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Crafting Authentic Voices: A Workshop to Elevate Student Writing

The David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching recently played host to an event geared towards enriching the skills of secondary English Language Arts educators. Titled "Crafting Authentic Voices: A Writing Instruction Workshop," the session was conducted in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize Winner, Lane DeGregory, and offered in partnership with USF College of Education faculty members, Dr. Mandie Dunn and Dr. Arianna Banack.

The workshop, held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, in TECO Hall, at the USF College of Education, Tampa campus, drew a diverse cohort of educators eager to enhance their pedagogical approaches.

Led by Lane DeGregory, whose career as a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Tampa Bay Times has been marked by a commitment to spotlighting narratives often overlooked, the workshop focused on fostering authenticity in student writing. Drawing upon her extensive experience, DeGregory shared best practices in writing instruction, offering insights honed through her work as an educator at the University of South Florida and the Poynter Institute.

The session delved deep into strategies for cultivating genuine voices in student writing, empowering educators with tools to inspire and guide their students towards meaningful expression. From her background as editor in chief of The Cavalier Daily student newspaper at the University of Virginia to her master's degree in rhetoric and communication studies from the same institution, DeGregory's expertise resonated with attendees seeking to invigorate their teaching practices.

Dr. Mandie Dunn and Dr. Arianna Banack, recipients of an Anchin Center Bank of America mini-grant, were instrumental in bringing this workshop to fruition, underscoring the Center's commitment to advancing teaching excellence.

The event, free to attend, exemplified the Anchin Center's dedication to fostering professional growth and innovation within the educational community.