NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

2/26/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - The Northwestern State University Writing Project and the Department of Language and Communication will hold a 2007 Summer Invitational Institute June 4 through July 6. The Institute will be on Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The program will offer high-quality professional development for K-12 teachers and gives them the opportunity to learn about writing and the teaching of writing. The Institute is designed to help teachers learn how to better implement instructional changes brought about by the State's Comprehensive Curriculum, the Louisiana Literacy Plan, and the No Child Left Behind Act, while evaluating their own literacy practices. Nominees are being sought from all teaching fields. Math and science teachers are strongly encouraged to apply. Participants can earn up to six hours of graduate credit for the Institute in English or education, which can help many teachers as they earn hours to be "Highly Qualified" or complete their master's or plus 30.

This year's Institute will be co-led by Northwestern State faculty Dr. Julie Kane and Lisa Rougeou. Kane has been a faculty member at NSU for eight years. A winner of the National Poetry Series, a Fulbright Scholar and a Pushcart Prize nominee, Kane has published two books of poetry and serves as an associate editor of Voices of the American South.

Rougeou is a National Board Certified Teacher who holds a master's in English from NSU. She works in a joint position between Northwestern's Department of Language and Communication and the College of Education. Kane and Rougeou will be joined by a number of guest speakers who will address issues within teaching and pedagogy as well as grant writing, assessment and other pertinent educational issues.

The Northwestern State University Writing Project is in its fourth year. Participants often follow up their activities by providing paid in-services to school districts in the region. The Institute has provided teachers with opportunities to interact with nationally known authors such as John Dufresne, Ken Wells and Ellen Douglas during the Institutes and at retreats, which are held yearly. For more information contact Site Director Dr. Lisa Abney at (318) 357-6272 or In-service Coordinator Ada Hippler at (318) 357.5339. Applications are being accepted now and may be downloaded at www.nsula.edu/langcomm/nationalwritingproject.htm

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