Invitational Summer Institute

Join Us for a Summer of Writing!

The Invitational Summer Institute is BACK for the summer of 2026! Apply today to participate as a Fellow for this three week professional development opportunity. See more details, dates, and the link to the application below.

What is the Summer Institute?

The aim of the summer institute is to gather educators from diverse backgrounds to evaluate research, deliberate writing techniques, and participate in both professional and personal writing exercises. The Writing Project values the skills of successful classroom teachers and seeks to utilize their expertise to educate others. The model prioritizes proven and potential success in all classrooms, recognizing and honoring exceptional teaching and teachers.

Invitational Summer Institute Application

Application Deadline: April 2, 2026. Applicants invited to interview will receive an appointment confirmation by email no later than April 4, 2026. Apply before March 12th, 2026 to receive an OWP merch care package in the mail!

CLICK HERE to access the 2026 Summer Institute Fellow Application

Who Should Apply?

Applicants should have at least three years of experience as educators or administrators.
Teachers from a range of grades and subjects, including TK-College level math, science, English, social studies, art, ELD, music, PE, special education, and foreign language are welcome to apply.
The institute is looking for teachers who have a reflective approach and are eager to both impart their knowledge and gain insights from their peers.

Important Dates for the 2026 Summer Institute

In-Person Interviews for Fellow Applicants

Date: April 11, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm
Location: OU Norman Campus, Collings Hall

In-Person OWP Summer Institute Orientation (Mandatory for all accepted Fellows)

Date: April 25, 2026. 8:30a.m. - 3:30p.m
Location: OU Norman Campus, Collings Hall

Oklahoma Writing Project Summer Institute

Dates: June 15-18, June 22-26, June 30-July 2;
Location: OU Norman Campus, Collings Hall

*During the institute, Norman campus staff should plan on arriving around 8:15 am and leaving around 4:30 pm.

Back-to-School Drive-In Conference

Fellowship Stipends

Participants who complete all the required components of the OWP Summer Institute can earn up to $750. (Only 15 stipends will be awarded. To receive the full stipend, the participant will have to complete each item of syllabus as well as be a positive contributor to the group.)

Important

Start saving your student writing samples now. You will need student samples for your interview and during the Summer Institute. Be sure and save high/low ability examples from your writing lessons. Originals are great but copies are fine. At the interview, you will bring your professional vita and some of your student writing samples.

2022 OWP Summer Institute Gallery

A safe place to learn and grow as a classroom teacher

As a child, I really only played two games. I played church and I played school. It seems as though I have been a writer all of my life, jotting down notes and poems here and there about almost every mundane subject in the world. It seems like there is a story to tell everywhere. I was able to create my world with words. Words give me life. They also happen to be my love language. Indeed, I love words and the power that they hold. The Oklahoma Writing Project nurtured this love of human expression.

I am truly fortunate to be a part of the Oklahoma Writing Project. OWP gave me the opportunity to do what I so enjoy. For that, I am truly grateful for the invitation to join my esteemed colleagues. This wonderful summer institute provided for me a safe place to learn and grow as a classroom teacher, hone my craft, and to develop as a skilled writer.

I knew participating as a Fellow would be a lot of work, but I was willing and committed to the intensive immersion for the betterment of not only myself, but my students as well. They deserve the best that I can give them when I give them the best me.

Moreover, OWP is an excellent professional venue to create strong speakers, readers, and listeners. It increases one’s capacity as a life-long educational advocate.

Ardrea Lambeth Smith

Transform the way you teach writing

To transform the way you teach writing, you have to become a writer yourself. The Oklahoma Writing Project is the perfect blend of becoming a writer while learning from other teachers how to engage students in writing lessons. The beauty of this professional development is it can be adapted for the learners in YOUR classroom.

Jacqueline Smith - El Reno High School

The amount of transformation ... is truly phenomenal.

The amount of transformation that occurs in the three short weeks of OWP SI is truly phenomenal, both as an educator teaching writing and as a writer yourself! The connections made with other teachers can’t be described and can only be experienced to believe. In addition to this, the knowledge and confidence to teach writing seems to grow exponentially each week of the training.

Martha Meurer - Oklahoma Public Schools

OWP has forever changed the way I look at writing.

OWP has forever changed the way I look at writing, for myself and my students. I now feel more confident in my own writing skills and that I can develop better writers in my classroom. The teacher leaders I have developed relationships with through this institute will always be near and dear to me. The vulnerability shared in their writing pieces has touched my heart and I will never forget this opportunity I have been lucky enough to participate in.

Jennifer Morris - Apple Creek Elementary

Value and Power of Teachers

To say that Oklahoma Writing Project had an impact on my career would be an understatement. Through Summer Institute I have seen the value and power of teachers from all grade levels coming together to learn with and from each other. I have gained skills as a writer and as a writing educator. I have gained confidence as a writer and as a writing educator. SI showed me the value of my ideas. It told me to celebrate myself and my passion for my field.

Kelsey Ledford - Ida Freeman Elementary

My experience with OWP has been career changing.

My experience with OWP has been career changing. It has been one of the most rigorous professional development experiences I’ve ever been a part of. Without a doubt, I feel as if I have come out of the past three weeks a much different, better, teacher.

Mickey Harnden - Tipton High School