The teachers successfully completed PLWP’s 2011 Invitational Institute which met at MWSU on Saturdays last spring, for four weeks in July, and again on Saturdays in September. The participants prepared for literacy leadership roles by conducting an inquiry demonstration, studying research, and improving their knowledge of writing and teaching writing.

For Rae Lynn Stroud, St. Joseph Hall Elementary Grade 3 teacher, participating in the Invitational Institute was “life-changing. I rekindled my own passion for writing and have joined a professional network of teachers with whom I can share ideas and teaching strategies.”

Lisa Miller, Savannah Middle School Language Arts Teacher, described the Invitational as “the best investment I have ever made in myself as a teacher and in my students. I have learned so many new techniques and ideas to implement in my classroom.”

Thomas Pankiewicz, MWSU English Instructor, directed this year’s Invitational, with Christie Leigan, St. Joseph School District Instructional Coach as Co-Director, and Kyla Ward, St. Joseph Central High School Communication Arts Teacher as mentor.

Teachers completing the Invitational besides Stroud and Miller included Lori Burns, Sherwood High School Communication Arts Teacher; Jackie Clark, Missouri Western State University Graduate Teaching Assistant; Josie Clark, St. Joseph Bode Middle School Communication Arts Teacher; Amanda Felice, Missouri Western State University MAA in Written Communications Graduate Student; Katey Girard, Lathrop Middle and High School Communication Arts Teacher; Stephanie Hartley, Missouri Western State University Graduate Teaching Assistant; Leigh Lewandowski, Lathrop High School Social Studies Teacher; Joe Marmaud, Missouri Western State University Adjunct English Instructor; Mary Martin, Platte County High School Communication Arts Teacher and Department Chair; Helen Penrod, West Platte High School Communication Arts Teacher; Janet Smith, Crest Ridge Middle and High School Library Media Specialist; and Whitney Zanter, Lathrop High School Communication Arts Teacher.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Patsy Brost teaches creative writing

Kudos to Patsy Brost, Prairie Lands Teacher Consultant and Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing recipient, who has joined the Center for Community Arts at Missouri Western as a creative writing teacher. Patsy says the Prairie Lands Writing Project Invitational Institute was a life-changing experience for herself as a writer and teacher: "I not only learned new methods of teaching writing, but I also learned how valuable it is to be a part of a community of writers, to be able to share with other writers, to receive feedback, suggestions, and positive reinforcement."