Berkeley, CA, January 8, 2024—The National Writing Project (NWP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tanya Baker as executive director, effective January 1, 2024.
For the past twenty years Tanya has been committed to and shaped by the National Writing Project’s mission (The National Writing Project focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of our nation's educators on sustained efforts to improve writing and learning for all learners) and vision (NWP envisions a future where every person is an accomplished writer, engaged learner, and active participant in a digital, interconnected world) and she holds a deep commitment to practices that respect teachers and students.
As Executive Director, Tanya will provide leadership to the National Writing Project network, which spans 169 sites across the United States and beyond. She will work to further professional development and teacher research, and the development of new knowledge about writing and the teaching of writing. Tanya will continue to build on NWP’s strong track record of partnership development and work to secure funding to support innovative and collaborative initiatives that invest in and tap into the vast knowledge of Writing Project sites.
As she transitions from Director of National Programs to Executive Director at NWP, Tanya brings with her a depth of experience working with external funders and research and professional development partners, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, The Carnegie Corporation, The National Science Foundation, The Association of Science and Technology Centers, The National Park Service, and West Ed. Through these ongoing partnerships and connections with expert teacher-leaders around the country, she has built and managed national programs that bring educators together to focus on areas of interest and issues of equity and excellence.
Jessica Early, director of the Central Arizona Writing Project, and member of the Executive Director’s Advisory Board says, “As a National Writing Project leader, scholar, and collaborator, Tanya Baker brings a fierce and expert commitment to her new role as executive director. She is deeply invested in advancing understanding of teaching and learning in connection to writing and in advancing teacher knowledge through professional development, research, and collaboration. Her leadership is instrumental in helping shepherd NWP into the next 50 years of success.”
About the National Writing Project
Through its mission, the National Writing Project (NWP) focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of our nation's educators on sustained efforts to help youth become successful writers and learners. NWP supports a network of local Writing Project sites, located on nearly 170 university and college campuses, to provide high-quality professional development in schools, universities, libraries, museums, and after-school programs. Through its many successful programs and partnerships, the organization reaches 6 million Pre-K through college-age students in over 2,000 school districts annually and prepares 2,500 new teacher-leaders each year. NWP envisions a future where every person is an accomplished writer, engaged learner, and active participant in a digital, interconnected world.