When I first became a teacher in 2005, I felt all alone. I loved to teach and I loved working with students, but I didn't have the kind of support I needed to grow and develop as a teacher. Then I heard about Jean Wolph, director of the Louisville Writing Project, and the National Writing Project network. Jean and her team have achieved almost legendary status amongst teachers and administrators in the Louisville area, so I knew I wanted to apply for the upcoming summer institute. After I was accepted, I spent nearly 24 hours a day for a full month, thinking, reading, talking, and dreaming about what it means to be a good teacher of writing -- and I haven't stopped since.

The writing project not only transformed my teaching, it also made me a better person. I now know what it means to collaborate, communicate, and network. Before becoming a part of the Louisville Writing Project, I would just close my classroom door and hope for a good day with the students. At night, I would close my front door at home and try to process the school day on my own. Thanks to the National Writing Project I am now part of a positive, engaged, smart network of thousands of educators across the U.S. I stay involved in the National Writing Project each and every day as the technology liaison for the Central Arizona Writing Project in Phoenix.

I'm sad to hear that the National Writing Project's funding has been cut, but I believe that they can take away our money and our infrastructure, but they can never take away our passion and commitment to students, to each other, and to the teaching of writing.

Meredith DeCosta-Smith

Ph.D. Candidate, English Education, Arizona State University

Technology Liaison, Central Arizona Writing Project

Louisville Writing Project Fellow

http://www.meredithdecostasmith.com