Who We Are

Appalachian Writing Project- The National Writing Project and the Center for Teaching Excellence fund the Appalachian Writing Project which was founded in 2000 at The University of Virginia's College at Wise. We believe that working as partners, universities and public schools can promote effective reform in the teaching of writing. Our mission is to improve writing proficiency and learning in our public schools by training teachers to become writing consultants and agents of change in their school systems, while recognizing themselves as writers.

Virginia currently hosts five writing project sites; forty-nine U.S. states host project sites. Each year, the AWP seeks applications from 16-20 eligible teachers from the eight counties we serve for our four-week intensive Summer Writing Institute. Institute fellows may be K-13 teachers from all content areas currently employed in a teaching position. During this four-week institute, fellows are engaged in:

• Researching theory and practice in teaching writing;
• Exploring and presenting successful approaches to teaching writing and using writing to teach;
• Developing their own writing skills;
• Looking at resources and technologies that assist writing instruction;
• Using word processing to write and revise.

We hope to eventually extend the project to include outreach programs that will serve both students and teachers, such as writing camps, conferences and contests.  The AWP is staffed by a director, two co-directors, and 34 Teacher Consultants in Southwest Virginia schools.

For more information on becoming part of the AWP, or to schedule an in-service presentation, contact Director, Dr. Amy Clark at (276) 376-4562.

Center for Appalachian Studies at UVA Wise - In 2014, Director Amy Clark co-founded (along with Dr. Brian McKnight and Dr. David Rouse) the Center for Appalachian Studies at UVA Wise. The AWP became a partner with CAS as we develop programs, scholarly pursuits, and opportunities for students.