South Texas Writing Project

Welcome to the South Texas Writing Project

News and Events

October 23, 2019:
STWP Director, Dr. Bernice Y. Sanchez, will be presenting an interactive session "The Writing Process and the Future of Writing" followed by a book signing event featuring her new book release Transforming Secondary Schools: Professional Learning Communities.

Mission

The South Texas Writing Project (STWP) promotes excellence by advancing standards and teaching beyond state-mandated tests. True to the National Writing Project (NWP) professional development model, STWP:

• Values teacher experience as the key to school reform.
• Provides links to local, state, and national networks.

• Partnerships with school, college, and university educators.
• Voluntary participation.
• Sustained professional development and dialogue.

Objectives

National Writing Project sites focus on the core mission of improving the teaching of writing and improving the use of writing across the disciplines by offering high-quality professional development programs for educators in their service areas, at all grade levels, K–16, and across the curriculum. NWP sites share a national program model that includes

• Developing a leadership cadre of local teachers who have participated in invitational summer institutes teaching writing.
• Delivering customized in-service programs for local schools and institutions.
• Providing continuing education and research opportunities for teachers.

In addition, NWP sites may conduct programs for youth, parents community members, and administrators. Each NWP site is housed in a college or university and is constituted as a school/university partnership that identifies, celebrates, and enhances the professional role of successful classroom teachers. Texas A&M International University is the home of the South Texas Writing Project, STWP is an affiliate site of the National Writing Project.

The South Texas Writing Project is an affiliate site of the National Writing Project, the largest professional development network in the U.S. with over 200 sites. NWP, a federally funded non-profit organization, is listed in the “No Child Left Behind” catalog of models for comprehensive school reform. Texas A&M International University is the home of the South Texas Writing Project, founded in 1996.