Skip to Main Content

Seven Bridges Writing Project

The National Writing Project at UNF

The University of North Florida serves as the regional site for the National Writing Project (NWP). As the only NWP site in the region, we serve students and teachers across a 100 mile radius focusing on research-based ways to engage students in empowerment through writing. While serving stakeholders throughout the northeast Florida and southeast Georgia regions, our primary focus is on the largest school district in the region, the Duval County Public Schools, which serves roughly 130,000 students and employs over 8,000 teachers.

 

The National Writing Project is celebrating 46 years of continuous service to students and teachers. We are proud to be affiliated with this impactful organization.

 

Seven Bridges Writing Bridges logo hands writing on a desk national writing project logo

 

NWP Summer Institute

June 15th - June 19th, 2020

The National Writing Project at the University of North Florida, also known as the Seven Bridges Writing Project, is proud to announce its second annual Summer Institute, to be held on the campus of the University of North Florida. The Institute will be open to select K-12 teachers within the region and will be free to all participants (including materials, parking, snacks, and a swag bag). Highlighting the Institute will be a keynote speech from a published author. Participants will attend general sessions based upon teaching area (elementary/secondary), followed by a time to connect with fellow teachers and then a series of content-specific and interactive breakout sessions.

 

outside shot of campus with a sidewalk

 

Apply for the 2020 Summer Institute!

About Us

John Wesley White Headshot

John Wesley White, Director

John is the founder and a director of the Seven Bridges Writing Project. A former high school English teacher in Denver, John now serves as an Associate Professor of English Education and Content Area Reading and Writing at the University of North Florida. He is also Assistant Chair for the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum. John holds a B.A. in Political Science, a B.A. in English, a M.A. in English Literature, a Ph.D. in English Education and the Foundations of Education, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship on engaging struggling readers. For more information, visit his website at johnwesleywhite.com.

 

Elizabeth Hale Headshot

Elizabeth Hale, Professional Development Coordinator

Dr. Elizabeth Hale is an Assistant Professor of Literacy at the University of North Florida's College of Education and Human Services who previously worked for nine years as a teacher and literacy coach in Boston Public Schools. The author of two books on K-6 writing, her research focuses on supporting engagement with and comprehension of informational texts at the elementary and middle school level as well as using writing to deepen students' critical thinking about texts. Elizabeth received her Ed.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and her M.A. from Teachers College at Columbia University.

 

Kadesh Lauridsen Headshot

Kadesh Lauridsen, Instructor

Dr. Kadesh Lauridsen is an Instructor and Writing Consultant for the University of North Florida Writing Program and Center. She earned a Master of Arts in English (2006) and PhD in English (2012) from the University of Florida. She teaches first-year writing, directs the Writing Intensive Orientation Session (WIOS) bridge program, and co-coordinates the First Forward LLC. Her interests include Jane Austen and women's writing of the long eighteenth century. Kadesh has an entry forthcoming in the Cambridge Guide to the English Novel, 1660 - 1820.