Iowa Writing Project History

An anchor in the SUI NDEA Institutes for HS English Department Chairs and the NEH Institutes for College Directors of Freshmen Composition, Cleo was a co-founder, then co-director of IWP in 1978. She co-facilitated summer institutes for the next 16 years and was part of many program developments, including advanced workshops and the annual conference. Best known for her empathetic responses to student writers (all of us), Cleo also composed lists: "Notes from Cleo - Some Observations About the Teaching of Writing," "Problems in the Teaching of Writing," "Obligations of Writing Teachers." 

After teaching and serving as department chair through an innovative curriculum development process, Jim completed an MA ('71) and a PhD ('73) in English Education at the University of Missouri. He worked with NCTE and two affiliates in Missouri as well. He became a consultant at the Joint County School System (AEA) in Cedar Rapids in August '73 and soon joined ICTE. He was elected to the Presidential sequence at the spring meeting in 1974. 

As ICTE President Jim lobbied for DE investment in PD for teachers of writing. In 1977, having co-convened with Richard Lloyd-Jones (SUI) a meeting of faculty, consultants, curriculum leaders and DE staff, Jim wrote a Title IV-C funding application leading to the Iowa Writing Project. He became Director with Cleo Martin as Co-director; Dick Hanzelka (AEA 9), Bob Thomas (AEA 15) and Chris Rauscher (AEA 16) completed a Steering Committed. 

Following the first summer institute in 1978, IWP grew rapidly, from four institutes in '79 to thirty+ institutes per summer by the late '80s. Title IV-C led to state one percent funding, fueling expansion statewide. For two decades a fall conference extended the PD experience with IWP teacher leaders and national figures sharing their expertise. Additional opportunities developed, including Level II, a seminar in reflective practice, a workshop in writing and literature, and numerous others - most carrying graduate credit. IWP consistently fostered collaboration across program levels, preK-12 - college.

In the early '90s funding from the Carver Trust supported a Writing to Learn, Learning to Transform initiative, allowing building/district cohorts of teachers to experience Level I, a school year seminar and Level II the next summer - earning 11 hours of credit.

In 1992 IWP joined other site leaders in a successful pursuit of Federal funding for the NWP network. Sustaining funding meant thorough reporting and careful advocacy with federal legislators, but the support carried the Project into a new century. 

UNI became the IWP credit source in 1997 and its home in 2003. The flagship institute was part of the regeneration of an MA:TESS program serving several cohorts of teachers through on-site and distant learning. Drawing on NCTE and NWP experience, Jim designed a unique TESS course, Milestone Studies in Teaching English, a history of our profession. He last taught the course, and retired at the end of, fall semester 2018.

Dr. Dick Hanzelka has been involved in the Iowa Writing Project since its inception. He has served on the Steering Committee, on the Board of Directors, and on the teaching faculty of the summer workshops. He was a founder and Director of the Eastern Iowa Writing Project under the auspices of the IWP. The initial EIWP was sponsored with Marycrest University and then with St. Ambrose University.

Dick has taught at the elementary, secondary, and university levels and has served as a Language Arts Consultant, Staff Development Coordinator, and Organizational Planning Director at the Mississippi Bend AEA. He was Chair of the Education Department at Marycrest until it closed and then became a Professor at St. Ambrose University in Teacher Education. Dick holds a PhD in English Education and Administration from the University of Iowa. He is Past President of ASCD where he served as President in 2006-2007. In retirement, Dick is Professor Emeritus from St.Ambrose. Dick’s career spanned fifty-three years including three retirements!

Dick’s career has been dedicated to empowering students and educators in their pursuit of knowledge and practical applications of their skills. The ultimate aim of his work has been to focus on the strengths of learners.

Anne is an English language arts and social studies teacher at WACO High School in Wayland, Iowa. Her affiliation with the Iowa Writing Project began over 40 years ago with the fledgling Southeast Iowa Writing Project (SIWP) and continued as the Project transitioned from its initial home at Grant Wood AEA and the University of Iowa, to the University of Northern Iowa, and now to its ties to Central Rivers Area Education Agency. Through the decades Anne has served as a facilitator, Advisory  Board Member,  Steering Committee Member, then Co-Director.  IWP and the educators who have dedicated their professional lives  to "the good work" are her proud heritage.