Darshna Katwala, Director of the Long Island Writing Project
Darshna Katwala is a professor and teaches in the English Department at Nassau Community College. She serves as the site Director of Long Island Writing Project. Darshna is a faculty leader committed to encouraging lifelong reading and writing with a special interest in multi-cultural studies and social justice issues. She has co-facilitated Summer Invitationals, directed and coordinated the writing retreat for teens, presented at local and national conferences, and facilitated workshops in area school districts across Long Island.
Heidi Atlas, Co-Director of the Long Island Writing Project
Heidi Atlas has been the Co-Director of the Long Island Writing Project since its inception, when Toby Bird began the LIWP at Nassau Community College in 1993. Heidi originally was a New York City Writing Project member, and credits her work with the Writing Project as transforming her teaching, as well as her life. She has taught middle and high school English, and is currently teaching writing classes at Nassau Community College as an adjunct professor.
During her tenure as Co-Director, Heidi has facilitated numerous K – college workshops and courses, and has co-led several Invitational Summer Institutes. Heidi has presented at many local and national conferences. She received a grant to conduct a Race Inquiry Group in the Baldwin School District, and worked with fellow teachers and administrators over a 3-year period. She also participated in the “Literacy in the Common Core” Initiative, sponsored by the National Writing Project, which brought together Writing Project people from 3 different states to examine the standards and create modules.
During her tenure as Co-Director, Heidi has facilitated numerous K – college workshops and courses, and has co-led several Invitational Summer Institutes. Heidi has presented at many local and national conferences. She received a grant to conduct a Race Inquiry Group in the Baldwin School District, and worked with fellow teachers and administrators over a 3-year period. She also participated in the “Literacy in the Common Core” Initiative, sponsored by the National Writing Project, which brought together Writing Project people from 3 different states to examine the standards and create modules.
Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski, Co-Director
Kathleen (Kathy) Neagle Sokolowski credits the Long Island Writing Project with inspiring her to stay in the classroom after a rocky first year of teaching in 2002. The LIWP has become a professional home and Kathy has loved getting to know so many thoughtful, passionate teachers through her experiences facilitating Summer Invitational Institutes and workshops. She is thrilled to join Darshna and Heidi as a new Co-Director for the Long Island Writing Project.
Kathy is currently a third grade teacher in Farmingdale and has taught 6th grade, kindergarten, and self-contained special education. In addition to her work with the LIWP, Kathy is a co-author of The Two Writing Teachers blog and publishes posts several times a month related to teaching writing. A self-confessed Twitter addict, Kathy enjoys tweeting @MrsSokolowski and her third graders tweet @Learningin215. She has her own blog couragedoesnotroar.blogspot.com and believes blogging to be life-changing! (Try it!) When she's not teaching, tweeting, blogging, orVoxing, she's busy being a married mom to two young children, Alex and Megan.
Kathy is currently a third grade teacher in Farmingdale and has taught 6th grade, kindergarten, and self-contained special education. In addition to her work with the LIWP, Kathy is a co-author of The Two Writing Teachers blog and publishes posts several times a month related to teaching writing. A self-confessed Twitter addict, Kathy enjoys tweeting @MrsSokolowski and her third graders tweet @Learningin215. She has her own blog couragedoesnotroar.blogspot.com and believes blogging to be life-changing! (Try it!) When she's not teaching, tweeting, blogging, orVoxing, she's busy being a married mom to two young children, Alex and Megan.
