San Jose Area Writing Project

Led by Roohi Vora (interim director), and a site governance team made up of teacher consultants who work as associate directors, a program manager, and student administrative assistants, the San Jose Area Writing Project (SJAWP) delivers school-year and summer programs on writing for teachers as well as for K-12th grade students and their parents. Working from the belief that when teachers gather to write and learn, expertise arises among them, SJAWP offers a 3-week Invitational Summer Institute (ISI) in July in which teachers participate in demonstrations of promising practices, hone their writing skills, and discuss latest professional books on related topics. Participants in the ISI become Teacher Consultants (TCs). Teacher consultants are paid to lead professional development and work through SJAWP with schools to improve student writing. By coaching teachers, analyzing student work, and modeling teaching practices, our TCs work hand-in-hand with teachers. SJAWP teacher...