SSWCA President Kate Hutton has co-directed the Herndon Writing Center in Herndon, VA, since 2012. She is a founding member of SSWCA’s predecessor, the Capital Area Peer Tutoring Association, and she has served on the 2016 and 2017 IWCA-sponsored panels at the NCTE Annual Convention.
When we began the process of transitioning into a national organization, SSWCA board members determined that a primary goal was to expand our specific offerings for secondary school writing center (SSWC) directors at our annual conference. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or you’re a newcomer to the world of SSWCs, we want to hear from you! Here are five reasons why directors should submit proposals to present at SSWCA 2018.
CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED COLLEAGUES
SSWCA is the only national conference dedicated specifically to the work of SSWCs. While other national and regional conferences are great opportunities for you to inspire others to implement centers in their schools or for SSWC directors to make our presence known, SSWCA’s audience enables you to connect with like-minded colleagues who are already embedded in SSWC work. Therefore, you can delve deeper when exploring writing center best practices and engage with colleagues in more meaningful ways. While some of us are fortunate to work in regions saturated with SSWCs, others still might be the only SSWC for hundreds of miles. Proposing to present at SSWCA 2018 also gives you the chance to meet other directors who may become an important part of your professional learning network.
MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO TRY SOMETHING NEW OR ADDRESS LINGERING CHALLENGES
As SSWC directors, our time is at a premium. Oftentimes we come across new ideas that we’d like to try out in our centers, but our myriad other responsibilities make it difficult for us to find the time to implement our new ideas. Sometimes, we have lingering challenges in our center that we struggle to find time to address. Submitting a proposal to present at SSWCA 2018 is a great way to hold yourself accountable and to make progress toward trying new things or addressing challenges in your center.
ADVOCATE FOR WRITING CENTERS THROUGH STORYTELLING
In her keynote address at CAPTA 2016, Dr. Jennifer Wells implored us to claim the narratives of our centers. In order to legitimize our roles as SSWC directors and administrators, we must tell our stories. As many of us know, directing a SSWC can feel isolating, as many of us are the only ones in our building engaged with writing center work. By telling the story of your center, of your tutors, of your experiences as a director, and of what sustains you in this incredibly meaningful and important work, you help others to advocate for their work as well.
ADVANCE SCHOLARSHIP IN THE FIELD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL WRITING CENTERS
Submitting a proposal and presenting at SSWCA 2018 is a great stepping stone for composing a scholarly article about the work of SSWCs. SSWCA strongly believes that every SSWC director has something unique and meaningful to share that can help all of us to improve our practice.
CHANGE THE WORLD
Yes, yes, this a bold statement. But if you believe deeply in the work that you and your tutors are doing to change how our schools approach the teaching of writing, to empower student writers, and to build community in our schools, then we need to hear your voice at SSWCA 2018. In their CAPTA 2017 keynote address, Jeffrey Austin and Dr. Christine Modey reminded us that we must look at our writing center work as a chance to reshape our world. Presenting at SSWCA 2018 not only celebrates the work that you and your tutors do on a daily basis, but it also reshapes the narrative surrounding SSWCs on a larger scale. We want to hear about the processes behind the progress you are making in your center, your school, and the larger writing center community.
We hope you will submit a proposal to present at SSWCA 2018! Proposals are due at 11:59 pm EST Friday, April 13, 2018. Information about how to apply for travel grants and registration waivers will be available in the coming weeks. Questions? Email us (sswca.board@gmail.com) and be sure to follow us on Twitter (@SSWCA)!