The Shenandoah Valley Writing Project has announced it will use a $20,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand and develop teacher leadership and improve the teaching of writing and learning in area schools.

Funding by the Supporting Effective Educator Development Teacher Leadership Development Grant will provide training for project leaders through August 2016.

In a news release from the Shenandoah Valley Writing Project, Director Mary Tedrow called it gratifying to have support to improve instruction in literacy around the community.

The project is part of a national program with a 40-year track record in improving instruction in schools around the country, stated Tedrow, also Porterfield Endowed English Chairperson at John Handley High School.
The grant opportunity is a win-win for teachers and students, said Mary Bowser, Shenandoah University director of teacher licensure and professor of curriculum and instruction.

In December, the National Writing Project selected the university as the official site of the Shenandoah Valley Writing Project.

Each summer the local project holds a four-week Invitational Summer Institute for exemplary teachers, who bring their training back to their schools where they will train fellow educators.

The 2015 invitational will be June 29-July 24 at Shenandoah University.

source: The Northern Virginia Daily