Carroll receives $20,000 for teacher leadership development

Writing in its many forms is the signature means of communication in the 21st century, and is central to how student achievement will be measured in the new Common Core. The National Writing Project focuses the knowledge, expertise and leadership of the nation’s educators on sustained efforts to improve writing for all learners, to achieve a future when every person is an accomplished writer, engaged learner and active participant in a digital, interconnected world.

The National Writing Project at Carroll University received $20,000 from a U.S. Department of Education’s Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant. The two-year SEED Teacher Leadership Development Grant will expand and develop teacher leadership to improve the teaching of writing and learning for a minimum of 20 teacher leaders. The federal funds will provide support from May 1, 2014 through August 31, 2016.

This is Carroll’s second SEED Teacher Leadership Grant. In 2012-13, the university’s National Writing Project became a self-sustainable site, an example to others and an asset to Carroll University. A custom-designed professional development program trained 24 new teacher leaders.

The 2014-2016 SEED Teacher Leadership Development Grant will provide supplemental funding for the Summer Institute, the Zen of Collegial Studies workshop, and technology and digital literacy. A technology liaison keeps participants current on innovations that enhance instruction, maintains the Writing Project’s digital presence and offers online support through wikis, blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Edmodo.

Edie White, assistant professor of education, is the project lead for the grant. She said, “With the new Common Core standards, schools and districts are actively seeking quality professional development in writing for teachers in all contents and grade levels. The National Writing Project at Carroll University provides training that is efficient, economical and inclusive of all teachers in all areas.” Elise Riepenhoff, Director of the National Writing Project at Carroll University, will coordinate the professional development program.

Carroll’s Graduate Programs in Education is developing a Writing Certificate Program of 15 course credits focused on K-12 writing across the curriculum, based on the successful initiatives of the National Writing Project. 

With the 2014-16 SEED Leadership Grant, Carroll University will award $1,000 scholarships awarded to six participants who enroll in the Summer Institute for graduate credit.

The Summer Institute (EDU621) runs for two weeks at the Milwaukee Art Museum, with a focus on community building, demonstration workshops, research and writing circles. It is followed by one week of technology (EDU620), a hands-on lab. The two classes combined are worth five graduate credits.

A third offering is a follow-up leadership session for one credit, held in October. The Zen of Collegial Studies is a weekend workshop focused on the philosophy and management of collegial study groups. Teacher leaders go back to their schools and districts to start study groups. By fall 2015, it is anticipated that this course will be included in the Writing Certificate Program. Participants will receive a scholarship of $1,250 to offset the additional enrollment credit.

Carroll’s Writing Project also is supported by its partnership with Milwaukee Art Museum, as well as workshop registration fees, in-service contracts and audit registrations from collegial studies.