Leadership
The Philadelphia Writing Project is sustained through the collaboration of educators and members of the community at large who recognize the value of learning opportunities for students. While the work of the site is carried out by a diverse network of teachers, three groups have emerged over time to provide leadership and direction.
Executive Leadership Team
Diane Waff, Ed.D, Director
Nadia Mykysey, Coordinator, ESOL Professional Development
Barrett Rosser, PhilWP Scholar
Kemba Howard, Administrative Assistant
Leadership Team
Trey Smith - Invitational Summer Institute
Erica Darken - Poetry Inside Out Fellow
Lisa Yau - Poetry Inside Out Fellow
Ron Houston - School District of Philadelphia - IT Leadership Team
Javaha Ross - Penn Alexander - TPS Leadership Team
Lisa Lapina - Penn Alexander- TPS Leadership Team
Christina Puntel - Saul HS, Digital Discourse Leadership Team
Sam Reed - U School - Leadership Team
Advisory Board
Co-Chairs
Trey Smith Teacher, Chester Arthur School and Tamara Anderson, Educational Consultant
Vice-Chair
Susan Lytle, Ph.D., Founder, Philadelphia Writing Project, Professor Emerita, University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
PhilWP Director
Diane Waff, Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of
Education
Advisory Board Members
- Njemle Anderson, Teacher, Strawberry Mansion High School
- Angela Crawford, Asst. Principal, Wagner Middle School
- Patti Cruice, Adjunct Faculty, Holy Family University
- Shani Evans, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Swarthmore College
- Rebecca Freeman-Field, Founder, Caslon Publishing and Consulting
- Claudia Gentile, Ph.D., Evaluation Consultant, NORC at the University of Chicago
- Eli Goldblatt, Ph.D., Educational Consultant
- Miriam Harris, University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
- Ron Houston, Technology Integration Specialist, School District of Philadelphia
- Maddie Leubbert, Teacher, Kensington Health Sciences Academy
- Kyle Morris, West Philadelphia Community Activist
- Dina Portnoy, Ed.D., Educational Consultant
- Sam Reed, III, Teacher, U School
- Barrett Rosser, PhilWP Scholar
- Amy Stornaiuolo, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
About the Director
Diane Waff, Ed.D., Director
Dr. Waff is
the Director of the Philadelphia Writing Project and a Professor of Practice
in the Reading, Writing, and Literacy Program at Penn GSE. Dr. Waff, a
literacy educator, specializes in working closely with secondary and community
college teachers in all subject areas to establish professional learning
communities and habits of reflective practice, leading to innovations in
curriculum and instruction that increase students’ access to higher levels of
literacy learning. Through curriculum and professional development
initiatives, she facilitates positive change in school cultures, transforming
schools into communities of learners, creating teaching and learning
opportunities to empower administrators, teachers, and students to realize
school reform goals. Read more about Dr. Waff on her Penn GSE faculty page.