Dear Writing Project Site-Leaders and Teacher-Consultants,

I am deeply saddened by Congress’ decision to cut funding for the National Writing Project in FY 2011. As an employee at the National Writing Project for the past four-and-a-half years,  I have had the opportunity to experience first-hand the power of NWP programs to improve teaching and learning across the country.  The most impactful part of this experience has been the opportunity to work with all of you—some of the most dedicated and innovative teachers in the country.  So, I am writing this letter to express my deepest gratitude for all that you do and for all that I have learned from you. And to thank you publicly for this incredible gift.

You are the best teachers of other teachers. I have seen the way you learn from each other at NWP’s Annual Meeting, Urban and Rural Sites Conferences and more. And I have learned from you too.  I have seen you share effective practices, stimulate new ideas and push each other’s thinking.  I observed as new and veteran teachers worked together to come up with new ideas for the 21^st century classroom and to revisit time-tested practices such as writing often, writing for a specific purpose and audience, writing across the curriculum and writing to learn. When I began teaching pre-college writing two years after starting at NWP, I brought all of you into the classroom with me on my first day of class. The lessons learned, the courage to try out new ideas and to remain open to what our students teach us. Perhaps this is why research shows that 98% of Summer Institute participants stay in education until they retire. Because we have each other; a network of educators to support us inside and outside of the classroom.

You are writers.  When I started teaching I pored through what you have written about the practice of teaching. These pieces were invaluable as I struggled to create meaningful prompts for writing and discussion, and to design lesson plans for deep learning experiences. You also taught me to model writing for my students. It was scary. You gave me permission to take chances with my writing and to encourage my students to do the same. Now you are the best advocates for NWP, writing about the impact of Writing Project programs on your practice, your students, your community.

You are innovative. This is just one of the reasons why some argue that the National Writing Project “is the most successful large-scale professional development initiative ever” (Cochran-Smith and Lytle, 1999). You are integrating new digital tools into the classroom—having students blog, create digital stories, online portfolios and more. These skills not only engage students with tools they are already using, but will enable our students to be leaders of digital literacy both in college and in the workforce.  The loss of NWP will undoubtedly have immeasurable negative repercussions for the development of critical digital literacy skills. This comes at a time when these skills are more important than ever.

You are one of the country’s best resources. I can only hope that Members of Congress will step up and continue their important investment in the National Writing Project. You are my friends, my colleagues, my family.  Because of you, I will continue to advocate for the Writing Project as one of the most innovative, important and cost-effective investments of federal dollars in education.  I am confident you will do the same. I know that no matter what happens, you will continue to teach other teachers, to innovate and to write. But who will empower the next generation of teachers to do the same?  Support for the teaching of writing and writing to learn are too important to leave to chance. 

With sincere appreciation,

Kelsey Krausen