Comments on: A Mission Statement for WMWP

By: Susan Biggs

Susan Biggs — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:15:39 +0000

I think it is amazing how the mission statement and the process of creating it has already begun to infiltrate and inform our other work, just as we had hoped. We really kept our mission statement front and center this week, as a group of four of us from our site created a plan to explore content area literacy at our site, as part of the National Reading Initiatives, Content Area Literacy Institute. Also, folks loved our mission statement as we posted it front in center in a presentation we had to do to introduce our site. Everyone especially loved the word scatter visual. I’d really love to see this as our new t-shirt design, with Western Massachusetts Writing Project across the top in bold, blocky letters. I forget who first suggested this, but I don’t want to let go of the idea.
Thanks.

By: Mary Farrin

Mary Farrin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:26:51 +0000

I am very pleased too. I think the mission statement makes transparent what we are about. It has been floating around us for a while. It feels good to have it grounded in a collaboratively crafted document that is inclusive and clear. Now we can look at what we do through a sharper lens. As we approach the Summer Institute I look forward to sharing this with our new fellows. I am sure our conversations will be richer for it.
Mary

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:57:23 +0000

I agree, Kevin. The mission statement reflects a valuable collaborative year long process of working to identify core values, ones that matter to us. It provides a guide for our inquiries and actions.
I remember meeting with Dawn last July soon after she and others of the Project Outreach Team had returned from an NWP meeting. She said that they wanted to engage the Executive Board and others in looking at and likely revising our mission statement in light of Project Outreach goals. I said I didn’t think WMWP had a mission statement. We didn’t. When we began the process last September, I don’t think any of us knew what the result would look like. Thanks to the leadership of the Project Outreach Team in engaging the larger group of us in deep inquiry and drafting, we know have our mission. It’s a very important outcome of the year, something we can feel proud of; something that draws us together; something that will guide us.
Anne

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:51:02 +0000

What I like about this mission statement is that it invites an inquiry stance and sets forth an ideal role for our organization. The document, if it can be instilled in all that we do, is a powerful statement of purpose for us. It acknowledges and supports the role that teachers play in making the world a better place for all.
– Kevin