SMWP - Share Your Writing!

Professional Development Partnerships

SMWP continued its partnerships with North Pike and Forrest County School Districts in 2019-20. TCs Lynette Herring Harris, Gloria Wyatt, Catherine Williams, and Robin Atwood provided professional learning sessions, classroom demonstrations, and multiple co-teaching sessions in both districts.

i3 C3WP Partnership

SMWP and Marion County School District continued year 2 of the i3 C3WP partnership. In 2019-20, MCSD teachers in grades 4-6 joined the partnership to implement the new Upper Elementary C3WP resources. A big thanks to our i3 Leadership Team for doing a phenomenal job working alongside MCSD teachers in professional learning communities and in classroom implementation. Leadership Team members are: Kim Abel, Sherrill Adamo, LaQuisha Courtney, Lynette Herring Harris, Gloria Wyatt, Sherry Kinkopf, Paige Stephens, Brooke McWilliams, Angela Woodrow, Catherine Williams, and Robin Atwood. TCs who "shadowed" the team to join us next year as we move our work into Covington County are Hannah Doleac and Dylan Williams.

Ohio Writing Project Site Visit

Robin Atwood and Catherine Williams visited the Ohio Writing Project in January. Robin is OWP's i3 Thinking Partner, and she took Catherine along to experience the culture of another writing project site and to observe professional learning in Fairlawn Local School District.

TC Accomplishments

Kathryn Daniels, Milken Award

In February, TC Kathryn Daniels, Petal High School history teacher, was honored with a Milken Educator Award — otherwise known as the "Oscar of teaching."
Kathryn received $25,000 as part of the award, and the money can be used as she wants. Theaward was presented at an all-school assembly by Greg Gallagher, Milken Awards senior program director, and Mississippi Superintendent of Education Carey Wright.

Dylan Williams publishes article

In February 2020, Dylan Williams presented a paper at the annual Mississippi Philological Association Conference. The paper will also be published in the next edition of the organization's journal, Publications of the Mississippi Philological Association (POMPA). The paper's title is "Up From the Muck: Voice and Agency as a Means to Liberation in Their Eyes Were Watching God."

Catherine Williams wins AIM award

Catherine Williams was awarded a teaching award by the Arts Institute of Mississippi in 2019. Catherine provides venues in and outside the school to celebrate student writing, including a Poetry and Art Showcase hosted in Columbia every year and by serving as the co-sponsor for the Art Club. She also employs creative and engaging classroom opportunities for her students, including a novel-writing unit and a black-out poetry event.

Shelley Putnam wins WDAM's Golden Apple Award

Shelley Putnam, Columbia High School, was awarded WDAM TV's Golden Apple Award. Shelley was nominated by a parent for this proud distinction.

Robin Atwood presents at NCTE in Baltimore

Robin presented 3 sessions at the 2019 NCTE Convention. Presentationl titles: Spirited Inquiry with the National Writing Project, Creating a Culture of Argument with Inquiry in the Elementary Classroom, and Engaging Teachers and Their Students in Inquiry Leading to Social Action. Robin was also nominated to serve on the NCTE Nominating Committee( she did not win the election).

Brooke McWilliams, Hayley Hill, and Bill Kirby are featured in new book, Writing to Make an Impact

Brooke, Hayley, and Bill are highlighted in the book Writing to Make an Impact: Expanding the Vision of Writing in the Secondary Classroom. The book, by Mary Ann Smith and Sandra Murphy, is available through Amazon. SMWP Director Robin Atwood is listed in the book as a "behind-the-scenes advisor". When the quarantine is behind us, we will have a book party to celebrate these fabulous TCs.

Brooke McWilliams publishes article in Voices from the Middle

Brooke's article titled Community Engagement: A Call for Civic Awareness and Action Beyond the Classroom was published in the 2019 issue of Voices from the Middle. Brooke wrote about her classroom experiences with C3WP. This is a really big deal. Congratulations, Brooke.

TC Power Couple

TCs Stephanie Howard, Oak Grove Middle School, and Greg Howard, Petal High School, both accomplished milestones this year. Greg achieved National Board certification, and Stephanie completed her Master's Degree at William Carey University.

Johnson named Teacher of the Year

Lori Johnson, Petal Upper Elementary, was named Teacher of the Year for both PUES and Petal School District.
Congratulations, Lori!

Catherine and Dylan Williams publish Blog for NWP

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Catherine and Dylan Williams published a blog showcasing their work and SMWP's work with blackout and found poetry. Read the blog here:
https://writenow.nwp.org/blackout-poetry-defying-the-blank-page-23e2b31374f7

Sherill Adamo and Robin Atwood Present at NWP Partnership Conference in Nashville

Sherrill Adamo, Petal Elementary, and Robin Atwood presented at the NWP Partnership Conference in Nashville in June 2019. The title of their presentation was Writing to an Audience to Urge Action: Engaging Elementary Students in Writing for Change.

Ben Austin is Mississippi Teacher of the Year Finalist

Ben Austin, Petal High School, is a finalist for Mississippi Teacher of the Year. Ben teaches 9th and 10th grade Social Studies. Our fingers are crossed!

Tracy Gilmer, South Forrest Attendance Center, achieved National Board Certification in December 2019.

Kathryn Daniels, Petal High School, achieved National Board certificated in December 2019.

Lori Johnson, Petal Upper Elementary, Renewed her National Board certification in 2019.

Staci Plunk, Oak Grove High School, recently completed her Specialist degree in Educational Leadership. We're so proud of you, Staci!

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