Western Pennsylvania Writing Project

Happy National Library Week! 📚 Libraries are such an important part of writing education and we couldn't imagine working without the support of our amazing librarians. We wanted to highlight some of the major public libraries around Western PA, but if we left out your favorite library, please share it in the comments!

We're honored to have joined the Western Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English for their Poetry Slam at Beaver Area Junior Senior High School!

Our director, Dr. Khirsten L. Scott, had the pleasure of serving as a judge and was reminded of the depth of creativity, care and commitment to writing education across our regional community. It was especially meaningful to support not only our WPWP fellows, but also the many teachers, coaches, and young writers and poets who brought the space to life! We were able to capture just a part of the vibrant WPWP fellows' presence in our photo, including fellows Amy Bouch, Carol Aten Frow, Jess Hill, Katie Katkich, Heather Bixler, and Aimee Firmani.

Thank you to all of our teacher leaders who are showing up across schools, communities, and professional networks to create spaces where writing matters. Let's continue to share the work, the moments, and the opportunities where we can support and connect with one another in meaningful ways!

Happy National Poetry Month! 📝

We'll be sharing some of our favorite poems throughout the rest of the month, but, first, let's celebrate some amazing students and our incredible teachers who are guiding them into the world of poetry! Thank you to all of the educators who are keeping the art of poetry alive!

Share your favorite poems in the comments and we'll feature them throughout the rest of April! ✨

There's still time to register for our Young Writers' Institute! Sign up at: wpwp.pitt.edu/ywi

Young writers will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of genres, create rich writing, and celebrate their work with their families and new-found friends at our closing ceremony! Sessions will take place on weekdays from 9am to 1pm at the University of Pittsburgh.

Are you looking for some teaching inspiration? These are some amazing resources that our WPWP Fellows Tammy Rullo and Jen Salvatore used during our February writing workshops to inspire students at the Homewood Community Center!

If you would like to learn more about how they implemented these resources in their lessons, read our article at: https://www.wpwp.pitt.edu/news/wpwp-fellows-lead-three-week-writing-workshop-teaching-students-use-their-voice

We held our first leadership cohort meeting this March in partnership with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Allegheny branch at the Andy Warhol Museum!

As we move through a period of leadership transition and begin to imagine the possibilities the future could bring, we recognize the importance of intentionally recentering teacher leadership and development within all aspects of our work. In support of this commitment, we launched a call within our network over the past six months inviting fellows to join our cohort and grow as teacher-leaders. This first gathering marked the beginning of an ongoing series of collaborative sessions focused on leadership development, facilitation, and the future direction of WPWP.

We are grateful to the fellows who responded to this call and welcome continued interest from others in the network who want to engage in leadership development. If you are interested, please reach out as we continue building and sustaining a vibrant, teacher-led community!

Looking for a one-of-a-kind camp where you can level up your writing this summer? Register for our Young Writers' Institute today! Sign up at: wpwp.pitt.edu/ywi

Young writers will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of genres, create rich writing, and celebrate their work with their families and new-found friends at our closing ceremony! Sessions will take place on weekdays from 9am to 1pm at the University of Pittsburgh.

Last month, WPWP Fellows Jen Salvatore and Tammy Rullo co-led a professional development session at Pittsburgh Urban Christian School!

They guided critical conversations about writing integration across curriculums. With both a reflective and practical approach, teachers considered how writing can support student thinking, engagement, and expression in their specific classroom contexts.

This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to responsive, collaborative professional learning that is shaped by the needs and goals of schools and communities. We are grateful to partner Principal Sarah Fuller and the team at PUCS for the opportunity to design and facilitate an insightful professional development experience and look forward to continuing this work!

If you are interested in similar professional development opportunities, please learn more by visiting wpwp.pitt.edu or by contacting us directly at [email protected]!

We recently attended the Pittsburgh Public Schools new teacher induction hosted as a part of the RISE UP program!

We made meaningful connections with educators who are still transitioning into the profession and provided resources to support them as they navigate their first years in their classrooms! Through this collaboration, we aim to not only support individual teacher development, but to also strengthen the broader educational community.

We are grateful for our continued partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools, and WPWP fellow Kellie Skweres at the PPS Office of Professional Learning, and look forward to more opportunities to contribute to the ongoing development of PPS educators.

Interested in a restorative and explorative seminar for educators? Register for our 2026 Summer Institute by April 1!

Participants can look forward to a four-week seminar where they will work with K to college level educators across all disciplines to investigate writing as a tool for eduction equity, access, and social justice. Participants can also earn ACT 48 credits and University of Pittsburgh graduate credits at no charge. Visit wpwp.pitt.edu/summer-institute to register!