Meet the 2009 Summer Institute Fellows

Meet the 2009 Invitational Summer Institute fellows; learn about them while reading their reflections on the SI experience, and checking out their project boards...

Jane Adams

"I teach 3rd grade at Alexandria Monroe Intermediate School. This summer in ISI I learned writing is important in all subjects – across the curriculum."

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Jennifer Fisher

"I teach 1st grade at Southside Elementary in Hartford City. I have learned so many great, terrific, and exciting things this summer that is it very hard to narrow it down to just one. If I have to narrow it down, I would say that it is that I/ we must not forget how important Writer’s Workshop is for both teachers and students. We are building a community of writers that “ache with caring”. I have found the writer within myself and I love it. There are so many stories playing around in my head that I want to write – nonfiction, fiction, family, friends, teaching… and I want that for my students. “No matter what have them write every day,” says Katie Wood Ray. I will cherish all of the wonderful, sweet, and terrific friends I gained and loved getting to know. Writing is magic, life is magic, our students are magic. Never forget how important we are and the mark we make in our lifetimes."

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Gail Gayda

"I teach 5th grade at St. Lawrence School in Muncie. I have learned so much, I didn’t know where to begin. I think foremost, I learned to love to write. And I became familiar with authors who I will continue to count on for help in setting up my workshop. ISI took me way beyond my expectation."

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Rachel Hartley-Smith

"I have an M.A. in English Creative Writing, and an M.A. in Telecommunications Digital Storytelling from Ball State. I teach first year English Composition with a focus on creativity and digital mediums. This summer I was able to focus and refine defining elements of my personal teaching philosophy. The Summer Institute gave me the opportunity to become part of a community that I will remember always."

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Melissa Messersmith

"I teach 3rd grade at Alexandria-Monroe Intermediate School. This summer I have learned how important the Writer’s notebook is and the components that make it great."

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Lori Mikel

"I teach middle and high school separate and inclusion special education classes at Selma Middle School. I’ve learned how to make writing more valuable in the classes my students take and to modify my own curriculum to help my learners work to achieve their greatest potential."

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Barbara Miller

"I teach English 10 and AP Literature and Composition at Cowan Jr./ Sr. High School. This summer at ISI I have refined my system of marking standard English errors on final drafts, and timed writing works, in conjunction with tracking student proficiency."

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Heather Poston

"I teach English 9, AP Literature, and Student Publications at Alexandria-Monroe High School. I have really enjoyed being immersed in writing and theory, and collaborating with so many amazing educators. I have rediscovered a love for writing that I’m excited to share with my students."

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Karla Riggin

"I teach 7th grade science at Selma Middle School. I will implement a writing strategy known as RAFTS into my science curriculum. I love to inspire my students to work smarter, not harder. Integrating writing and science does just that using creativity and imagination for communication."

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Julie Rinker-Bailey

"I teach English 9 and Muncie Central High School. I am a writer now!"

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Sarah Sandman

"I teach composition at Ball State. During ISI I learned how to better implement Writer’s Workshop into my classroom and how to conference with my students more effectively."

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Jodie Scales

"I teach 7th grade Language Arts at Selma Middle School. I will start the school year out with Fletcher’s book on the Writer’s Notebook. The Writer’s Notebook will be my catalyst into a true Writer’s Workshop environment."

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Emily Standridge

"I teach 1st year composition at Ball State. I’ve learned the important of playing with language."

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Jamie Stapleton

"I teach 8th grade Language Arts at Alexandria-Monroe high School. Through Writing Project, I have learned the importance of choice and audience not just for students, but for all writers."

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Carolyn Story

"I am a vocational teacher of the Dental Health Careers at the Muncie Area Career Center. I have learned many writing to learn strategies that will enhance my students’ comprehension of my content area. I can’t wait to implement some of these strategies with my upcoming class and see the positive results they will bring! I consider the new friendships I have made to be priceless!"

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Megan Wallace

"I teach junior and senior elective courses and AP Language and Composition. During ISI I’ve learned the importance of showing ourselves as writers to our students."