LSU Writing Project
The Louisiana State University Writing Project (LSU WP) promotes the exploration of writing, writing research, and how to share writing best practice among educators (established 1985). The goal of the Louisiana State University Writing Project is to improve the teaching of writing and ultimately, help Louisiana students become accomplished writers and learners. Through professional development and outreach, the project serves a ten parish network of districts and schools in the southern part of the state.
LSU Writing Project workshops and professional development are tailored to provide a variety of writing-specific learning opportunities for administrators, educators, students, staff, and faculty.
Configurations include entire staff, departments, or customized groups of educators.
Workshops and Professional Development Available
- Writing Workshop
- Writing in Content-Specific Disciplines
- Analytical Writing using Sources
- School-wide Writing Instructional Improvement
- Classroom Demonstration Writing Lessons
- Teaching the Genres of Writing
- Evaluation Tools for Writing Instruction/Assessment
- Improving Writing
The LSU Writing Project serves the following parishes in Louisiana: Ascension, Iberville, East Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. James, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.
- 2014 Anthology
- 2015 Anthology
- 2016 Anthology
- 2017 Anthology
- 2018 Anthology
- 2019 Anthology
- 2020 Anthology
- 2021 Anthology
For more information, please contact:
Margaret-Mary Sulentic Dowell, PhD
Director
Professor of Literacy & Urban Education
School of Education
228 Peabody Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 578-5998 
Courtney A. Brown, PhD
Co-Director
Adjunct Instructor
School of Education
Baton Rouge, LA
cbro195@lsu.edu
The Louisiana State University Writing Project Site lost a beloved colleague on April
4, 2022. Dr. Sassy C. Wheeler deeply valued teaching, she cherished her students, and she treasured her relationships
with colleagues.
Dr. Wheeler was a writing scholar who was deeply interested in equity, inclusion, and diversity. That interest surfaced in her writing pedagogical practices and her writing scholarship. Dr. Wheeler became Co-Director of the Louisiana State University Writing Project in 2018, the site’s first Black Scholar to assume a directorship position. She was a Co-PI of two recent Board of Regents Grant awards, “Writing That Works: Ongoing Professional Development to Improve Students’ Argumentative Writing Using Informational Texts, Grades 7-10” (2017-19), and “Writing that Works: Developing Ongoing Professional Development on Integrating the CCSS to Improve Student Writing.” She was also Co-PI of a National Writing Project SEED Invitational Leadership Institute Grant (2017-18) and Co-PI of a Louisiana Department of Education, Believe and Prepare Grant with City of Baker Schools, “Professional Development in Arts Integration” (2015-16).
“Sassy,” her given name and the name she preferred to be called, never operated in pretense. She was vibrant, innovative and emphatic in the expressions of her beliefs. Through the most intense dimensions of the pandemic, Sassy adjusted to teaching the LSU Writing Projects’ Summer Institute online with her colleague, Courtney Brown. Together, they made history as the first Black females to co-direct the program. Although remarkable as an accomplishment—notwithstanding Sassy’s many other accomplishments—she remained humble, never using these things to create a chasm between herself and students or colleagues. This is a rare and unique trait, one that will always make her an exceptional professional and person.
We invite LSU Writing Project alums and Teacher Consultants to express their appreciation for Dr. Wheeler. We will dearly miss our colleague.
Director, LSU Writing Project
Co-Director, Invitational Summer Institute
Please submit your note using the form below. We will post to this page within 48 hours.
"It was a blessing to have known Sassy. She would light up a room before she even stepped inside. Her students loved her for her encouragement, clear thinking, and guidance. They could not have had a better mentor and teacher. I know I will miss seeing her smile and hearing her kind words when our paths crossed." - Dr. Margaret Piccoli
"I had the privilege of getting to know Sassy via Zoom during the Writing Project a few summers ago. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet her in person but feel like I knew her so well. Her vibrant personality, calm demeanor, fabulous outfits, and awesome accessories made her so special. Sassy's smile was contagious and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to work with her, even if it was via Zoom. God bless her family! She was a true angel on earth and no doubt she's dressing and accessorizing all of the angels above." - Frankie Day
"I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Wheeler when accepted into the Writing Project a few years ago. I learned so much from her in the program. She was a great educator who cultivated me to become a better educator. Dr. Wheeler's passion and love for writing were exemplified by teaching others how to be reflective practitioners and better writers. She will truly be missed." - Chiquita Ollie
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. I can almost imagine that Maya Angelou wrote that quote with Sassy in mind. Sassy had a way of making people feel important. I had the privilege of taking the Writing Project with Sassy and Courtney Brown during the Summer of 2020. Although we were each in our individual homes, she made the class feel like we were together in person and made the experience something remarkable. She will be missed." - Megan Jenny
"She wore black and made it colorful, as only she could! She was DEFINITELY the depiction of her name “Sassy.” Dr. Wheeler brought her passion and “sass” every day of our LaSip Writing Institute. I gained so much knowledge from that partnership those two years. She would often pull me to the side to deposit nuggets of wisdom. She will truly be missed!" - Shelia Hannah