Past Leadership
Shari Steadman, Former Co-Director / 2010 – 2012
Shari Steadman joined the faculty of East Carolina University in 2009, as an Assistant Professor of English Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction. After eleven years of teaching English in Tennessee and California, she returned to school to earn a PhD in English and Education from the University of Michigan. Shari’s first experience with a Summer Institute was in 1992, when she attended Tennessee Governor’s Academy for Teachers of Writing, the state’s forerunner to a National Writing Project site. Prior to coming to ECU, Shari was Co-Director of the Florida State Writing Project and directed the Young Writers’ Camp there for three summers. A member and frequent presenter at the National Council of Teachers of English, her research interests and publications focus on the professional development of pre-service and early career teachers.
Todd Finley, Former Co-Director / 2007 – 2010
Todd Finley, Associate Professor of Education (English Education) at East Carolina University in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, is certified to teach at the elementary education and 8-12th grade English. He has earned an MA in English and PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Finley has over 20 years of experience teaching, researching and publishing in the field of curriculum, instruction, and technology. He regularly conducts staff development workshops, consults, and develops technology-mediated teaching/learning tools. Currently, Todd is finishing Time Savers for Teachers. He lives a happy life with his wife, Randi, and daughter, Rachel, and has a strange love of Newfoundland dogs and longboards. Read his blog, English Education Professor for secondary education language arts tips and notes.
Terri Van Sickle, Former Associate Director, Publications & Promotions / 2008 – 2011
Terri is a certified teacher in the field of English, grades 6-12, and recently finished an impressive teaching career at West Craven High School in Vanceboro, N.C., in order to pursue work as a professional writer. She earned a B.A. in English with a concentration in writing and a minor in Women’s Studies from East Carolina University and an M.Ed. in English Education from the University of Georgia. Terri has taught for ten years in public schools in Georgia and North Carolina. She served on the steering committee for UGA’s Red Clay Writing Project, where she helped research, write and secure grants in order to start a new National Writing Project site. Terri currently serves on the Craven County Schools District Writing Goal Team where her focus is facilitating the use of writer’s workshop as a process in all grade levels across the district, daybooks as a reflective teacher inquiry tool, and writing across the curriculum.
Ali Datz, Associate Director, Technology Liaison / 2010 – 2012
Alicia Datz, an Ayden-Grifton High School English teacher, and AVID teacher/coordinator, earned a BS in secondary English Education from East Carolina University. She joined the Tar River Writing Project as a summer institute participant in 2009. Alicia currently serves on the North Carolina English Teachers’ Association board of directors as co-director of region one. She is also co-director of the Summer Young Writer’s Camp created collaboratively through TRWP.
Jonathan Bartels, Former Associate Director, Technology Liaison / 2008 – 2010
Jonathan Bartels, a Williamston High School English teacher, earned a BS in secondary English Education from East Carolina University. He joined the Tar River Writing Project as a summer institute participant in 2007. Jonathan recently worked with Wetpaint.com as their Education Ambassador where he assisted Wetpaint.com in their alignment with educational needs as well as develop presence of Wetpaint.com’s Wikis in Education website. Jonathan currently serves on the North Carolina English Teachers’ Association board of directors as director of region one. He is currently pursuing an MAEd in English Education from East Carolina University. Jonathan’s research interests include the practical incorporation of technology in education, collaborative learning environments, equity in education, culture studies, demystification of the educational process, curriculum and instructional methods, and dialectic complications in the classroom.
