Sheila is an associate professor of English education at the University of Northern Iowa.  Prior to coming to the Iowa Writing Project, she was on the leadership team for the NWP@ WVU, facilitating that site's summer institute as well as an open institute for new English teachers.  She loves seeing those "lightbulb moments" when people start to see themselves as writers and embrace writing as a powerful  means of reflection and expression.  

Kirstey is an English language arts teacher who currently works as an educational services consultant at Central Rivers Area Education Agency. Her 20 years teaching high school English were greatly influenced by Iowa Writing Project, with her starting in a Level I Institute in 2001 and doing pretty much every possible IWP offering after that. From there, Kirstey transitioned from learner to leader, becoming a facilitator and Advisory Board member for many years before becoming co-director.  The IWP community, support, choice in professional learning, and focus on personal writing have all played a part in the educator she has become.