(Transcript of presentation speech by Robert Brooke, NeWP Director)
We recognize Mary Knight for her ongoing support of the Nebraska Writing Project Embedded Institutes in the Papillion-La Vista School District. In 2005, Ms. Knight was instrumental in writing the Comprehensive School Reform Grant that brought the first NeWP Embedded Institute to Papillion-La Vista. Since that time, she has paved the way for 10 Level I and Level II institutes in her district—that’s an average of 2 institutes per year. Currently, she is helping the Omaha Metro Area Learning Community run its first Embedded Institute.
Mary Knight was nominated for the 2010 Administrator Certificate of Recognition by Advisory Board member Laura Miller and incoming Co-Director Kim Larson. They write:
Mary has demonstrated positive energy and perseverance to do what is right for teachers and students in our district, despite resistance, at the local, state, or national level, that could easily reduce opportunities for teachers to grow as writers and teachers of writing… Despite the controversial inception of the Learning Community law, Mary’s vision has remained focused on the positive potential—bringing teachers together for meaningful, collaborative, teacher-led professional development. Without her vision, dedication, and follow-through, this year’s Learning Community Writing Institute could not have come to fruition.
In my role as Nebraska Writing Project Director, I’ve had the pleasure to work with Mary Knight on several administrative planning meetings—mostly that she has organized. I’d like to add my personal support for her. Mary has that rare mix, in an administrator, of absolutely clear practicality with a core commitment to teachers as the real experts in education. The success of writing in Papillion-La Vista owes so much to her support of teachers as leaders throughout the curriculum. We’re very pleased to be able to recognize Mary Knight with the 2010 Nebraska Writing Project Administrator Certificate of Recognition.
