This is a particularly valuable and creative resource for a rural state like Maine and is one more indicator of its leadership in educational innovation and reform. Established in 1997 within the College of Education and Human Development, the Maine Writing Project is directed by faculty member and NWP fellow Jeffrey Wilhelm. The National Writing Project is based on a teachers-teaching teachers model which recognizes the expertise of successful classroom teachers not only as the best teachers of students, but also of their colleagues. Participants improve their own skills through specialized instruction and interaction with other leading teachers during a summer institute and create a presentation in an area of their expertise.
Teachers are the best teachers of teachers.
Teachers should be paid for their expertise in teaching other teachers. Teachers should be practitioners of ways of knowing in their subject area including writing. The Maine Writing Project is part of the NWP network of teacher leaders made up of a national corps of exemplary educators at all grade levels. The Invitational Summer Institute is the heart of the project. To involve and support successful teachers in their own writing so that they can become better writers and better able to help their students.